Will Skelton bolsters Wallabies while James O’Connor punished for Eden Park shocker as Joe Schmidt makes five changes
Will Skelton and James O'Connor in action for the Wallabies in 2025.
The Wallabies have been bolstered by the return of Will Skelton to the starting line-up for their clash with the All Blacks in Perth this weekend.
Skelton returned to France following their double-header with the Springboks and has missed the past three matches, but the lock will be part of the Rugby Championship finale.
He is one of five changes to the starting team – Allan Alaalatoa, Filipo Daugunu, Jake Gordon and Tane Edmed the others – as Australia look to give themselves a shot of taking the title.
Daugunu takes the place of Corey Toole, who misses out completely, while Edmed is picked ahead of James O’Connor as the fly-half merry-go-round continues.
O’Connor was the man chosen for the Eden Park clash but he had a veritable stinker as the Wallabies went down 33-24 to the All Blacks.
However, he had just flown to and from England ahead of his move to Leicester Tigers during the two weeks between the second Argentina Test and the Bledisloe Cup opener.
Edmed also did not come onto the field during that Eden Park encounter, but he has been selected this weekend and will partner Gordon at half-back.
Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii remain as the centre partnership, while Daugunu joins Harry Potter and Max Jorgensen in the back three.
Forward changes
Up front, there are two alterations with Skelton’s return the highlight. That means Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is omitted despite an impressive display in Auckland last weekend.
The other switch is in the front-row with Taniela Tupou dropping to the bench after some mixed displays from the start.
Head coach Joe Schmidt instead wants to use Tupou as an impact replacement with Alaalatoa getting the nod at tighthead prop where he packs down alongside Billy Pollard and the retiring James Slipper.
The loosehead calls it a day after Saturday following 15 years at Test level and 150 caps.
Slipper’s decision to quit international rugby means that Tom Robertson gets the nod ahead of Angus Bell on the bench with Schmidt looking at his prop stocks going forward.
Josh Nasser and Tupou are the other front-row replacements, while Jeremy Williams and the returning Rob Valetini are the back-five options.
Ryan Lonergan, who made his debut at Eden Park, O’Connor and Josh Flook complete the 23 for the Perth clash.
“The squad has dusted themselves off from the disappointment in Auckland and they’ve worked away this week, in preparation for what’s going to be another torrid Test match against New Zealand on Saturday,” Schmidt said.
“The support has been fantastic this year, especially when playing in Australia, and we’ll be hoping to put in a performance that is worthy of that support in our final home Test of 2025.”
Wallabies team to face the All Blacks
Wallabies: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Rob Valetini, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Josh Flook
Date: Saturday, October 4
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 17:45 local time (10:45 BST, 09:45 GMT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU)