Wallabies rush in hooker on Test eve as double injury strikes

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson says his team will use the agony of defeat at the MCG as fuel for the third Test against the Lions, but the side has also had to deal with the pain of more injury chaos on the eve of the sold-out Sydney clash.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa has been rushed into the squad and onto the Australian bench after starting hooker Dave Porecki suffered a gash on his heel at training on Thursday.

Billy Pollard was promoted from the bench and into the No.2 jersey for only his second Test start, but, remarkably, the Brumby was originally set to miss the Wallabies’ 23-man squad at the start of the week when the team was selected.

But Queensland hooker Matt Faessler, who started in the first Test, was later ruled out due to a calf injury. That saw a promotion for Pollard and a rushed call-up for Paenga-Amosa, who arrived in camp on Thursday afternoon. The 20-cap hooker, who was a regular member of the side last year, joined the Wallabies for their captain’s run – the first time he has trained with the squad this year due to a busy schedule of appearances against the Lions.

Paenga-Amosa, 29, has faced the tourists three times in the past five weeks, after playing in tour games for the Western Force in Perth, the Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV in Adelaide and the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne. Josh Nasser also joined the squad as emergency cover.

“It’s obviously gutting to lose a few great players in Porecki and “Fez” [Faessler], but we had a lot of confidence in BPA,” Wilson said.

“He’s been around this group for quite a long time over the last year and a half, and he’s obviously versed the Lions already three times. So he’s got a lot of confidence and he’s fitting in very quickly.

“I think the AUNZ side, we sort of all had pretty similar [lineout] calls, so all the structures are pretty fresh for him. It’s very familiar for him and he’s already all over it. He knew it all back-to-front.”

Wilson said the Wallabies had had to bounce back emotionally this week, after a flat few days following the Melbourne defeat which saw the Lions secure the series 2-0.

“We definitely knew on Monday the energy was down and I guess it shows you how much we all truly care and how much it really did hurt us there,” Wilson said.

“But for us, we have another Test match this Saturday … we were like, we’ve got another job to do, which is to go out there and win this weekend.

“On Tuesday, I was really proud of the group about what sort of session we had. We went there, everyone was a bit quiet, but once we went across that white line, the energy was back.”

Wilson said the team was not keen to dwell on the controversial loss in Melbourne, but would use the pain of defeat to generate a big performance in the final Test.

“We’re a team that really does want to focus on ourselves, but I do think in the back of everyone’s mind will be last week, and that hurt from last week,” he said.

“Everyone individually will have that there, and want to use it as a strength. But for us as a squad, we’re really just focused about having good preparation this week and going out there and playing our footy.

“Obviously sitting here at 2-0, it’s not the best situation being, but I feel as if we’ll get a lot of pride. I feel as if a lot of Australia are believing in us and the support we’ve been given this week has been pretty unbelievable. We really feel like we need to go out there and put a performance in for Australia to be proud.”

In a signal the side have returned to a brighter mindset, the Wallabies all wore fake moustaches for a team photo at Accor Stadium to pay tribute to retiring halfback Nic White, who is hanging up the boots after the game.

“He’s the ultimate competitor, the ultimate team man – especially over the last two years. Every training session, he gets the boys up,” Wilson said.

“He does whatever it takes for the team – every session, every match. Once he goes across that white line, he’s a different man. He’s a competitor and he’s loved by the group. He will be missing his gold jersey because he really does represent what it is to be a Wallaby.”

The man White replaced, Jake Gordon, was nowhere to be seen at the captain’s run but Brumbies halfback Ryan Lonergan was with the squad, indicating he is the emergency cover.

The hooker injury drama came after the Wallabies had already lost star flanker Rob Valetini, prop Allan Alaalatoa and winger Harry Potter, and Gordon was replaced with White.

Farrell targets Wallabies whitewash and a place in Lions history

British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell says he wants his team to be remembered in Australia for the way that they played rugby, with their focus now solely on finishing the tour undefeated.

“Hopefully, it will be remembered for the type of rugby that we played and the way that we went about it together, that’s it,” Farrell said.

“We came here wanting to win a series, we’ve achieved that, but we have a massive responsibility to make sure that we finish this off with something that we promised ourselves with [an undefeated Test series], so it’s a big ask, but it’s something that we’re determined to do.

Farrell has made just two changes to his starting line-up for the third and final Test in Sydney as the Lions seek to whitewash the Wallabies for the first time since 1904.

Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn replaces Ireland’s James Lowe on the left wing and Ireland’s James Ryan replaces England’s Ollie Chessum in the second row.

The team is once again dominated by Irish players, with nine named to start including tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong, who will equal Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones in starting nine consecutive Lions Tests.

Andy Farrell, the British & Irish Lions head coach after winning the second Test in MelbourneCredit: Getty Images

Given the heavy rain forecast in Sydney ahead of Saturday’s final Test, Farrell has named six forwards and two backs on his bench, in contrast with his counterpart Joe Schmidt, who has named a traditional five/three split for the Wallabies.

The Wallabies are missing key players including Rob Valetini, Carlo Tizzano, Allan Alaalatoa and Jake Gordon, but Farrell is preparing for an even better Wallabies side to show up on Saturday evening in Sydney after their agonising three-point defeat in the second Test at the MCG.

