Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has made mass changes to his starting team for Saturday’s series-deciding third rugby union Test against France in Brisbane.
Livewire attacking halfback Tate McDermott, centre Len Ikitau and lock Darcy Swain get their first starting roles for Australia while hard-hitting backrower Lachie Swinton goes straight into the run-on team for his first Test of the year.
In all Rennie made seven personnel changes and one positional switch to the starting side amid another short turnaround – three Tests in 11 days – with the match coming just four days after France beat the Wallabies 28-26 in Melbourne to level the series.
Some Wallabies fans will be disappointed to see prop Taniela Tupou relegated to a bench role after another powerhouse performance when promoted to start at AAMI Park, with Allan Alaalatoa returning to the starting role.
However, Tupou did much to turn the first Test in Australia’s favour with his scrummaging and ball-running when introduced during the second half in Brisbane last week.
Swain will partner Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the second row while Isi Naisarani will start at No.8 for the first time since the 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, combining with skipper Michael Hooper and Swinton in a new-look backrow as Rob Valetini is benched.
The Wallabies v France series will be shown on TV across the Nine Network. The second Test between the Wallabies and France will be live on Nine on Tuesday night. The game will be ad-free, live and on demand, with extended coverage on Stan Sport.
This series will be the first rugby test shown on Stan Sport and Nine. Earlier this year, Stan Sport and Nine announced former Wallabies great David Campese and former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika were joining its rugby commentary team. They join hosts and journalists Roz Kelly and Nick McArdle, former Wallabies Tim Horan, Morgan Turinui, Drew Mitchell, and Justin Harrison, in addition to All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens and former dual-code international star Allana Ferguson.
Wallabies v France Game Three, Saturday 17 July, 7:30pm AEST at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane