Wallabies shuffle deck
THE Wallabies have been forced to reshuffle their backline for the second Test against England after winger Andrew Kellaway was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Jordan Petaia will now start at fullback, while Brumbies flyer Tom Wright, Waratahs star Izaia Perese and dual-code gun Suliasi Vunivalu will battle for the vacant wing spot.
Prop Taniela Tupou is expected to return straight to the starting side at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium after a lengthy injury layoff, replacing Allan Alaalatoa, who was ruled out
with concussion from the first Test win in Perth. After Tom Banks broke his arm at Optus Stadium in the first half of the 30-28 victory, Kellaway jumped from wing to fullback while Petaia came off the bench to the wing, scoring Australia’s first try and generally performing well.
While he’s played fullback for Queensland, Petaia has never started in the No.15 jersey for Australia.
The 22-year-old will have started in four different Wallabies backline positions after this Saturday; both wings, outside centre, and fullback, matching Reece Hodge and Adam Ashley-Cooper in the versatility stakes.
With lock Darcy Swain suspended for two weeks for his headbutt on rival Jonny Hill, Matt Philip is set to come into the starting side as the chief lineout caller, a role he took on last weekend after the red card.
That leaves the potential for Brumbies rookie Nick Frost to make his debut off the bench.
Quade Cooper will not feature this weekend after straining his calf moments before kick-off last week, so Noah Lolesio is set to keep the No.10 jersey, with James O’Connor the obvious back-up candidate.
Wallabies defence coach Matt Taylor says their response to the numerous unfolding injuries and Swain’s send-off in Perth showed the team is heading in the right direction.
“The squad’s been building for a number of years now, one of the great things about that Test match was our ability to adapt with all the changes and things going against us,” Taylor said.
“I think that’s the sign of a good team.
“I don’t know when the last time Australia has beaten England twice in a row, I would suggest it’s been a while considering we hadn’t beaten them in a while since the weekend, so we’re really focused and driven to put in a good performance at Suncorp.”
After breaking an eightmatch losing streak against England last weekend, Australia will be looking to seal the series with back-to-back wins against their old foe for the first time since 2009-10.
The Wallabies defeated England at Twickenham on their 2009 spring tour, then defeated them in Perth the following June.
Since then, England has won 12 of 15 Tests between the two nations.