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Tane Edmead will start at fly-half for Australia when they face England at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, while Joseph Okosu-Swale, Max Jorgensen and Taniela Tupou are called up after last weekend’s win over Japan.
But with the match falling outside the official international window, the Wallabies are still without several European-based players, including midfielders James O’Connor, Will Skelton and center Len Ekitau.
Edmed has started just three Tests in his fledgling Wallabies career and will face a tough test against England’s vastly experienced George Ford on Saturday.
Competitor 25-year-old fly-half Carter Gordon, who has been granted a release from his NRL contract to resume his rugby union career, is believed to have suffered a quad strain and was out of action in the 23rd round of the match.
Hamish Stewart will provide fly-half cover off the bench.
Former rugby league star Suaalii made an eye-catching Test debut in last season’s dramatic 42-37 win at Twickenham, making a high catch in the lead-up to Jorgensen’s winning try on the last play of the game.
In the absence of Eketau, who has been in fine form for the Exeter Prem, Hunter Baisamy will continue his midfield partnership with Suale.
Tupou, the 23-stone tighthead prop nicknamed the ‘Tongan Thor’, last featured for the Wallabies in their defeat to New Zealand in September.
Regular captain Harry Wilson returns to the number eight jersey, with Rob Valetini and Fraser McCreight completing the strong back row. Nick Champion de Crespigny, last week’s captain, is among the substitutes.
Australia finished third in the Rugby Championship with two wins in six matches and beat Japan 19-15 in Tokyo on Saturday with a much-changed squad before traveling to England.
The Wallabies, ranked seventh in the world, will play Italy, Ireland and France this autumn.
“The coaches have tried to balance this year’s tough schedule in terms of test matches and travel,” said head coach Joe Schmidt.
“It was great to freshen up some of the players last weekend and hopefully that will allow the group to be really competitive on Saturday.”
The beginning of the fifteenth: Kellaway. Jorgensen, Swale, Bessami, Potter; Edmead, Gordon. Bale, Pollard, Tupou, Frost, Williams, Valentini, McCreight, Wilson (captain).
Replacements: Nasser, Robertson, Alalatoa, Salakaya Lotto, Champion de Crespigny, Lonergan, Stewart, Dogono.
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