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Nick Champion de Crespigny to make his Wallabies debut in opening Test against British and Irish Lions

Nick Champion de Crespigny to make his Wallabies debut in opening Test against British and Irish Lions

News.com.au6 days ago
Flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny will make his Test debut for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, but there is no room in the 23-man squad for veteran flyhalf James O'Connor.
Canberra product Champion de Crespigny, 29, only this year debuted in Super Rugby for Western Force after spending the previous three seasons playing for French Top 14 club Castres Olympique.
His inclusion, at the expense of the dropped Langi Gleeson, is one of four changes to the team that started in Australia's last-start 21-18 win over Fiji on July 6.
Coach Joe Schmidt had picked seven players with less than 15 Tests experiences, five with less than eight, and debutant de Crespigny in the starting line-up as the regeneration of the national team continues.
But key big men Will Skelton and Rob Valetini were both ruled out due to injury.
Flyhalf Tom Lynagh will replace the injured Noah Lolesio, becoming the first Wallabies player to follow in their father's footsteps in playing against the Lions after his did Michael also wore the No.10 Australian jersey against the tourists in 1989.
Lynagh will be partnered in the halves by Jake Gordon, with Tate McDermott dropping back to the bench.
The other change is at hooker, where Matt Faessler comes in for the injured David Porecki.
Ben Donaldson will be the back-up flyhalf, winning the bench spot ahead of O'Connor, who was called into Australia's extended 36-man series squad last week as the replacement of Lolesio, who had neck surgery after Australia's win over Fiji.
No.8 Harry Wilson has retained the captaincy, while veteran prop James Slipper will have the rare distinction of playing in two series against the Lions after also representing Australia against the British and Irish outfit in 2013.
Schmidt predicted a 'massive challenge' for his team.
'The whole squad has worked hard as a group to prepare for what's going to a massive challenge against an in-form Lions team,' Schmidt said.
'With the short runway leading up to such a big Test match, we know we must adapt fast and improve quickly, from the performance we had against Fiji recently.
'We're very much aware of the occasion and conscious of earning the support from the public through the effort they see on the field.'
Wallabies: James Slipper, Matt Faessler, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c), Jake Gordon, Tom Lynagh, Harry Potter, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright. Bench:
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