Experienced pair Jake Gordon and Will Skelton have been named to start for the Wallabies in Saturday’s sold-out second Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth.
They are two of five changes to the starting XV from last weekend’s Test in Auckland, with Filipo Daugunu earning his first start of the year on the left wing, Allan Alaalatoa starting at tighthead prop, and Tane Edmed selected to partner NSW teammate Gordon in the halves.
Alaalatoa will start in an all-Brumbies front row, with Billy Pollard named at hooker and Australian record holder James Slipper at loosehead prop in what will be his 151st and final appearance in Wallaby gold - the Test serving as the deciding round of the 2025 Flight Centre Rugby Championship.
Skelton reignites his combination with Nick Frost in the second row, while there is an unchanged loose forward trio of Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson - with the side set to wear their First Nations jersey for what is their final home Test of 2025.
Centre partners Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will continue to build their connection in the midfield, while Daugunu joins winger Harry Potter and fullback Max Jorgensen in the back three.
Queensland’s Josh Nasser has been named as the replacement hooker, with Tom Robertson and Taniela Tupou the substitute props.
Western Force skipper Jeremy Williams will play in front of his adopted hometown of Perth for the first time, while back-to-back John Eales Medallist Rob Valetini is named on the bench after recovering from calf tightness.
Newly capped scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan earns another chance in gold having come on to play 62 minutes in his debut last weekend, with James O’Connor the replacement playmaker. The versatile Josh Flook rounds out the matchday 23 in what will be his first Test of 2025.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “The squad has dusted themselves off from the disappointment in Auckland and they’ve worked away this week, in preparation for what’s going to be another torrid Test match against New Zealand on Saturday.
“The support has been fantastic this year, especially when playing in Australia, and we’ll be hoping to put in a performance that is worthy of that support in our final home Test of 2025.”
1. James Slipper (150 Tests) - #843; Bond Pirates
2. Billy Pollard (15 Tests) - #958; Lindfield Junior Rugby Club
3. Allan Alaalatoa (84 Tests) – #896; West Harbour Juniors
4. Nick Frost (33 Tests) - #953; Hornsby Lions
5. Will Skelton (36 Tests) - #883; Hills Sports High School
6. Tom Hooper (18 Tests) - #964; Bathurst Bulldogs
7. Fraser McReight (34 Tests) – #937; Albany Creek Brumbies
8. Harry Wilson (c) (30 Tests) - #933; Gunnedah Red Devils
9. Jake Gordon (31 Tests) - #925; Canterbury Juniors
10. Tane Edmed (3 Tests) - #990; West Harbour Juniors
11. Filipo Daugunu (14 Tests) - #931, Wests Bulldogs
12. Len Ikitau (47 Tests) - #944, Tuggeranong Vikings
13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (13 Tests) – #988; The Kings School
14. Harry Potter (6 Tests) - #989, Moorabbin Rams
15. Max Jorgensen (16 Tests) – #984; Balmain Wolves
Substitutes
16. Josh Nasser (7 Tests) - #979; Easts Rugby (Brisbane)
17. Tom Robertson (35 Tests) - #898; Dubbo Kangaroos
18. Taniela Tupou (64 Tests) - #917; Brothers Rugby
19. Jeremy Williams (19 Tests) – #973; Wahroonga Tigers
20. Rob Valetini (56 Tests) - #929; Harlequin Rugby Club
21. Ryan Lonergan (1 Test) - #933; Tuggeranong Vikings
22. James O’Connor (69 Tests) - #832, St Joseph’s College, Nudgee
23. Josh Flook (4 Tests) - #972, Brothers Rugby
Wallabies 21 defeated Fiji 18 on Sunday July 6 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Wallabies 19 defeated by the British & Irish Lions 27 on Saturday July 19 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Wallabies 26 defeated by the British & Irish Lions 29 on Saturday July 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Wallabies 22 defeated the British & Irish Lions 12 on Saturday August 2 at Accor Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies 38 defeated South Africa 22 on Saturday August 16 at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Wallabies 22 defeated by South Africa 30 on Saturday August 23 at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Wallabies 28 defeated Argentina 24 on Saturday September 6 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Wallabies 26 defeated by Argentina 28 on Saturday September 13 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies 24 defeated by New Zealand 33 on Saturday September 27, Eden Park, Auckland
Wallabies v New Zealand at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday October 4 at Optus Stadium, Perth
Wallabies v Japan at 4:50pm on Saturday October 25 at National Stadium, Tokyo
Wallabies v England, at 2:10am AEDT on Sunday November 2 at Allianz Stadium, London
Wallabies v Italy at 4:40am AEDT on Sunday November 9 at TBC
Wallabies v Ireland at 7:10am AEDT on Sunday November 16 at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wallabies v France at 7:10am on Sunday November 23 at Stade de France, Paris
