Zac Lomax will make his senior Australian rugby debut after being named to start at outside centre for Australia A against the USA in New Jersey on Saturday.
The Western Force back, who switched to rugby union from the NRL in March, will partner Kadin Pritchard in the midfield, Rugby Australia confirmed on Thursday.
The match at Sports Illustrated Stadium kicks off at 11am AEDT on Saturday, 31 October, and is the second of Australia A’s two games against the Eagles on their US tour. It will be shown live on Stan Sport.
Australia A beat the USA 61-12 in Nashville last Saturday.
Toole and Reimer injected
Wallabies winger Corey Toole comes into the back three alongside fellow Olympian Lachie Anderson and fullback Mac Grealy.
Kalani Thomas and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips start in the halves, with Nathan Hastie and Tane Edmed on the bench.
Read more: Kurtley Beale Recalled to Wallabies Squad for Spring Tour
Wallabies back-rower Luke Reimer will play his first game of the tour at openside flanker, alongside Will Harris and last weekend’s man of the match Joe Brial.
Hooker Matt Faessler captains the side in an all-Queensland front row with Tom Lambert and Zane Nonggorr. Toby Macpherson starts in the second row with Brumbies teammate Nick Frost.
World Cup audition
The 27-year-old Lomax is chasing a place in Les Kiss’s Wallabies squad for next year’s home Rugby World Cup, before he returns to the NRL with the PNG Chiefs in 2028, AAP reported.
Thomas and Lambert will join the Wallabies in the UK after Saturday’s match, a day after Kiss recalled veteran Kurtley Beale for the spring tour.
Read more: NRL: Zac Lomax Confirmed as PNG Chiefs’ Newest Marquee Signing
Australia A coach Stephen Larkham said: “This tour has required a whole squad effort and it’s pleasing for everyone to earn their opportunity to perform in the gold jersey.”
“The Eagles are a proud team we are expecting a strong response this week, which means we must be at our best to ensure we reach our own expectations and finish the tour on a positive note,” he said.
Australia A team v USA
1. Tom Lambert, 2. Matt Faessler (c), 3. Zane Nonggorr, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Toby Macpherson, 6. Will Harris, 7. Luke Reimer, 8. Joe Brial, 9. Kalani Thomas, 10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 11. Lachie Anderson, 12. Kadin Pritchard, 13. Zac Lomax, 14. Corey Toole, 15. Mac Grealy.
Replacements: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Lington Ieli, 18. Edwin Langi, 19. Eamon Doyle, 20. Rory Scott, 21. Nathan Hastie, 22. Tane Edmed, 23. Tim Ryan.
More News
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- NRL: Zac Lomax Confirmed as PNG Chiefs’ Newest Marquee Signing
- Angus Crichton in Waratahs Squad as Foley, Phipps Return
- All Blacks Squad Named for Northern Tour as Barrett, Mo’unga Return
- Andrew Kellaway Retires After 49 Tests for the Wallabies
