Porecki gets Wallabies nod to erase Fiji demons
The hooker was named to face Fiji on Sunday in Newcastle in a forward pack that is missing big guns Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who both have calf injuries.
Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon and Red playmaker Tom Lynagh were also unavailable for selection as they make their way back from injury.
Starting at No.8, Harry Wilson has retained the Wallabies captaincy after leading the side on the northern hemisphere spring tour.
The Wallabies are gearing up for their first Test against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane on July 19, but are aware Fiji could rock those preparations.
Porecki is one of nine players backing up from their last clash during the 2023 tournament in France, where Fiji posted their first victory over the Wallabies in 69 years, winning 22-15.
He captained Australia in three World Cup matches with the Wallabies bowing out at the pool stage for the first time.
Porecki then missed all of 2024 due to a chronic Achilles issue and then battled a calf problem, but the 32-year-old did enough in the back end of the NSW season to impress Test coach Joe Schmidt.
"The whole squad has worked hard on and off the field and reconnected well with a short runway from our assembly through to the Test on Sunday against Fiji," Schmidt said in a statement."I think the players and the wider management are keen to get underway, especially in front of a big crowd here in Newcastle, as we kick off an exciting but incredibly demanding 2025 Test match schedule."
Porecki will anchor an experienced front row of James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa, with Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost the locks after five appearances in 2024.
Waratahs No.8 Langi Gleeson will start at blindside flanker with Fraser McReight on the other side of the scrum.
Tate McDermott and Noah Lolesio are the starting halves, while Len Ikitau will link in the centres with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who is playing is first Test in Australia.
Harry Potter in also making his home debut with Max Jorgensen the other wing and fullback Tom Wright rounding out the backline.
Wallabies: James Slipper, David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c), Tate McDermott, Noah Lolesio, Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Harry Potter, Tom Wright . Res: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu.
Dave Porecki is back in the Wallabies line-up for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where he captained Australia to a historic loss to Fiji.
The hooker was named to face Fiji on Sunday in Newcastle in a forward pack that is missing big guns Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who both have calf injuries.
Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon and Red playmaker Tom Lynagh were also unavailable for selection as they make their way back from injury.
Starting at No.8, Harry Wilson has retained the Wallabies captaincy after leading the side on the northern hemisphere spring tour.
The Wallabies are gearing up for their first Test against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane on July 19, but are aware Fiji could rock those preparations.
Porecki is one of nine players backing up from their last clash during the 2023 tournament in France, where Fiji posted their first victory over the Wallabies in 69 years, winning 22-15.
He captained Australia in three World Cup matches with the Wallabies bowing out at the pool stage for the first time.
Porecki then missed all of 2024 due to a chronic Achilles issue and then battled a calf problem, but the 32-year-old did enough in the back end of the NSW season to impress Test coach Joe Schmidt.
"The whole squad has worked hard on and off the field and reconnected well with a short runway from our assembly through to the Test on Sunday against Fiji," Schmidt said in a statement."I think the players and the wider management are keen to get underway, especially in front of a big crowd here in Newcastle, as we kick off an exciting but incredibly demanding 2025 Test match schedule."
Porecki will anchor an experienced front row of James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa, with Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost the locks after five appearances in 2024.
Waratahs No.8 Langi Gleeson will start at blindside flanker with Fraser McReight on the other side of the scrum.
Tate McDermott and Noah Lolesio are the starting halves, while Len Ikitau will link in the centres with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who is playing is first Test in Australia.
Harry Potter in also making his home debut with Max Jorgensen the other wing and fullback Tom Wright rounding out the backline.
Wallabies: James Slipper, David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c), Tate McDermott, Noah Lolesio, Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Harry Potter, Tom Wright . Res: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu.
Dave Porecki is back in the Wallabies line-up for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where he captained Australia to a historic loss to Fiji.
The hooker was named to face Fiji on Sunday in Newcastle in a forward pack that is missing big guns Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who both have calf injuries.
Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon and Red playmaker Tom Lynagh were also unavailable for selection as they make their way back from injury.
Starting at No.8, Harry Wilson has retained the Wallabies captaincy after leading the side on the northern hemisphere spring tour.
The Wallabies are gearing up for their first Test against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane on July 19, but are aware Fiji could rock those preparations.
Porecki is one of nine players backing up from their last clash during the 2023 tournament in France, where Fiji posted their first victory over the Wallabies in 69 years, winning 22-15.
He captained Australia in three World Cup matches with the Wallabies bowing out at the pool stage for the first time.
Porecki then missed all of 2024 due to a chronic Achilles issue and then battled a calf problem, but the 32-year-old did enough in the back end of the NSW season to impress Test coach Joe Schmidt.
"The whole squad has worked hard on and off the field and reconnected well with a short runway from our assembly through to the Test on Sunday against Fiji," Schmidt said in a statement."I think the players and the wider management are keen to get underway, especially in front of a big crowd here in Newcastle, as we kick off an exciting but incredibly demanding 2025 Test match schedule."
Porecki will anchor an experienced front row of James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa, with Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost the locks after five appearances in 2024.
Waratahs No.8 Langi Gleeson will start at blindside flanker with Fraser McReight on the other side of the scrum.
Tate McDermott and Noah Lolesio are the starting halves, while Len Ikitau will link in the centres with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who is playing is first Test in Australia.
Harry Potter in also making his home debut with Max Jorgensen the other wing and fullback Tom Wright rounding out the backline.
Wallabies: James Slipper, David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c), Tate McDermott, Noah Lolesio, Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Harry Potter, Tom Wright . Res: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu.
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The Advertiser
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Coach Joe Schmidt said Suaalii had the potential to produce solo brilliance but, more importantly, also bring teammates into the game. Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said it was their job to give him a platform to shine. "The way he carries himself is top class ... I'm just really excited and the more he gets his hands on the ball, the better it'll be for us," the skipper said. Flanker Fraser McReight expects Suaalii to "go hunting for the ball, because he wants to get involved" while scrumhalf Jake Gordon is confident he won't get ahead of himself on Saturday. "He's a pretty focused guy, a cluey guy and you can't really predict for stuff," he said. Tuipulotu, a former Junior Wallaby and Melbourne Rebels player, will be the first Australian since Tom Richards in 1910 to play in a Test match for the Lions. 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"We've seen him perform many-a-time in big games," Lions coach Andy Farrell said of Tuipulotu, who qualifies due to his Scottish grandmother. "He seems to be that type of player, when he goes over the whitewash, he's just being himself. "His energy he gives off is infectious. I've enjoyed watching him and (centres partner) Huw (Jones) ... understanding what they can bring to the team. "Both have got pretty freakish ability and we need to see all of that come out." The Lions are heavy favourites to repeat their 2013 triumph and, after five wins since landing in the country, are targeting a rare 3-0 whitewash. The Wallabies are without injured stars Rob Valetini and Will Skelton but have shown progress under Joe Schmidt since failing to progress from the World Cup group stage for the first time in 2023. Former English rugby league and rugby union representative Farrell, now coach of Ireland, admits he's rarely faced an Australian team that's carried such an underdog status. "I'm sure they'll want to prove a point in regards to that kind of thinking," he said. The corresponding fixture 12 years ago is remembered for Wallabies replacement Kurtley Beale slipping as he attempted the match-winning penalty goal. Beale blames himself for not wearing metal studs in the 23-21 loss. "It's a bit slippery to be honest. We'll be packing some decent studs," Wilson smirked of the surface on Friday when reminded of the incident. "Obviously this field gets quite a lot of traffic. It's something we're wary of ... hoping to not make the same mistake." Wallabies teammates expect Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to relish the occasion when the moment that lured him back to rugby arrives alongside a "freakish" head-to-head battle. The NRL convert is the host's trump card in a spicy midfield clash when the British & Irish Lions begin their Test series in Brisbane on Saturday. 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ABC News
an hour ago
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British and Irish Lions ready for first Test against Wallabies, with the time for talking now over
The time for talking is over for the British and Irish Lions, with the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane little more than 24 hours away. There's been quite a bit of talking, too. Ben Earl told the Guardian last week the squad had been open about "being one of the best Lions teams." Henry Pollock, with all the enthusiasm and confidence of youth, sang from the same team sheet. "We want to come here and be the best Lions team ever," the 20-year-old said this week. "We have been talking about that loads and 3-0 is definitely on the table, hopefully. "We are all trying to strive to be the best team we can be and get that 3-0 win." Given the Lions have not, in a standalone tour, won a Test series 3-0 since 1891 — also against Australia — that's quite some confidence. It's riled some people up too, former Wallaby Chris Latham included. "For me, and I'm sure for every Aussie, it's like, 'OK, righto. We'll shut you up'", Latham told the UK's Telegraph. "I'm a Queenslander and it's ingrained in us to be underdogs and be able to pull a win out from nothing. "This is perfect for us. I've been feeling this now for the last probably three, four weeks while the Lions have been thrashing everyone else and getting cockier and cockier. "Everything you read, it's about 'how good are we' and 'we're building' and 'this is so great'. It's like, 'Yeah, you keep talking that, you keep believing that.'" The question would be, should the Lions believe it? This is a hugely experienced Lions team, with 933 caps worth of experience to call upon in their starting