Les Kiss has named Rob Valetini on the bench and moved Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii back to the wing for the Wallabies’ Nations Championship Test against England at Twickenham, which kicks off at 2:10am AEDT on Monday 9 November.
Fraser McReight will win his 50th Test cap at openside flanker, while Len Ikitau returns in the centres after missing the Sydney Bledisloe Test under head injury protocols, Rugby Australia confirmed.
Jeremy Williams shifts from lock to blindside flanker, a position he has never started in at Test level, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Josh Canham returns to partner Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the second row, with two-time John Eales medallist Valetini held back for impact.
Kiss explains the calls
“Jez plays a lot at six for Force. We know that his lineout nous is good enough, we know he’s got a good engine,” Kiss said, as reported by the Herald.
Read more: Kurtley Beale Recalled to Wallabies Squad for Spring Tour
Kiss said Suaalii’s aerial game, starting in the No.11 jersey at the ground where he made his Test debut in 2024, would be “massively important” against England’s kicking game.
“Playing England on their home turf – at an iconic venue like Twickenham – is a massive challenge and another great opportunity for us to test ourselves against world-class opposition and keep building our game,” Kiss said in the Rugby Australia announcement.
Angus Bell returns at loosehead prop and Taniela Tupou is back in the matchday 23. Declan Meredith keeps the No.10 jersey with Ben Donaldson on the bench, while Kurtley Beale will warm up as emergency reserve, the Herald reported.
Wallabies team to play England
Front row: Angus Bell, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa
Locks: Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Back row: Jeremy Williams, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c)
Halves: Ryan Lonergan, Declan Meredith
Centres: Len Ikitau, Isaac Henry
Back three: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright
Replacements: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. Isaac Kailea, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Rob Valetini, 20. Carlo Tizzano, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Filipo Daugunu
England news and what’s next
England captain Maro Itoje returns, Fin Smith passed a fitness test to be named in the side and Ben Curry replaces his twin brother Tom, who is out with a hip injury, according to the Herald.
The Wallabies arrive after back-to-back Bledisloe Cup defeats to New Zealand, 50-19 in Auckland and 43-21 in Sydney. They play Scotland at Murrayfield next (2:10am AEDT, Monday 16 November) before facing Wales in Cardiff.
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