Queensland pair Fraser McReight and Hunter Paisami have made their return to the Australian starting side ahead of Bledialoe Cup against the All Blacks after recovering from injury.
McReight who is yet to feature in the 2024 Rugby Championship will make his return while Paisami’s knee injury kept him out of the tour to Argentina.
McReight will start at openside flank, with Paisami to partner Len Itikau in the centres as the Wallabies face a must-win match to keep alive their hopes of regaining the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2022.
Nic White will start at scrumhalf, partnering with Noah Lolesio who returns at flyhalf, while Tom Wright has overcome an ankle complaint and will start as the fullback.
Australia celebrate. Photo Courtesy/KLCEE Fotos.
Wright’s return forces Andrew Kellaway back to the right wing, with Marika Koroibete remaining on the left edge as the blindside winger.
The starting forward pack is unchanged, with Angus Bell, Matt Faessler and Taniela Tupou in the run-on front row, with the side set to wear their First Nations jersey for the second time this year.
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Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams will continue their partnership as locks, with blindside flank Rob Valetini and skipper Harry Wilson joining McReight as the loose forward trio.
Sydney’s Brandon Paenga-Amosa will pull on the gold jersey for the first time since 2021 after returning to Australian rugby from France this year.
Australia in a world Cup action. Photo/World Cup/
He will join Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa in an experienced replacement front row.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has also overcome injury to be selected as the substitute lock, with Langi Gleeson to cover the back row.
Reds duo Tate McDermott and Tom Lynagh are the replacement halves for the second straight Test, with Wiradjuri man Dylan Pietsch rounding out the matchday 23.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 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 James Slipper, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Dylan Pietsch.
AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND
Date: Saturday, 21 September
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)
Local kick-off: 15:55
GMT kick-off: 5:55
NZL kick-off: 17:55
AUS (AEST) kick-off: 15:55
RSA kick-off: 7:45
ARG kick-off: 2:55
EAT kick-off: 8:45
