New captain among Wallabies selection shocks

9 months ago 70

Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa volition skipper a extremist Wallabies squad featuring 7 starting changes successful Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener astatine the MCG.

Alaalatoa volition pb Australia for the archetypal clip since past year's disastrous nonaccomplishment to Italy arsenic manager Eddie Jones unveiled respective bold decisions connected Thursday.

Michael Hooper was not included arsenic helium continues to retrieve from a calf strain portion chap co-captain James Slipper volition travel disconnected the seat successful beforehand of an expected assemblage of 80,000 successful Melbourne.

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Wallabies Carter Gordon and Quade Cooper astatine CommBank Stadium. (Getty)

Rebels playmaker Carter Gordon volition marque his archetypal Test commencement successful his adopted location municipality arsenic Jones named a marque caller halves pairing pursuing a 0-2 commencement to the Rugby Championship.

Gordon, 22, has replaced Quade Cooper successful the No.10 jersey portion sparky Reds halfback Tate McDermott is successful for the vastly experienced Nic White.

In different bold attacking decision, Jordan Petaia volition commencement astatine extracurricular centre successful spot of the injured Len Ikitau aft recovering from wrist surgery.

As expected, Rebels prima Andrew Kellaway gets the motion astatine fullback successful spot of the dumped Tom Wright portion Angus Bell comes successful for Slipper astatine loosehead.

Jones has opted for a ample backrow successful the last location crippled earlier the Rugby World Cup, with Tom Hooper replacing Fraser McReight astatine openside flanker.

Nick Frost replaces Richie Arnold successful the 2nd enactment portion trump paper prop Taniela Tupou is simply a invited inclusion connected the bench.

NEW PODCAST! Sean Maloney, Morgan Turinui and Stephen Hoiles unpack a heartbreaking Wallabies nonaccomplishment against the Pumas and hunt for Bledisloe Cup hope

"We are a squad that wants to marque Australia arrogant and Saturday nighttime is simply a large accidental to airy up the MCG," Jones said.

"A young starting XV and vibrant, experienced finishers volition springiness america the 80 minutes we want. Wallaby rugby versus New Zealand rugby, it's the astir important crippled of the year."

After picking Cooper up of Gordon to play against Argentina earlier this month, Jones stressed the request for caution with his young playmaker.

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"What I don't privation to bash is propulsion him in," Jones said.

"I privation him to beryllium acceptable to go. He's a great, large young player, but he's a young kid astatine the moment. He's uncovering his feet.

"Carter's coming on beautifully, couldn't beryllium happier with him. He's 1 out, 1 back. We're conscionable holding him backmost astatine the moment, past we'll fto him spell erstwhile we get implicit the rise. We're not astatine the emergence yet."

Pumas triumph ft contention to snag runaway Wallabies star

We are present astatine the emergence arsenic a resurgent All Blacks squad lies successful wait.

WALLABIES (15-1): Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Carter Gordon, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Jed Holloway, Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Dave Porecki, Angus Bell

Reserves: Jordan Uelese, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Izaia Perese

ALL BLACKS (15-1): Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea (c), Dalton Papali'i, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot

Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Sam Whitelock, Luke Jacobson, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

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