Wallabies forced into hooker change after Faessler injury

Sat, Nov 23, 2024, 11:12 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson

The Wallabies have been forced into a change at hooker after Matt Faessler was ruled out of their clash with Scotland on Monday (AEDT).

It sees Brandon Paenga-Amosa elevated to the starting side, with Billy Pollard coming onto the bench 

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Faessler was originally named for Monday’s Test before succumbing to a calf injury.

The Reds front-rower is coming off a hat-trick against Wales, the first hooker to do so in the gold jersey.

Faessler has been one of the most consistent starters under coach Joe Schmidt, featuring in nine games in 2024.

It paves the way for Paenga-Amosa to start, with the Force hooker last starting for the Wallabies in 2021 against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Pollard returns to the Wallabies side for the first time since August in the Rugby Championship.

The Brumby has added three caps throughout 2024, to his maiden appearance, starting against Georgia in July.

Australia XV hooker Josh Nasser will join the squad in Dublin as further cover.

It adds to the changes for coach Joe Schmidt, who recalled Harry Wilson and Jake Gordon to the side after injuries in the England win.

Flanker Carlo Tizzano also starts for the first time on the Spring Tour whilst Force team-mate Jeremy Williams returns in the second row.

The Wallabies are hunting to keep their dreams of a first Grand Slam in 40 years alive as they deal with the frozen conditions in Edinburgh.

Schmidt detailed the havoc the conditions had caused in the build-up, with their training moved to the heated turf of Murrayfield amid the frozen fields.

“They let us onto Murrayfield so that we could train and it meant that we could actually get a session on the grass and hopefully that just sharpens the boys ready for Sunday,” Schmidt said.

“We would certainly go lighter and less duration and less density. We wouldn’t do as much in a short space of time, which is fine and at this end of the season, maybe it’s not a bad thing.”

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