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Eddie Jones makes surprise selection in Wallabies team for Georgia
Two days out from the Wallabies’ opening Test of the Rugby World Cup, coach Eddie Jones has swung a surprise selection call with utility Ben Donaldson named to start at fullback.
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Donaldson, 24, has only played three Test matches in Wallaby gold, which includes just a single appearance under coach Jones this year – coming off the bench against France two weeks.
But Donaldson is another goal-kicking option for the Wallabies, which may be music to the ears of their supporters as flyhalf Carter Gordon continues to struggle for form.
The Wallabies have lost all five Test matches this year, and they’ll be desperate to turn their fortunate around against Georgia at Stade de France on Saturday.
Coach Jones has turned to an inexperienced side for their World Cup opener, with the team boasting the fewest total Test caps – 343 across the board – for an Australian team at a World Cup since their pool play clash with Namibia in 2003.
Including the likes of Donaldson and Gordon, 17 of the 23 players in the matchday squad are set to make their World Cup debuts this weekend.
“The Rugby World Cup is the biggest stage in the world and the players can see the opportunity that’s ahead of them over the next eight weeks,” coach Jones said in a statement.
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“With the youngest team at the Rugby World Cup, the excitement level in the group is high and we’ve had a good preparation for the tournament working hard on our game.
“All 20 teams are at the starting line now and it’s important we get off to a fast start against Georgia on Saturday night.”
The Wallabies are nearly a full-strength for this clash with Georgia, and have named a relatively same side compared to the one picked to play Les Bleus two weeks ago.
Prop Angus Bell joins David Porecki and Taniela Tupou in an unchanged front row, with Tupou set to make his 50th appearance in Wallaby gold.
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The gigantic second-row duo of Richie Arnold and Will Skelton will add a sense of physicality and fury to the Aussies’ pack. They’ll be joined by loose forwards Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini.
Vice-captain Tate McDermott will link up with young Carter Gordon in the halves again, but they’ll be boosted by the return of world-class talent Samu Kerevi at inside centre.
Kerevi is one of the three changes to the Wallabies’ backline along with the return of Marika Koroibete and the inclusion of Donaldson.
Jordan Petaia and Mark Nawaqanitawase will line up at No. 13 and 14 respectively.
The match between Australia and Georgia at the Rugby World Cup kicks off at 6.00 pm CET / 2.00 am at Stade de France in Paris.
Wallabies team to play Georgia
- Angus Bell
- David Porecki
- Taniela Tupou
- Richie Arnold
- Will Skelton (c)
- Tom Hooper
- Fraser McReight
- Rob Valetini
- Tate McDermott
- Carter Gordon
- Marika Koroibete
- Samu Kerevi
- Jordan Petaia
- Mark Nawaqanitawase
- Ben Donaldson
Finishers
- Matt Faessler
- Blake Schoupp
- Zane Nonggorr
- Rob Leota
- Langi Gleeson
- Nic White
- Lalakai Foketi
- Suliasi Vunivalu
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
41 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
41 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
41 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
39 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
41 Go to comments