Nick Champion de Crespigny to make his Wallabies debut in opening Test against British and Irish Lions

The Wallabies team for the first Test against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane on Saturday night will include a 29-year-old debutant.

Flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny will make his Test debut for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, but there is no room in the 23-man squad for veteran flyhalf James O’Connor.

Canberra product Champion de Crespigny, 29, only this year debuted in Super Rugby for Western Force after spending the previous three seasons playing for French Top 14 club Castres Olympique.

His inclusion, at the expense of the injured Langi Gleeson, is one of four changes to the team that started in Australia’s last-start 21-18 win over Fiji on July 6.

Coach Joe Schmidt had picked seven players with less than 15 Tests experience in his starting team, with five of them having played eight or less Tests, including debutant de Crespigny as the regeneration of the national team continues.

Nick Champion de Crespigny will make his Wallabies debut. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

But key big men Will Skelton and Rob Valetini were both ruled out due to calf injuries.

“If it was the last game of the series they would have been in the mix, but the risk you take if you out those guys out there and they’re not quite ready, and you try to push them through, you might end up worse off,” Schmidt said.

“It’s a great opportunity for Nick Champion de Crespigny, who has trained well, had a good Super Rugby season, and is very excited about the opportunity he has.

“The good thing with Nick is he’s a good lineout option.”

Flyhalf Tom Lynagh will replace the injured Noah Lolesio, becoming the first Wallabies player to follow in their father’s footsteps in playing against the Lions after his did Michael also wore the No.10 Australian jersey against the tourists in 1989.

“I’m really excited for Tom. He’s a great kid,” Schmidt said of the 22-year-old playmaker, who will start a Test for the first time after three appearances off the bench last year.

“He’s got a quiet confidence about him. You wouldn’t think that he’s necessarily designed to run a game and dictate what’s happening, but he does have a quiet confidence that gives us a quiet confidence. as well, and he’s fitted in really well this week.

“It’s probably not ideal to be starting your first Test match for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions, but you’ve got to start somewhere, and if not now, when? Now is good.”

Lynagh will be partnered in the halves by the fit-again Jake Gordon, with Tate McDermott dropping back to the bench.

“Tate does really well at the back end of games. Some of the games he played the back end of last year, he was really impressive for us,” Schmidt said.

“It doesn’t mean he can’t start.”

Tom Lynagh will replace Noah Lolesio in the Wallabies starting team. picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The other change is at hooker, where Matt Faessler comes in for the injured David Porecki.

Ben Donaldson will be the back-up flyhalf, winning the bench spot ahead of O’Connor, who was called into Australia’s extended 36-man series squad last week as the replacement of Lolesio, who had neck surgery after Australia’s win over Fiji.

No.8 Harry Wilson has retained the captaincy, while veteran prop James Slipper will have the rare distinction of playing in two series against the Lions after also representing Australia against the British and Irish outfit in 2013.

Schmidt predicted a “massive challenge” for his team.

“The whole squad has worked hard as a group to prepare for what’s going to a massive challenge against an in-form Lions team,” Schmidt said.

“With the short runway leading up to such a big Test match, we know we must adapt fast and improve quickly, from the performance we had against Fiji recently.

“We’re very much aware of the occasion and conscious of earning the support from the public through the effort they see on the field.”

Wallabies: James Slipper, Matt Faessler, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c), Jake Gordon, Tom Lynagh, Harry Potter, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright. Bench: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.