Wallabies throw Lolesio in deep end as Rennie bloods four fresh faces

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has turned to Brumbies young gun Noah Lolesio to lead the team at five-eighth in the absence of star playmaker James O’Connor.

Lolesio, 21, will start his first Test since wearing the No.10 jersey in the Wallabies’ 43-5 flogging at the hands of the All Blacks at Stadium Australia last year.

Noah Lolesio will replace James O’Connor at five-eighth.Credit:Stuart Walmsley/Rugby AU

O’Connor suffered a groin injury soon after entering Wallabies camp at Sanctuary Cove and could not prove his fitness in time for the Test at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

Lolesio will form a new-look halves combination with Waratahs captain Jake Gordon, who will start in place of an injured Nic White just one month after he feared his season would be cut short by a knee injury.

There are no debutants in the starting XV but Rennie will blood some fresh faces from the bench.

Lachlan Lonergan, Darcy Swain, Len Ikitau and Andrew Kellaway could all make their Test debuts on Wednesday.

Lonergan, Swain and Ikitau were expected to figure somewhere in Rennie’s 23-man squad but Kellaway is a bolter.

Wallabies team to face France at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, July 7

1. James Slipper (100 Tests); 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (8 Tests); 3. Allan Alaalatoa (43 Tests); 4. Matt Philip (9 Tests); 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (25 Tests); 6. Rob Valetini (4 Tests); 7. Michael Hooper (c) (105 Tests); 8. Harry Wilson (6 Tests); 9. Jake Gordon (5 Tests); 10. Noah Lolesio (2 Tests); 11. Marika Koroibete (32 Tests); 12. Matt To’omua (54 Tests); 13. Hunter Paisami (6 Tests); 14. Tom Wright (3 Tests); 15. Tom Banks (11 Tests)

Replacements

16. Lachlan Lonergan*; 17. Angus Bell (3 Tests); 18. Taniela Tupou (25 Tests); 19. Darcy Swain*; 20. Isi Naisarani (8 Tests); 21. Tate McDermott (2 Tests); 22. Len Ikitau*; 23. Andrew Kellaway*

*denotes uncapped

He only returned to the Melbourne Rebels for the trans-Tasman portion of the Super Rugby season and was a surprise inclusion in the squad Rennie took to Sanctuary Cove.

But he has been preferred over established utility Reece Hodge, who has not been named in the 23.

In the centres, Matt To’omua has proved his fitness in time to take the No.12 jersey. He will partner Hunter Paisami, who has quickly morphed into one of the more promising prospects in Australian rugby.

There are no surprises out wide. Marika Koroibete and Tom Wright will start on the wings and Tom Banks will line up at fullback.

Up front, Rennie turned to players who impressed during his first season as coach.

One of two 100-Test players in the squad, James Slipper will start at loosehead prop.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa has won the tight race for the No.2 jersey, though Feleti Kaitu’u was not considered for selection due to injury.

Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa will start at tighthead prop but is expected to split minutes down the middle with Taniela Tupou.

Matt Philip and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will resume their partnership in the second row. In the back row, Michael Hooper will play his 106th Test alongside Harry Wilson and Rob Valetini.

Isi Naisarani, who will play in the Top League next season, has earned a recall to the bench after not forming part of Rennie’s plans last year.

Tate McDermott is the replacement halfback and Waratahs prop Angus Bell will come off the bench.

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