SYDNEY (AP) — Another injury has forced late changes to Australia’s lineup for the third rugby test against the British and Irish Lions, with Billy Pollard promoted to start at hooker after David Porecki and Matt Faessler were ruled out of Saturday’s match.
Porecki was ruled out Friday with a leg injury, making way for Pollard to move into the starting XV off the bench for his 10th test. Faessler’s calf muscle injury meant Brandon Paenga-Amosa had to be drafted in from outside the Wallabies squad assembled in Sydney.
Head coach Joe Schmidt had already unveiled four changes to Australia’s starting XV and another two on the bench on Thursday after the contentious, last-gasp 29-26 loss in the second test at Melbourne last weekend.
Another injury to Porecki compounds the absence of flanker Rob Valetini — who missed the series opener and had a big impact on the second test before leaving at halftime — and veteran prop Allan Ala’alatoa.
“Gutted to lose, I guess, a few, great players … but we have a lot of confidence,” in Paenga-Amosa,” Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said at the captain’s run on the eve of the test. “Brendan joined us yesterday afternoon, obviously after a bit of a tough Thursday training session.”
Wilson said the 29-year-old Paenga-Amosa, had already played tour games against the Lions and was an experienced Wallaby.
“He’s got a lot of confidence, and he’s coming into the group and he’s fitting very quickly,” Wilson said.
Australia hasn’t lost three tests in a Lions tour since 1904 and is facing a confident British and Irish squad that is 8-0 in Australia, including victory in the first test in Brisbane, the second test in Melbourne, wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force,Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and two invitational teams.
Taniela Tupou was recalled at tighthead and the scrumhalf Nic White is returning for his final international appearance in a reworked Wallabies lineup trying to prevent the British and Irish Lions completing a 3-0 sweep.
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Squads:
Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Lynagh, Nick White; Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, James Slipper. Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Wiliams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.
British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Tommy Freeman (England), Huw Jones (Scotland), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Blair Kinghorn (Scotland), Finn Russell (Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); Jack Conan (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), James Ryan (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Andrew Porter (Ireland). Reserves: Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England). Will Stuart (England), Ollie Chessum (England), Jac Morgan (Wales), Ben Earl (England), Alex Mitchell (England), Owen Farrell (England).
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
