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12 hours ago
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New Australian coach Les Kiss has thrown his support behind inexperienced halves pair Ryan Lonergan and Declan Meredith for his first match in charge of the Wallabies against Eddie Jones’s Japan in Osaka on Saturday.
The 61-year-old is looking to improve on the foundations laid by his predecessor Joe Schmidt, who won just 12 of 31 Tests over two years.
Lonergan, the Brumbies No 9, was named to start in the last three of those matches, with his clubmate Meredith joining on his outside in the past two fixtures following an injury crisis.
The coach has persisted with this combination, despite the presence of rugby league returnee Carter Gordon in the squad, as well as scrumhalf Tate McDermott who will again start from the bench in his 54th Test.
Kiss said his first weeks with the players have been competitive. “Every single player in the squad has pushed hard over the last fortnight to get us to this point, making selecting the matchday 23 a real challenge for the coaches,” he said.
“The players selected now have the privilege and responsibility that comes with wearing the gold jersey and we know they’ll do everything they can to earn the support of all Australians when they take to the field in Osaka on Saturday night.”
The team is not without change, however. Prop Aidan Ross and second rower Miles Amatosero have earned their first Test starts, while Hunter Paisami comes in at inside centre to replace the injured Len Ikitau.
Ross was preferred to Angus Bell, who has started the last eight Wallabies matches but will play from the bench on Saturday. Amatosero replaces Jeremy Williams.
Wingers Harry Potter and Max Jorgensen and fullback Tom Wright retain their places in the back three. No 8 Harry Wilson will captain the side for the 24th time.
With barely more than a year until the start of the World Cup, Kiss is running out of time to develop combinations in key positions and has largely continued with the group favoured by Schmidt.
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A 57-10 victory over Italy in Perth last month ended the New Zealander’s tenure on a positive note. That victory was a long time coming however, after six losses stretching back to last September.
Kiss was announced as the next Wallabies coach more than a year ago, and he has been due to take charge once his contract with Queensland expired last month.
The former rugby league winger has had a long relationship with Schmidt, going back to their time working together in Ireland.
There were only three new faces in Kiss’s first squad named in July: lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, prop Isaac Kailea and centre Isaac Henry. Of those, only Henry was named in the team against Japan, and may debut in gold from the substitutes bench.
Australia team: 15-Tom Wright, 14-Max Jorgensen, 13-Joseph Suaalii, 12-Hunter Paisami, 11-Harry Potter, 10-Declan Meredith, 9-Ryan Lonergan, 8-Harry Wilson (captain), 7-Fraser McReight, 6-Rob Valetini, 5-Miles Amatosero, 4-Josh Canham, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Josh Nasser, 1-Aidan Ross. Replacements: 16-Billy Pollard, 17-Angus Bell, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Jeremy Williams, 20-Charlie Cale, 21-Tate McDermott, 22-Ben Donaldson, 23-Isaac Henry
