St.George Queensland Reds Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami and Brandon Paenga-Amosa have been named to start for the Wallabies in Bledisloe Two at Eden Park this Saturday night.
Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Lotoa and Harry Wilson will come off the bench as the side look to keep the series alive against the All Blacks in Auckland.
The experienced Matt To’omua has been elevated to inside centre for the must win match at Eden Park while Matt Philip starts in the second row.
The front row remains the same for the third consecutive week, James Slipper the starting loosehead prop alongside hooker Paenga-Amosa with the reliable Allan Alaalatoa at tighthead prop.
Philip will partner Darcy Swain in their first Test start together in the second row, while Swinton’s inclusion has forced a reshuffle of the loose forwards that sees Rob Valetini move to no. 8.
Michael Hooper will skipper the side for the 57th time at openside flanker.
The young halves pairing of McDermott and Noah Lolesio get another chance to build on their combination, with Paisami moving to outside centre to partner To’omua in the midfield.
After an impressive Bledisloe Cup debut, Rebels flyer Andrew Kellaway earns his second start in Wallaby gold alongside Koroibete and fullback Tom Banks in the back three.
67-Test capped prop Scott Sio has been named in his first Wallabies side of 2021 as the finishing loosehead.
Jordan Uelese is the replacement hooker with Tupou set to share the minutes with Alaalatoa at tighthead prop.
Reds duo Salakaia-Loto and Wilson will cover the second and backrow. Brumbies number nine Nic White is also set for his first appearance for the Wallabies in 2021 after recovering from a knee injury.
He’s joined on the pine by club teammate Len Ikitau and the versatile Reece Hodge who rounds out the matchday 23.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “Eden Park is a place that most teams fear but we’re excited to get another crack after last weekend’s disappointment.”
“To beat New Zealand, you have to win the collisions and be clinical for 80 minutes and we didn’t do that.
“We’ve got a lot more in us and we’ll show that on Saturday night.”
Stan Sport will showcase Saturday night’s Bledisloe Cup Test ad-free, live and on demand while it will also be simulcast on 9Gem.
Very limited tickets will be available for the Bledisloe Cup Test at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday 28 August and available via Ticketmaster.
Wallabies team to play New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday 14 August, 7:05pm NZST
1. James Slipper (104 Tests)
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (13 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (47 Tests)
4. Darcy Swain (4 Tests)
5. Matt Philip (13 Tests)
6. Lachlan Swinton (2 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (109 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (8 Tests)
9. Tate McDermott (6 Tests)
10. Noah Lolesio (6 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (37 Tests)
12. Matt To’omua (58 Tests)
13. Hunter Paisami (10 Tests)
14. Andrew Kellaway (3 Tests)
15. Tom Banks (15 Tests)
Replacements
16. Jordan Uelese (14 Tests)
17. Scott Sio (68 Tests)
18. Taniela Tupou (29 Tests)
19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (29 Tests)
20. Harry Wilson (9 Tests)
21. Nic White (37 Tests)
22. Len Ikitau (3 Tests)
23. Reece Hodge (47 Tests)