line-up and another 370 on the bench. The Wallabies have less than half that in their line-up, just 408 caps in their starting XV. Of those, 143 caps belong to James Slipper alone, with 80 on the other side of the front row with Alan Alaalatoa. And yet, the Lions have not won a Test series since beating Australia 2-1 in 2013 — although they did draw, memorably, against New Zealand in 2017. Before that, the 2-1 victory over South Africa in 1997 was their only other series triumph in the last 30 years. A hit rate of just two series victories in their last eight shows just how hard it is for the Lions to win Test matches on tour after a month of crisscrossing the continent or, perhaps more pertinently, being beaten up by local sides. Historically, victories over Australia have been much easier to come by than South Africa and New Zealand. Overall, the Wallabies have won just two of the nine series they have played against the Lions: the one-off Test in 1930 and in 2001. In that time, the Wallabies have only won six of 23 Test matches against the vaunted tourists. New Zealand, by contrast, have won 30 of 21, and South Africa, 26 of 50 — which all suggests that the strength of the local sides plays more of a role than cross-country travel. Back to the present day though and, even accounting for the obvious issues around bringing together a group of disparate players from different countries and melding them into a cohesive unit, has this Lions team been ripping up trees on tour so far? Against the Force and Reds, the points eventually flowed but against the Waratahs and Brumbies, the Lions looked rather limp, disjointed and anaemic in attack, penalty-prone at the breakdown, laborious at the lineout and, frankly, disappointing in defence. The Lions also lost to Argentina in Dublin before leaving for Australia. To put that shock into perspective, an under-strength England have have since won back-to-back Tests against that same side in South America. Yes, the 48-0 battering of the AUNZ invitational team was much, much better from the Lions: there was a directness in their running and slickness in their handling that had been almost entirely absent in the opening few tour matches. But how much of that was down to the aforementioned issues of bringing different players together — however talented — on short notice? "There's no overconfidence at all," Lions coach Andy Farrell said this week. "It's having an inner confidence within our group that we are going to go execute the plan when it matters. "There's a realisation of what it is and what it means and how privileged we are, but that does not get in the way of how we prepare to make sure that we allow ourselves to be the best version of ourselves." Farrell has picked a side for this first Test in Brisbane that is relatively safe when it comes to it — much in the same way he picked his squad as a whole. An all-Scottish 10-12-13 axis makes sense — Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones play together well and contain the necessary heft to match the Wallabies' own dynamic midfield duo of Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. This will be the key battle in the back line, with potential flashpoints simmering as four physically imposing centres all look to get the early shot that lays down a marker for the rest of the series — patience will be necessary, from Suaalii in particular, as his suspect tackling technique is laid bare for examination. There are no surprises in the tight five and the outside backs, given the injury to Blair Kinghorn, with Hugo Keenan stepping in. The back row was always going to be debatable and there Farrell has gone for power and experience — all three of Jack Conan, Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne have previous Lions Test match experience. However, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and new man Nick Champion de Crespigny should not and will not be overawed and should have the upper edge when it comes to the breakdown due to their immense jackling abilities. Which makes Jac Morgan's omission all the more glaring. Not only does it mean that Wales is without a representative in a Lions Test squad against one of the Southern Hemisphere's big three for the first time since 1896 — although historical appeasement should never be the deciding factor in Test selection — his performances on tour have been very impressive. The last time the Lions played in Brisbane, eight of the tourists' starting XV were Welsh, with two more on the bench. How the mighty have fallen. Perhaps his non-selection over Curry comes down to how the Englishman bullied the Welshman at the Millenium Stadium back in March's Six Nations flogging. "You're actually gutted for players like Jac, Josh [van der Flier] and Henry because, playing good rugby, they could easily have been in this side," Farrell said. "I suppose it just shows the good place we're at as a group." Pollock, for all his chat and exuberant performances, will not have a chance to put the Lions on the first step towards a whitewash, having been left off the bench as Farrell weighed up his back-row options. Earl will play, though, Ollie Chessum the other option to provide back-row cover in a strong bench, albeit one split 5:3 to match the Wallabies and negate the Springboks' blitz-boks impact style. That's it now, then. No more experimenting. No more chopping and changing. These are the 23 who will look to write their names down in Lions history. Lang Park will be packed to the rafters, the sea of red singing their hearts out. The talking is done. Game on. Wallabies match-day squad: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Allan Alaalatoa, Matt Faessler, James Slipper Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway Lions match-day squad: Hugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, Maro Itoje (c), Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge Reserves: Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki
