McDermott to lead Wallabies as Jones confirms side for second Bledisloe

August 03, 2023
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Ultimate Rugby

Eddie Jones has confirmed scrumhalf Tate McDermott will skipper the Wallabies in the second Bledisloe Test in Dunedin on August 5.

“Tate’s got all the attributes to be a great captain of his country and there’s no doubt it will be a proud moment for him and his family when he leads the team on Saturday night," Jones said in a statement.

“We started a regeneration as a team last week and now it’s about building on that with a new captain and a new era in Australian Rugby.

The absence of Alaalatoa will see Rebels prop Pone Fa'amausili start for the first time at Test level.

Fa'amausili joins Angus Bell and Dave Porecki in the front row as Zane Nonggorr comes onto the bench for his second cap, with Taniela Tupou (ribs) ruled out.

Jones has also freshened up his back-row, recalling Reds flanker Fraser McReight at openside, pushing Brumbies standout Tom Hooper to blindside flanker.

Rory Arnold swaps with Will Skelton, starting alongside Nick Frost in the only other change to the side that went down to the All Blacks at the MCG.

It is the seventh-lowest capped starting XV in Wallabies history, with 277 caps across the 15 players named.

James Slipper will equal Adam Ashley-Cooper’s record of 32 Tests against New Zealand as the finishing loosehead, joined by Jordan Uelese and Rob Leota.

The backline is unchanged, with Nic White, Quade Cooper and Izaia Perese coming off the bench.