Jones hands ex-NRL star first Wallabies start

1 year ago 86

Former NRL prima Suliasi Vunivalu and Brumbies bolter Tom Hooper are the large winners of Eddie Jones' archetypal Wallabies squad of 2023, with the duo named to marque their archetypal Test starts against South Africa successful Pretoria connected Sunday (AEST).

Vunivalu made his Wallabies debut with a little cameo disconnected the seat against England past twelvemonth but was not sighted again nether erstwhile manager Dave Rennie.

But Jones is simply a noted league enthusiast and remained intrigued with the wounded plagued 27-year-old's potential.

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Australia's Suliasi Vunivalu runs astatine England's Owen Farrell. (AP)

"Only played 5 minutes disconnected the seat past year, helium gets a opportunity," Wallabies fable Tim Horan said connected Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven.

"Eddie Jones has said to him 'you're an athlete, you've got potential, we're going to springiness you a go'."

Vunivalu has been named to commencement connected the close helping portion Hooper volition deterioration No.6.

Tom Hooper of the Brumbies successful enactment against the Chiefs. (Getty)

Hooper, 22, is earthy but Jones loves his size and combative nature.

"Tom Hooper is simply a large 1 but if you've followed the astute wealth implicit the past fewer months, radical were talking astir him and helium had a precocious tally into Super Rugby," erstwhile Wallabies escaped guardant Stephen Hoiles said.

"Had an wounded astatine the commencement of the twelvemonth but he's an on-baller, he's a gangly guy, he's a lineout option, which is important up there."

NEW PODCAST! Sean Maloney, Morgan Turinui and Stephen Hoiles unpack the Wallabies squad tasked with making past against the Springboks successful Pretoria

There are 3 imaginable debutants connected the seat - Reds prop Zane Nonggorr, Toulouse fastener Richie Arnold and Rebels five-eighth Carter Gordon.

Utility backmost Reece Hodge will commencement astatine wrong centre up of Samu Kerevi, who is connected the seat aft recovering from a insignificant hamstring strain.

Quade Cooper volition deterioration No.10 successful the Rugby Championship opener successful his archetypal Test since rupturing his Achilles tendon past year, portion La Rochelle fastener Will Skelton volition besides start.

Quade backmost successful Wallabies camp

The Wallabies are yet to bushed the Springboks successful Pretoria successful 7 attempts.

Dynamic props Taniela Tupou and Angus Bell were near retired as they proceed their rehab from semipermanent injuries.

Co-captain James Slipper was named to commencement despite suffering a genu wounded astatine training.

Wallabies manager Eddie Jones with co-captains James Slipper and Michael Hooper. (Getty)

"As a squad, the players person worked highly hard since coming unneurotic arsenic a radical and we've prepared good this week," Jones said.

"The 23 players selected person an accidental to beryllium portion of past with a triumph implicit South Africa successful Pretoria."

SPRINGBOKS (15-1): Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Cobus Reinach, Duane Vermeulen (c), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden, Marvin Orie, Jean Kleyn, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff

Reserves: Joseph Dweba, Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Evan Roos, Deon Fourie, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse

WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Suliasi Vunivalu, Len Ikitau, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper (co-c), Tom Hooper, Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Allan Alaalatoa, Dave Porecki, James Slipper (co-c)

Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Matt Gibbon, Zane Nonggorr, Richie Arnold, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, Samu Kerevi, Carter Gordon

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