Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Australia XV make mass changes to First XV for clash with England A

Australia line up for the national anthems ahead of the international friendly match between Bristol Bears and Australia XV at Ashton Gate on November 08, 2024 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Australia XV coach Rod Seib has made a staggering 14 changes to the starting side ahead of the team’s final match on tour against England A. Backrower Tom Hooper is the only player to retain his same position in the First XV for the clash at Twickenham Stoop on Sunday afternoon (local time).

ADVERTISEMENT

Hamish Stewart, Corey Toole and Joey Walton have all held onto a place in the run-on side but they’ll wear new numbers this week as part of a reshuffle. Stewart moves from 10 to 12, Toole goes from one wing to the other, and Walton switches centre positions.

Following the representative side’s 10-all draw with Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate last week, coach Seib has made changes to ensure the full squad of 30 after set for game time throughout the two-match tour in the United Kingdom.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Brumbies halfback Ryan Lonergan will captain the side this time after previously coming off the bench against the Bears. Lonergan will link up with Tom Lynagh in the halves, who made his Wallabies debut earlier this year against Warren Gatland’s Wales in Sydney.

The Australia XV will field an all-new front row with 20-year-old Massimo De Lutiis – who has beaten Taniela Tupou’s bench press record at the Queensland Reds – who will represent Australia for the first time. De Lutiis joins Josh Nasser and Harry Hoopert up front.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Wallabies (@wallabies)

Reds recruit Josh Canham partners vice-captain Ryan Smith in the second row, while the loose forwards trio is made up of Hooper, Luke Reimer, and Joe Brial. There are five Reds representatives, two Brumbies players, and a sole member of the Force in that pack.

ADVERTISEMENT

As for the backs, captain Lonergan and Lynagh will look to provide quick and quality ball to an exciting backline that includes Stewart and Walton in the midfield. Wallaby Darby Lancaster will line up on the left wing, with Olympian Toole on the right.

Rounding out the starting side as Wallaby Jock Campbell, who came off the pine against Bristol last time out. The bench also packs a punch, with the likes of Angus Blyth, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Ollie Sapsford looking to add impact if they’re given the chance.

“We had a really valuable hit out against Bristol last week and we’ve trained well again, as we try to build some more cohesion among the group and provide opportunities to those in the squad,” coach Rod Seib said in a statement.

“To play England A at an iconic ground such as The Stoop is going to be a memorable experience for our players and I know it’s a challenge they’re looking forward to.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The clash between Australia XV and England A at the famous Twickenham Stoop is scheduled to kick-off at 2:00 pm GMT on Sunday, November 17. Tickets will be available for purchase on match day for those who wish to attend.

Australia XV to take on England A

  1. Harry Hoopert – Western Force
  2. Josh Nasser – Queensland Reds
  3. Massimo De Lutiis – Queensland Reds
  4. Ryan Smith (vc) – Queensland Reds
  5. Josh Canham – Queensland Reds
  6. Tom Hooper – ACT Brumbies
  7. Luke Reimer – ACT Brumbies
  8. Joe Brial – Queensland Reds
  9. Ryan Lonergan (c) – ACT Brumbies
  10. Tom Lynagh – Queensland Reds
  11. Darby Lancaster – NSW Waratahs
  12. Hamish Stewart – Western Force
  13. Joey Walton – NSW Waratahs
  14. Corey Toole – ACT Brumbies
  15. Jock Campbell – Queensland Reds

Replacements

  1. Lachlan Lonergan – ACT Brumbies
  2. Tom Lambert – NSW Waratahs
  3. Rhys van Nek – ACT Brumbies
  4. Angus Blyth – Queensland Reds
  5. Rory Scott – ACT Brumbies
  6. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa – Western Force
  7. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips – Queensland Reds
  8. Ollie Sapsford – ACT Brumbies

Louis Rees-Zammit joins Jim Hamilton for the latest episode of Walk the Talk to discuss his move to the NFL. Watch now on RugbyPass TV

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 15 minutes ago
Ian Foster: 'You kid yourself that we were robbed'

That's not the truth at all, you're in fairtale territory. The only difference between those to types of teams, is luck.


That lie has been found out, with those teams previously sharing the kudos for working on discipline, now some of being the worst. It is simply a poor indignation of the quality, and easyness, of refereeing. Even the judiciary panel called Sam Cane, a liar.


One thing I will say to any South African readers, after watching a replay of the Final again to see how many tackles Frizell made, was that I viewed Frizells takedown of Bongi incorrectly. It having reviewed during that period, I had failed to watch the live footage, I had only analyzed the replays. Previously, I tried to defend Frizell for pulling out of the neck roll and, instead, accidentally falling on Bongi's leg. The angle that I saw live made be look closer and indeed, Frizell was indeed trying to level him off. As Bongi himself said afterwards "thank god for my NECK", because otherwise Frizells full weight would have done a lot more damage I'd imagine (which I think was his own point).


So previously I had critized the review officer for giving Cane a (incorrect) red card because he couldn't/didn't give one to Frizell. Now I can understand more where he was coming from. So mainly, I'd just like to apologize to and SAn's who I had tried to defend that situation of only deserving of a penalty for (if that), when in fact it was more deserving of a red than Sam Canes tackle imo.

31 Go to comments
S
SK 2 hours ago
Does the next Wallabies coach have to be an Australian?

Just hire a South African, you know you want to. Get Jake White in, he has coveted the job for many years or give the job to Franco Smith, he would jump at it given the opportunity to take the Glasgow game to the Wallabies. Johan Ackermann is no longer free but he would accept any forthcoming offers and if you feel like poaching a young talent go for JP Pietersen or Joey Mongalo who have earned a pretty decent reputation with the Sharks. Jacques Fourie would make you defend all day so he's a no go but Dobbo will make you play the right way and with his creative writing qualification he will put a fanciful spin on any story. Cash Van Rooyen knows how to get a tune out of young players and make a sum equal more than its parts. If you are feeling like taking a wild punt go for attack guru and winner of the award for most biased SA rugby pundit of all time then your man is Swys De Bruin. If you are in the market for some almost South Africans just go for Plumtree, Felix Jones or even for the new kid on the block, Tony Brown. If you are feeling really adventurous and I mean really adventurous plump for Alistair Coetzee who would I'm sure love a change after the regular beatings he took with Namibia and of course if you wanna play it safe just get in Jacques Nienaber who will give you his own refined, extra-special brand of strong South African conservatism. Lets be real though, the best appointment would be Stevie L who coaches half the Aussie team already so why not give him the other half and see what he can do. A good coach who has trained with the best and whom has a good world view of the game. He is ready for higher honours, has the pedigree and is also well liked by the media. He is a world cup winner and is greatly respected in the game. A worthy candidate for sure.

34 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ ‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’ ‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’
Search