Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Carter Gordon is back at five-eighth to steer the creaking ship as the Wallabies seek to urgently get back on course against Scotland at Murrayfield in the Nations Championship.
After the calamitous 45-22 thrashing by England at Twickenham, Declan Meredith has paid the price, dropped from the match day squad altogether with cross-code star Gordon recalled after injury at No.10 and Ben Donaldson covering on the bench.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been recalled from the left wing to inside centre to rejoin his old partner Len Ikitau as coach Les Kiss changes the midfield partnership for the sixth successive Test.
And the experiment of having star flanker Rob Valetini emerge from the bench has been ditched as the two-time John Eales Medal winner returns as the starting six in a familiar back-row partnership with skipper Harry Wilson and current player-of-the-year Fraser McReight.
With Tom Hooper and Brendan Paenga-Amosa making welcome comebacks after injury on the bench, Kiss wants to see a big response from his team who’ve suffered three heavy defeats on the bounce.
“We’ve had a good week of training but after falling short of our own expectations last week it’s vital we transfer our hard work onto the field for the 80 minutes on Sunday,” said Kiss.
“Playing Scotland on their home turf is a massive Test and we’re all determined to make our supporters proud by elevating our game to the level it needs to be.”
The luckless Gordon, who’s been unfortunate with injuries since switching from the NRL, suffered a fractured fibula in the draw against Argentina in September and was always nailed on to return after Meredith struggled so badly at Twickenham.
Winger Harry Potter is also back at the venue of his Test debut, with Suaalii back in midfield to replace the injured Isaac Henry. He’ll be partnering with Ikitau for the 18th time at Test level.
Western Force skipper Jeremy Williams shifts back to lock alongside Josh Canham after the experiment of playing him in the back row against England the second row didn’t pay dividends.
Lachlan Shaw will play his first Test in Europe as the lock cover, while Hooper should be a valuable addition in the back-row after his recent shoulder injury.
Wallabies team: Angus Bell, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson; Ryan Lonergan , Carter Gordon, Harry Potter, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright.
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Isaac Kailea, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu.
