Wallabies give White the boot
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Star wing Marika Koroibete will miss Australia’s Bledisloe Cup rematch against New Zealand on Saturday with a wrist injury, while scrumhalf Nic White has been axed from the matchday squad.
Veteran prop James Slipper was also absent from the 23 named Thursday after leaving the field for a concussion Test during Australia’s 28-31 defeat to the All Blacks in Sydney.
With fellow wing Max Jorgensen out with illness, Western Force’s Dylan Pietsch will start for the first time.
White began last weekend’s match, but failed to make the bench for Saturday’s clash in Wellington with Jake Gordon restored as scrumhalf and Tate McDermott preferred as the replacement.
The team is otherwise unchanged as they look to snap an eight-game losing streak against their arch-rivals.
“We didn’t help ourselves last weekend falling behind early to a fast-moving, high-tempo All Blacks side,” said coach Joe Schmidt, referring to the Wallabies slumping 0-21 down after just 15 minutes.
“We know we will need to start better than we did last week, with the physical edge and accuracy required.”
In the first Wallabies’ unchanged forward pack since their opening World Cup match last year, Angus Bell, Matt Faessler and Taniela Tupou again make up the front row.
Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams partner in the second row for the third consecutive Test while Fraser McReight is again openside flank alongside Rob Valetini on the blindside.
Harry Wilson captains his country once more from the back of the scrum.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau,, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 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 Isaac Kailea, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Josh Flook.
Date: Saturday, September 28
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19.05 (17.05 AEST; 07.05 GMT)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England); Damian Schneider (Argentina)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
