Suaalii fit, sub Edmed on bench for Wallabies’ finale
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has won his battle to be fit for the Wallabies’ final Test of their British Isles tour and will hope to bow out against Ireland in the spectacular fashion that he began on his debut against England.
Coach Joe Schmidt, hoping to down the team he once led to glory for six years, has also offered up one final surprise selection to finish the rugby year as he’s primed to make replacement flyhalf Tane Edmed Australia’s record-extending 19th debutant of 2024.
Hoping for a power-packed finish up front against the world’s No.2 side Ireland, Taniela Tupou has overcome his calf problem to prop the scrum with veteran James Slipper while Fraser McReight, who was missed when rested against Scotland, is a key recall.
Tupou and Slipper will be experienced pillars, sandwiching hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, who will also start in the absence of still injured Matt Faessler.
Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams link up in the second row, after Williams recovered from the illness that ruled him out against Scotland, with Angus Bell and Allan Alaalatoa should be powerful assets in the front row off the bench.
Suaalii had looked hugely unlikely to make it for Saturday’s (Sunday AEDT) fourth and final leg of the tour when his thunderous hit on Sione Tuipulotu in the defeat against Scotland left him with an injured arm that was initially feared to be fractured.
But he avoided a break, has recovered well, with Schmidt keen to give the cross-code convert a run in his fourth match of the tour after only getting limited minutes following his blistering debut in the win over England.
Noah Lolesio has cemented his place on tour as the premier five-eighth but had an ordinary game against Scotland, with Edmed, the 24-year-old Waratahs prospect, given an opportunity to shadow him in preference to Ben Donaldson.
If the son of the former Balmain Tigers NRL star Steve Edmed does get a run to become Australian international No.990, he’ll extend the extraordinary sequence of Wallaby debutants in 2024 after Harry Potter got selected against Scotland.
Potter, though, is back on the bench with Max Jorgensen recalled to the left wing berth as Schmidt explained his determination to make it a special night for Australia while the home side celebrate the 150th anniversary of Irish Rugby.
“It’s been a challenging year where we have grown a bit as a squad, and we have an opportunity to challenge ourselves again against what is a settled and cohesive Ireland team,” said Schmidt.
Australia team:
1. James Slipper (142 Tests), 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (19 Tests), 3. Taniela Tupou (57 Tests), 4. Nick Frost (24 Tests), 5. Jeremy Williams (9 Tests), 6. Rob Valetini (51 Tests), 7. Fraser McReight (24 Tests), 8. Harry Wilson (capt) (21 Tests), 9. Jake Gordon (28 Tests), 10. Noah Lolesio (28 Tests), 11. Max Jorgensen (6 Tests), 12. Len Ikitau (38 Tests), 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (3 Tests), 14. Andrew Kellaway (38 Tests), 15. Tom Wright (36 Tests).
Replacements: 16. Billy Pollard (5 Tests), 17. Angus Bell (35 Tests), 18. Allan Alaalatoa (79 Tests), 19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (40 Tests), 20. Langi Gleeson (13 Tests), 21. Tate McDermott (40 Tests), 22. Tane Edmed (uncapped), 23. Harry Potter (1 Test).
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