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By Sam Phillips and Tom Decent
October 8, 2020 — 3.02pm
From Sydney Morning Herald
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie will throw uncapped Queensland Reds trio Harry Wilson, Filipo Daugunu and Hunter Paisami straight into the Bledisloe Cup furnace.
The Herald can reveal the trio are set to start against the All Blacks in Wellington on Sunday as a reward for their superb Super Rugby AU seasons.
And star Brumbies prospect Noah Lolesio may well join the three run-on debutants, having been named on the bench.
Wilson, 20, was the standout No.8 in Australia during the domestic season. His metre-eating carries and incredibly skilful offload game were one of the focal points of the attack of Reds coach Brad Thorn.
Daugunu has been the Reds' highlight machine in recent years.
The Fijian flyer – who gave up his dreams of becoming Fijian soccer's top goalkeeper just five years ago – brings a similar level of finishing ability to the fold as fellow Fijian Marika Koroibete, who will start on the other wing.
But he is also capable of some absurd playmaking – all while running at top speed – in open play.
Paisami is the unknown quantity of the trio. The 22-year-old was sleeping in his agent's office less than 18 months ago, having been dumped by the Melbourne Rebels. The Reds handed him a lifeline and he burst onto the scene this year while Jordan Petaia nursed injuries.
Paisami's explosive carries and big hits in defence will prove invaluable outside Rennie's two-playmaker, 10-12 combination.
Paisami's inclusion in Rennie's starting XV has in part come about due to the absence of Petaia. The Wallabies have insisted for weeks the star centre would be available but sources told the Herald he had not spent enough time on the training paddock to be considered for selection.
Wallabies defence coach Matt Taylor flagged the absence of Petaia on Wednesday.
"Sometimes that is to do with training times and combinations and time on ground and things like that," Taylor said.
Lolesio was considered a chance of beating James O'Connor to the prized No.10 jersey but Rennie opted to ease the 20-year-old into the Test arena.
O'Connor will start alongside Nic White in the halves, as Rennie opts for experience in key positions.
Matt To'omua will line up inside Paisami in the centres.
Tom Banks has won the race for the No.15 jersey, joining Daugunu and Koroibete in the back three.
Up front, James Slipper has earned first crack at loosehead prop. He will pack down alongside Folau Fainga'a and Reds superstar Taniela Tupou.
It was made clear from the first few weeks of Wallabies camp that Rennie viewed Lukhan Salakaia-Loto as a lock and he has been named alongside Matt Philip.
Pete Samu joins captain Michael Hooper and Wilson in the back row.
Lolesio has been named on the bench alongside fellow ACT star Rob Valetini, whose only Test came against Samoa before last year's World Cup.
"There are a lot of players who are here who have put their hands up in terms of selection," Taylor said. "It’s good that is the case because whenever you select a squad, you want guys putting their hand up.
"I certainly think that most of the squad have put themselves in a position to be selected and we’ve just got to work on the best team that we think has the ability to win this Test match.
"There might be a few surprises in terms of what people think but probably not surprises to us in terms of how they’ve operated or performed in the environment."
Wallabies' starting XV:
1. James Slipper,
2. Folau Fainga'a,
3. Taniela Tupou,
4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto,
5. Matt Philip,
6. Pete Samu,
7. Michael Hooper,
8. Harry Wilson,
9. Nic White,
10. James O'Connor,
11. Marika Koroibete,
12. Matt To'omua,
13. Hunter Paisami,
14. Filipo Daugunu,
15. Tom Banks.
Exile
Sydney
"Pain heels. Chicks dig scars and Glory lasts forever." Shane Falco
lots of good ocker names there,lol
You won’t win many line outs with that forward pack. O’Connor and White’s kicking was dreadful in the Final. Straight to the opposition back three in centre field.
You swear the Reds are the bees knees they only beat the SunWolves and the Bulls before the season closed. Most of the Australian teams in the domestic comp were below the standard of most of the overseas opposition.
'I may be a Senator but I am not stupid'
https://omny.fm/shows/the-alan-jones-breakfast-show/cameron-clyne
Link to Senate Report http://www.aph.gov.au/senate_ca
https://www.change.org/p/rugby-australia-petition-for-cameron-clyne-to-resign-as-chairman-of-the-rugby-australia-board
God damn! Do they ever learn anything! ‘Ere we go again....... sigh.
