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Wallabies set to unleash Wilson on English
By AAP
Exciting young backrower Harry Wilson has been parachuted straight into the Wallabies' starting line-up for the deciding third Test against old foe England on Saturday.
While the Australian line-up for the SCG Test will be unveiled on Thursday the Queensland young gun is a confirmed starter after missing match-day selection in the previous two Tests, which stand at one win apiece.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is yet to reveal how he will use the athletic 22-year-old, who won the Stan Pilecki Medal as Queensland's best player this Super Rugby Pacific season.
As well as scoring five tries, Wilson topped the competition for carries and finished in the top-10 for metres carried, offloads and tackles.
His high energy play is exactly what the Wallabies need to wrest back momentum after England took out game two in Brisbane 25-17 last weekend.
Making his Test debut in 2020, Wilson has played 10 matches but was left off the Wallabies ' Spring tour last year with Rennie wanting him to improve his footwork and his Reds statistics indicate he bought into that feedback.
Rennie has used the combination of Rob Valetini at No.8 with Rob Leota at No.6 and skipper Michael Hooper at openside flanker, with the versatile Pete Samu coming off the bench as his backrow in the opening two Tests.
But with the Wallabies dominated in the physical battle in Brisbane and his lock stocks hit hard by injury and suspension he may look to move Leota into the second-row to partner Matt Philip, and start Wilson at No.6.
Or he could switch Valentini to blindside and have Wilson anchoring the scrum at No.8.
The Wallabies will also field a third starting fullback in three Tests after Tom Banks broke his arm in opening win in Perth and Jordan Petaia suffered a head-knock in the Brisbane loss.
Boasting a handy big boot, Reece Hodge, who joined the top squad from Australia A, is the most likely choice.
NRL convert Suliasi Vunivalu could also earn his first Wallabies cap from the bench with the hard-hitting winger one of four players, including Wilson, Lachlan Lonergan and Tate McDermott, who have yet to be used from the squad.
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Latest Comments
I don't think that Razor would have had Mo’unga as back up to anyone! But in his absence DMac definitely deserved to start in Paris.
The system is working well but I hope they've reviewed whether they could have done anything more to retain Mo’unga & Frizell. As you say, could they have been more flexible?
Go to commentsGreat one of the form locks , Antonio Shalfoon back for Crusaders. I like having Sevu Reece in midfield with Macca Springer and Chay Fihaki out wide. Corey Kellow, Tom Christie get deserved starts in Fiji.Codie Taylor, will do well as captain.
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