Eddie Jones has named his first Wallabies matchday squad of 2023, with four players earning Test debuts against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Michael Hooper will co-captain the side along with prop James Slipper in the Rugby Championship clash.
Tom Hooper debuts
22-year-old Brumbies flanker Tom Hooper debuts at blindside flanker and is joined in the back-row by namesake Michael Hooper with Rob Valetini at number eight.
Will Skelton and Nick Frost combine in the second-row with tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa and hooker David Porecki joined by Wallabies co-captain Slipper up front.
Nic White and Quade Cooper are the starting half-backs, with Cooper returning to the squad having fully recovered from his ruptured Achilles. Cooper earns his start in South Africa since 2013.
Reece Hodge starts inside centre, combining in the midfield with Len Ikitau, who will wear the number 13 jersey for the 12th consecutive Test. Samu Kerevi provides midfield cover from the bench.
Reds speedster Suliasi Vunivalu earns his second Test cap and his first start for the Wallabies on the right wing, with Marika Koroibete on the left and Tom Wright at full-back.
Further debuts on the bench
There are three further debuts on the bench, with the youngest being 21-year-old tighthead prop Zane Nonggorr. He makes the squad as Taniela Tupou is still not ready to make his return from injury. Hooker Jordan Uelese and loosehead Matt Gibbon round out the front-row replacements.
Top 14 champion Richie Arnold is another in line for his first Test cap after being named on the bench along with fellow forward Pete Samu.
The backline replacements include Tate McDermott, Kerevi and the final debutant Carter Gordon.
“As a squad, the players have worked extremely hard since coming together as a group, and we’ve prepared well this week,” Jones said after naming his squad.
“The 23 players selected have an opportunity to be part of history with a win over South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday night.”
Wallabies team to face the Springboks
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper (c)
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Samu Kerevi, 23 Carter Gordon
Date: Saturday, July 8
Venue: Loftus Versveld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17:05 local (16:05 BST, 15:05 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)
READ MORE: Five storylines to follow ahead of the Rugby Championship clash between South Africa and Australia
The article Eddie Jones names four debutants in his first Wallabies team to face the Springboks appeared first on Planetrugby.com.
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