Tane Edmed is in line to become the 19th debutant for Australia this year, with Joseph Suaalii declared fit to face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Suaalii will partner Len Ikitau in midfield for the Wallabies’ season-ending Test after head coach Joe Schmidt faced an anxious wait on the extent of the cross-code star’s arm injury during Australia’s defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield.
It will be the third time Suaalii, who switched to union after starting his professional career in the NRL with the Sydney Roosters, combines with Ikitau on the Wallabies’ Grand Slam tour of Europe.
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Edmed, meanwhile, has been named on the bench, while Harry Wilson skippers the side from No 8.
“It’s been a challenging year where we have grown a bit as a squad, and we have an opportunity to challenge ourselves again against what is a settled and cohesive Ireland team,” said Schmidt.
Schmidt, who coached Ireland between 2013-19, has overseen victories over England (42-37) and Wales (52-20) before a 27-13 defeat by Scotland last week.
That loss dashed his side’s hopes of emulating the 1984 Grand Slam-winning Wallaby tourists.
Australia – 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joseph Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon;, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 James Slipper.
Sub: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Harry Potter.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
