Suaalii handed Australia debut against England

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Rugby League convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will make his Australia debut without having played a game of senior club rugby union after being named in the Wallabies team to play England at Twickenham on Saturday.

The 21-year-old has been selected at outside centre for the opening match of Australia’s tour of Britain and Ireland.

A standout schoolboy rugby union player, Suaalii elected to begin his professional career in rugby league with Sydney Roosters.

But he has now switched codes, following in the footsteps of former rugby league stars such as Israel Folau and Sonny Bill Williams.

Australia lost five of their six matches in this year’s Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship under former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.

A total of 14 players in the matchday 23 will play in Twickenham for the first time, including the second row pairing of Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams who start together for the fourth consecutive Test.

The backrow sees 2024 John Eales Medallist, Rob Valetini start at blindside flank, with Fraser McReight on the openside and captain Harry Wilson at the back of the scrum.

Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio will partner in the halves for the sixth time this season as the men in gold kick off their first Grand Slam opportunity since 2016.

Dylan Pietsch retains his spot on the left edge after making his starting debut in Wellington, with Andrew Kellaway named on the right edge and Tom Wright at fullback.

Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and props James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa make up an experienced replacement front row.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will bring further experience as the substitute second rower, with Langi Gleeson to provide impact in the loose forwards.

Will and Jake play scissor, paper, rock to preview the England Test 🤣#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/RokhwGnjSF

— Wallabies (@wallabies) November 5, 2024

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suallii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermot, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Max Jorgensen

Date: Saturday, November 9
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 15.10 GMT (02.10 AEDT Sunday, November 10)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)