The Wallabies have more punch up front for the second Test against the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne, with Rob Valetini and Will Skelton added to the starting side for Saturday’s night’s clash at the MCG.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt unveiled his matchday 23 on Thursday afternoon, with two-time reigning John Eales Medalist Valetini and 2023 Rugby World Cup captain Skelton welcome sights on the teamsheet.
The Brumbies back-rower was sorely missed in last week’s 27-19 defeat in Brisbane, with Australia held to a paltry 79 first-half run metres, which was largely why they fell 12 points behind at the break.
But the Brumbies enforcer should improve the Wallabies’ ball-carrying considerably, and lay the platform for a backline that is unchanged from last week. It also marks a return home for the Melbournian, after he first began playing rugby with local club Harlequins.
Skelton, meanwhile, last played for the Wallabies against Scotland in Edinburgh last year, the La Rochelle lock’s huge frame set to bolster the Wallabies’ maul and add another key ball-carrying option alongside Valetini.
The experienced duo is joined up front by Waratahs hooker Dave Porecki, with the former Test captain replacing Matt Faessler in the front-row after the Queenslander looked underdone in Brisbane and struggled with his lineout targets.
“The squad has recovered well after a very physical first test and the week’s preparation here in Melbourne has allowed us a bit more time together,” Schmidt said via media release.
“We took some confidence from the second half last week, but we know we’ll need to improve further against a Lions team that will bring plenty of fire to the contest on Saturday night.”
Elsewhere, Schmidt resisted calls to bring Reds scrum-half Tate McDermott into the run-on side to partner with his Queensland teammate Tom Lynagh, with the Kiwi instead retaining Jake Gordon in the No. 9 jersey.
The backline remains unchanged from Brisbane as a result, with Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii lining up in the midfield for what will be their fifth Test start as a centre pairing.
Schmidt has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench in Melbourne with lock Jeremy Williams joined by Langi Gleeson, who also missed last week’s defeat through injury. Tom Hooper drops off last week’s replacement list, so too Andrew Kellaway with McDermott and Ben Donaldson providing backline cover.
Last week’s debutant Nick Champion de Crespigny drops out of the squad altogether because of Valetini’s return.
The Lions are fronting up for their second game in the space of five days, though only a handful of players from Tuesday’s night’s 24-19 win over the First Nations-Pasifika XV are expected to be named by coach Andy Farrell later Thursday.
The tourists will attempt to do what they have been unable to in their past two tours of Australia and win the second Test in Melbourne. But this will be the team’s first ever look at the MCG, with the second Test having been played across town at Marvel Stadium in 2001 and 2013.
WALLABIES TEAM FOR SECOND TEST
Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Allan Alaalatoa, Dave Porecki, James Slipper. Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson.
