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Tom Banks handed No 15 jersey for Australia A in final tour match
Melbourne Rebels scrumhalf James Tuttle has been named to lead Australia A in their final match against the Japan XV in Osaka on Friday night.
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He will wear the number nine jersey and partner NSW playmaker Ben Donaldson who will start at flyhalf for the second time during the three-game series.
Twenty-Test Wallaby Tom Banks will start at fullback after making a successful return to the field last weekend via the bench from a broken arm. He’ll join NSW Waratahs excitement machine Mark Nawaqanitawase and flyer Suliasi Vunivalu in the back three.
An all-international front row sees Tom Robertson pack down at loosehead with hooker Lachlan Lonergan returning the side and Pone Fa’amausili the tighthead prop.
The versatile Ned Hanigan shifts into the second row alongside Queensland favourite Ryan Smith.
A rejigged back row sees Rory Scott earn his first start of the tour at blindside flanker, with Brad Wilkin maintaining a hold on the number seven jersey. Seru Uru is another who starts for the first time in Japan, anchoring the scrum at number eight.
Coach Jason Gilmore has also selected a new midfield pairing with fresh Force recruit Hamish Stewart and his former Queensland teammate Isaac Henry named at inside and outside centre respectively.
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Brumbies youngster Billy Pollard shifts back to the bench as the reserve hooker with Richie Asiata filling the unfamiliar role of the finishing loosehead prop. NSW’s Archer Holz is the replacement tighthead.
Wallabies lock Cadeyrn Neville moves to a finishing role with Perth’s Ollie Callan recalled to the 23 for Friday’s match.
After captaining the side in the first two games, Ryan Lonergan has been named to inject some energy as the reserve scrumhalf, with last weekend’s match-winner, Tane Edmed, set to get some game time as the replacement playmaker. His club teammate Dylan Pietsch will cover the remaining backs and rounds out the match-day 23.
The final game of Australia A’s tour to Japan will kick off at 8:30pm AEDT on Friday evening from Yodoko Sakura Stadium in Osaka.
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Australia A: Tom Banks, Suliasi Vunivalu, Isaac Henry, Hamish Stewart, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Ben Donaldson, James Tuttle, Seru Uru, Brad Wilkin, Rory Scott, Ryan Smith, Ned Hanigan, Pone Fa’amausili, Lachlan Lonergan, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Billy Pollard, Richie Asiata, Archer Holz, Cadeyrn Neville, Ollie Callan, Ryan Lonergan, Tane Edmed, Dylan Pietsch.
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments