Wallabies v Ireland: Caleb Timu, Brandon Paenga-Amosa to make debuts, Pete Samu starts from bench

IN 2015 Caleb Timu was walking the streets of Auckland during a two-year Mormon mission while his new backrow partners were tearing up the Rugby World Cup.

Caleb Timu will make his Test debut against the Irish.

FRESH Wallaby Caleb Timu is the man on a new mission who never watched his decorated back-row partners play a minute when they dominated at the 2015 World Cup.

A back-row education at fast-forward speed must mesh with David Pocock and Michael Hooper for Saturday night’s collision with the might of the Irish at Suncorp Stadium.

It’s not just that he’s played only 13 games of Super Rugby since his code switch from the Brisbane Broncos Under-20s in 2016 but knowing how the “Pooper” pairing operate.

Caleb Timu will make his Test debut against the Irish.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa hams it up with students at Kelvin Grove State College after being named to make his Wallabies debut. Picture: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

In 2015 Timu was walking the streets of Auckland during a two-year Mormon mission when his new back-row partners were inspiring a World Cup final run to Twickenham.

“I didn’t watch a minute of the last World Cup because it was part of being fully dedicated to knocking on doors and sharing the gospel of the Lord,” Timu, 24, said.

“There were a few gangstas who told me to get lost but most often I was warmly greeted.”

No defender has dared ignore the 117kg Timu this season because his high leg-pumping runs have burst through 28 tackles for the Queensland Reds.

Wallabies v Ireland, Suncorp Stadium, 8.05pm (EST), Saturday

Wallabies squad

Number	Name	Tests
No.1	Scott Sio	43
No.2	Brandon Paenga-Amosa	Debut
No.3	Sekope Kepu	91
No.4	Izack Rodda	4
No.5	Adam Coleman	20
No.6	David Pocock	66
No.7	Michael Hooper (c)	79
No.8	Caleb Timu	Debut
No.9	Will Genia	88
No.10	Bernard Foley	55
No.11	Dane Haylett-Petty	18
No.12	Kurtley Beale	71
No.13	Samu Kerevi	18
No.14	Marika Koroibete	8
No.15	Israel Folau	62
Reserves
No.16	Tolu Latu	4
No.17	Allan Alaalatoa	23
No.18	Taniela Tupou	1
No.19	Rob Simmons	82
No.20	Lukhan Tui	4
No.21	Pete Samu	Debut
No.22	Nick Phipps	61
No.23	Reece Hodge	24

That’s why the welcome has been so warm from Wallabies boss Michael Cheika, who hopes he’s found a No.8 for the long term with his fifth experiment in less than two years.

Cheika is bending one of the cardinal rules of rugby to back Timu because he’s gambling against the Irish with no genuine back-row lineout jumper.

Timu has barely been used as a target by the Reds all season with just seven lineout wins.

Cheika admirably rewarded form with yesterday’s selection of Timu, rookie Reds hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Samu Kerevi, at outside centre ahead of regular Tevita Kuridrani.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa gets his chance in the No.2 jersey for the Wallabies.

Picking six burly forwards on the bench, including 117kg back-row wildcard Lukhan Tui, 120kg prop Allan Alaalatoa, 134kg hammer Taniela Tupou and reactivated hooker Tolu Latu, is a measure of the artillery Cheika wants to win a brutal pack battle.

Cheika has also granted a dizzying elevation to backrower Pete Samu, playing for the Crusaders a fortnight ago but now rated a dynamic linkman addition for the bench.

The savvy Pocock and Timu will swap between No.8 and blindside flanker for different plays and in different scenarios on the field.

“I think it’s a really good combination as a back row with Caleb’s carrying game because the other two lads aren’t huge at that,” Cheika said.

Dane Haylett-Petty got the nod over Reece Hodge.

“People are going to say we are a bit light on at the lineout but if we get our speed and variations going well (there) we will be OK.”

Cheika said the Melbourne-born Samu was “pretty emotional” about his rapid call-up from Kiwi finishing school after a circuitous route via the Sunnybank and Randwick clubs.

“He’s a great linkman for us who can play as a running player or relatively tight if needed and in one week with us I’ve been really impressed,” Cheika said.

Ireland using top five-eighth Johnny Sexton from the bench is a curveball, with Joey Carbery starting, but Cheika’s rating of Ireland didn’t change a percentage point.

“It’s the best team they have had in their history with out-and-out gun players that many people here don’t even know,” Cheika said as a warning.

Fox Sports will showcase every match of the Mitsubishi Estate Ireland Series LIVE with no ad-breaks during play and in HD.

All matches will also be screened LIVE and free in HD on TEN and WIN Network and streaming.

Originally published as Wallabies v Ireland: Caleb Timu, Brandon Paenga-Amosa to make debuts, Pete Samu starts from bench