“(I’m expecting) a better one than the one that showed up in the second Test,” Farrell said. “That’s what they’ll be expecting of themselves and it’s exactly the same thing that we’ll be thinking for our performance as well.”

Valetini to miss third Test as Wallabies make change at halfback

The Wallabies will have to find new power sources against the Lions in Sydney, with destructive flanker Rob Valetini set to join prop Allan Alaalatoa on the sidelines for the third Test at Accor Stadium.

Rob Valetini of the Wallabies is tackled by Bundee AkiCredit: Getty Images

After missing the first Test in Brisbane, where the Wallabies were physically dominated, Valetini returned from a calf injury in Melbourne and helped turn the tables for Australia with strong carries and big collisions.

But Valetini didn’t return after halftime after his calf injury flared up, and the big No.6 is set to miss the third and final clash with the Lions at Homebush.

The deflating news came as the Wallabies attempt to pick themselves up after the disappointment of Melbourne and try to finish the series with a victory and a 2-1 result.

The Wallabies will have a new look – again – for Sydney, however, with star prop Alaalatoa also out with a shoulder injury and coach Joe Schmidt set to replace Jake Gordon with Nic White at halfback.

Nic White practices his box kicks in MelbourneCredit: Getty Images

Gordon played superbly in Melbourne, but was forced to play a full game after Tate McDermott came on as a winger, and only recently returned from a hamstring injury.

White, 35, is set to announce his international retirement after the Test, according to informed sources who requested anonymity to speak freely. It’s unclear if the 72-Test halfback will play on with the Force next season.

White hasn’t played in over a month but with heavy rain forecast, the veteran’s box kicking is likely to be seen as an asset at Accor Stadium. And Schmidt may be already factoring in workload management for Gordon and Valetini given the Wallabies travel to South Africa at the end of next week for the opening game of the Rugby Championship.

Langi Gleeson is the likely replacement for Valetini, with Tom Hooper called onto the bench. There has been no squad call-up for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.

In good news, Will Skelton pulled up well after his return from injury in Melbourne, and is set to line up in the starting side in Sydney.

Taniela Tupou is in line for a recall to the Wallabies 23-man side, given Alaalatoa’s absence. Tom Robertson and Zane Nonnggor are the other tighthead props in the squad.

With Schmidt needing to replace winger Harry Potter as well, Dylan Pietsch is set to be called in as a straight replacement, leaving the existing centre combination of Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii unchanged.

Schmidt could have also inserted a new No.12, and shifted both Ikitau and Suaalii out a spot, and several commentators have called for the latter to be moved to the wing.

Have the Wallabies found their long-term No.10 at last?

In the last five years under three different coaches, eight players have started at five-eighth for the Wallabies – each hoping to establish himself as the long-term owner of the gold No.10 jersey.

The latest is Tom Lynagh, the 22-year-old thrown in at the deepest end of international rugby in the first two Tests against the British and Irish Lions. After a pair of assured performances, the Reds star is determined to lay claim to the position but stressed he will be taking nothing for granted.

“Definitely, [I want] more time in that seat, but the jersey’s only yours for the week if you’re selected,” Lynagh said. “Being selected as 10 tells you everything you need to know really [about coach Joe Schmidt]. He’s got trust and belief in you, so that’s all I’ve taken from it. He’s always had that confidence in me ever since I joined the camp for the first time last year.”

Dave Rennie employed the talents of James O’Connor, Noah Lolesio, Reece Hodge, Quade Cooper and Ben Donaldson during his time in charge of the Wallabies between 2020-2023.

Lolesio debuted as a 20-year-old against New Zealand in a 38-point defeat in 2020 in Sydney, and was swiftly dropped the following week for Hodge against the same opponent.

Under Eddie Jones’s ill-fated tenure, Carter Gordon was another young debutant who was given a run of five consecutive starts aged 22 before being dropped after the Fiji defeat in the 2023 World Cup. He never regained the No.10 jersey, eventually deciding to move to the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans.

Unless forced by injury, Schmidt has consistently backed his playmaker, regardless of results. Lolesio started 13 out of 15 games under the New Zealander before a neck injury sustained in a warm-up fixture against Fiji ruled him out of the Lions series.

Lynagh has been nerveless since stepping into the starting role, describing the move as “a seamless transition”. The young playmaker also showed his physical toughness in the second Test against the Lions, finishing with eight tackles and none missed.

Despite kicking 11 points at the MCG on Saturday, including three penalties and a conversion, the young playmaker is disappointed in his goal-kicking against the Lions.

“I think I’ve done alright, [but] I’m a bit disappointed in my goal-kicking so far. I feel like that’s let myself and the team down a bit,” Lynagh said.

Tom Lynagh runs the ball back from a kick at Suncorp Stadium on this starting debut against the British and Irish LionsCredit: Getty Images

“In terms of the rest of it, it’s been good. I’m just playing part of the system and just trying to do my role for the team and not overplay my hand.”

Lynagh has had his family over from England – including his father, former Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, who is on hand for support in the build-up to the third Test in Sydney. Tom Lynagh hopes the much improved performance in Melbourne will provide enough inspiration to push the Wallabies to victory.

“We led for pretty much 79 minutes in the last game and lost it in the 80th,” Lynagh said. “That’s footy for you, but we can take plenty of confidence from that game last week and even the second half in the first Test. We’ve just got to get together and put on a performance on Saturday.”

All nine matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.