Brandon Paenga-Amosa will play his first Wallabies Test since leaving for France in 2021 after being named on the bench to face the All Blacks in Sydney on Saturday.
The injection of the 14-Test hooker, who was a big hit with Montpellier before returning home to chase more Wallabies caps, should add some grit to a scrum that was blown away in a record loss to Argentina in the Wallabies’ dismal last outing.
However BPA’s fitness and mobility is a concern because he hasn’t played since the end of March due to injury and only returned to full contact training over the past month.
Coach Joe Schmidt has been boosted by several returning players from that 67-27 defeat, which saw the Wallabies outgunned 50-7 in the second half in Santa Fe.
It also the first time in eight selections under Schmidt that the Wallabies won’t have a debutant – he has given 16 players their first caps in his short reign so far.
James Slipper has been named on the bench and will likely break George Gregan’s Wallaby Test record, having equalled it at 139 in the previous match.
Hunter Paisami has been named despite concerns over a knee injury that sidelined him for both matches in Argentina.
The only change in the forward pack from the defeat in Argentina sees Fraser McReight return after his broken thumb to replace Carlo Tizzano, who drops out of the 23. It is McReight’s first appearance in The Rugby Championship this season.
“There’s that buzz of playing the All Blacks, one of the best teams in the world, so there’s not going to be a worry about the team not getting up for it,” said McReight.
“They’re a great back row so I’m sure it’s going to be a great challenge in the next two games.
“They’ve got a fair few players there that have been around a while like Sam Cane who is closing in on 100 Tests as well as Ardie (Savea) and others. They’ve very dynamic and powerful.”
Taniela Tupou, who raised eyebrows with an early exit against Argentina, starts in the No.3 jersey, while Harry Wilson leads the team again.
There has been a shake-up in the halves, as reported by The Roar on Wednesday.
Nic White will start alongside former Brumbies teammate Noah Loesio, with Tate McDermott and Tom Lynagh in reserve and Jake Gordon and Ben Donaldson missing the 23.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “The players have reconnected well this week for our last game on home soil this year.”
“We’ve acknowledged the poor finish to our time in Argentina and we’re keen to turn that around on what will be a particularly special day for James and his family.”
Paenga-Amosa has rewarded for heading home to increase his tally of Wallabies caps.
Paenga-Amosa added that part of the reason behind his return to Australia was a desire to add to his Wallabies caps.
“For every Australian that plays rugby, your goal is to want to be a Wallaby,” he told The Roar Rugby Podcast. “So, of course, that’s a big part of why I wanted to come back home and just give it a crack.
“If I get the opportunity, I will take it and run with it. If I don’t, then it’s just not meant to be. But that’s definitely a goal for me to get back in the squad or to compete with the other hookers and essentially make the Wallaby jersey better, whether it’s pushing other players to be better, or it’s me being pushed to be better. I’m just trying to build rugby in Australia, essentially, bro.”
He was born in New Zealand and left as a four-year-old.
“Throughout primary school and most of high school I was like hard-out Kiwi,” he told stuff in 2021. “Like, people use to say to me, “Mate you’re Australian!” When I came back to New Zealand for Christmas, my cousins would call me ‘an Australian’. And I’d be like “Nah, bro, I’m a Kiwi that just lives in Australia. You know?”
Wallabies team to play New Zealand at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Saturday September 21 at 3:45pm AEST
1. Angus Bell (31 Tests)
2. Matt Faessler (10 Tests)
3. Taniela Tupou (54 Tests)
4. Nick Frost (19 Tests)
5. Jeremy Williams (6 Tests)
6. Rob Valetini (46 Tests)
7. Fraser McReight (20 Tests)
8. Harry Wilson (c) (17 Tests)
9. Nic White (69 Tests)
10. Noah Lolesio (23 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (62 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (29 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (33 Tests)
14. Andrew Kellaway (33 Tests)
15. Tom Wright (31 Tests)
Replacements
16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (14 Tests)
17. James Slipper (139 Tests)
18. Allan Alaalatoa (74 Tests)
19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (35 Tests)
20. Langi Gleeson (7 Tests)
21. Tate McDermott (35 Tests)
22. Tom Lynagh (3 Tests)
23. Dylan Pietsch (2 Tests)
MORE TO COME