Wilson, Hodge return for decider
Harry Wilson has been rushed into Australia’s starting lineup for the deciding third rugby test against England to add a harder edge in the forwards.
Wilson, a standout backrower for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby, missed selection for the first two tests in Perth and Brisbane after also being omitted from Australia’s end-of-year tour to Europe in 2021.
He is one of four changes to Australia’s starting XV for tomorrow’s match, with Reece Hodge returning at fullback, lock Nick Frost picked to make his starting debut and veteran James Slipper returning at loosehead prop.
Wilson will start on the blindside flank to make his 11th test appearance, joining skipper Michael Hooper and No8 Rob Valetini in the back row. Rob Leota drops to the bench to cover the second and back rows.
. ‘‘We know we’re a much better team than how we played in Brisbane and we’ve had a good week of preparation,’’ Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said yesterday.
The Wallabies won the series opener 30-28, despite being a man down for most of the match in Perth after Darcy Swain was redcarded, and England levelled the series with a 25-17 win in Brisbane.
Wilson scored five tries for the Reds, led the competition for carries during the Super Rugby Pacific season and was among the leaders for metres carried, offloads and tackles.
The English forwards dominated in the opening half-hour in the second test and led 19-0 before
Australia rallied to get within five points after an hour.
The Wallabies lost the physical contest over the ball at the start of both tests in the series, and Wilson’s inclusion and Leota on the bench for the Sydney test is Rennie’s option to help address that issue and a lack of depth in the second row.
Hodge will be the third starting fullback in three tests for Australia, wearing the No 15 jersey in Sydney after Tom Banks broke an arm in Perth and Jordan Petaia sustained a concussion in the third minute of the second test.
Frost will partner Matt Philip in the third different locking combination after Swain’s suspension and Cadeyrn Neville’s injury in the second test.
Rennie has also included Reds halfback Tate McDermott on the bench for the first time in the series as backup to starting No 9 Nic White, and given Suliasi Vunivalu a chance to make his test debut after including the former NRL star in the 23-man matchday squad.
England coach Eddie Jones has swapped his halfbacks for the deciding test with Danny Care reinstated into the starting side and Jack van Poortvliet dropping back to the bench.