And. ....Paisami is the unknown quantity of the trio. The 22-year-old was sleeping in his agent's office less than 18 months ago, having been dumped by the Melbourne Rebels. The Reds handed him a lifeline and he burst onto the scene this year while Jordan Petaia nursed injuries.” Why couldn’t the bloody agent give the kid a room in his own home -pretty sure he’s made a good cut in fees out of him. Pack of vultures.
Mo'unga, Barrett included as Foster opts for experience in All Blacks team to defend Bledisloe Cup
TODAY AT 10:00 AM INTERNATIONAL
by Christy Doran
Just as they did in their World Cup semi-final loss, playmakers Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett have been named in Ian Foster's first All Blacks side to take on the Wallabies at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Sunday.
The decision to select the playmakers in the run-on side comes as no surprise, but once again it has ramifications with New Zealand's inform fullback Jordie Barrett shifted to the right-wing to accommodate his older brother.
On the whole Foster, who served as Steve Hansen's assistant coach for eight years, has opted for experience.
All three debutants - lock Tupou Vaa'i, backrower Hoskins Sotutu and winger Caleb Clarke - will come off the bench.
Foster will square up against Dave Rennie, who won back to back titles with the Chiefs after replacing the All Blacks coach in his first two years at the New Zealand club in 2012, for the first time.
Rennie has selected four debutants in his Wallabies squad.
Unsurprisingly Ardie Savea has been named in the backrow alongside fellow onballer and captain Sam Cane.
The duo will be joined in the back-row by Shannon Frizell, who returned to form for the Highlanders in 2020.
Up front, the All Blacks are missing Brodie Retallick is the glaring omission with the former World Rugby player of the year on sabbatical in Japan.
He has been replaced in the side by Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu.
"We really wanted to see how players adapted and fitted in and how comfortable they were coming back into the environment and so there were a number of positions that we wanted to keep an open mind about," Foster said.
"We're excited by the group. There's a lot of talent in there and we've got players jumping out of their skin and wanting an opportunity. It's been fantastic to come together and know at the end of the week there's a Test match. There's been a lot of hard work, but the tightness of the group and the desire and the excitement about playing an international game is right up there."
ALL BLACKS (1-15): Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Ofa Tuungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Whitelock, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane (c), Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo'unga, George Bridge, Jack Goodhue,Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Beauden Barrett
RESERVES: Dane Coles, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Nepo Laulala,Tupou Vaa'i, Hoskins Sotutu, TJ Perenara, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/1...eauden-barrett
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Gordon, Hodge on the bench.
WALLABIES (1-15): James Slipper, Folau Fainga'a, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Matt Philip, Harry Wilson, Michael Hooper, Pete Samu, Nic White, James O'Connor, Marika Koroibete, Matt To'omua, Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu, Tom Banks
RESERVES: Jordan Uelese, Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Simmons, Rob Valetini, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Reece Hodge
All lacks weak at lock, Philip and salakaia-loto are a good chance of winning at least one line out.
Wallabies weak at lock, back row (no, I don't rate Pete Samu, I think he's gone missing far too often at test level) scrum-half and debutantes in the centres and outside backs
All Blacks by plenty unless Rennie is the miracle worker the Moore Park bunker thinks he is. It appears the brief has been to build a winning team out of exactly the same selection processes that we've always had.
C'mon the![]()
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Anyone looking for a place to watch on Sunday morning,will be open from 10am and will be doing a Breaky Roll and Pint for $20
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80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
100% force Jersey Bison
C'mon the![]()
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11am
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
If this is the best team that we can select from all available players the the Wallabies are going to suffer a lot of pain for some time.
Can we please get rid of the Giteau Rule
Personally, I think this is a very good Wallabies side.
I would rather see DHP at Fullback but his run of injuries this year put paid to that. Rob Simmons and Jake Gordon are both over-rated IMHO they have probably been selected on the bench because of their level of experience. I just don't see it. Otherwise, it's a good team. I think that the scores will be very close with the likely scenario being that The Darkness will run away with the win with the late score showing that the final score was not a true reflection of the match.
Exile
Sydney
"Pain heels. Chicks dig scars and Glory lasts forever." Shane Falco