Australia Squad for England Series 2022 – Wallabies 30-28 England

Sarah Mockford

Dave Rennie's side defy the odds to open up a 1-0 lead in the Test series

Australia Squad for England Series 2022

Australia defied the odds to beat England 30-28 in Perth and open up a 1-0 lead in their three-Test series.

The Wallabies lost fly-half Quade Cooper before kick-off after he was injured in the warm-up, full-back Tom Banks midway through the first half with a suspected broken arm and tighthead Allan Alaalatoa a few minutes later with another injury. Then lock Darcy Swain was sent off in the 34th minute.

Yet despite all that disruption they came through to triumph, with three tries in the last 15 minutes – as well as the boot of Noah Lolesio – decisive. Jordan Petaia scored the first and when Billy Vunipola was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Michael Hooper, Folau Fainga’a and Pete Samu also got over the line to make it 30-14 going into the final minute.

England scored two late tries but the match had already been won – the Wallabies’ first win over England since 2015. Now they will be looking to wrap up the series with another victory in Brisbane next weekend.

Australia team to play England – Saturday 2 July

Tom Banks; Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete; Noah Lolesio, Nic White; Angus Bell, David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Leota, Michael Hooper (captain), Rob Valetini.

Replacements: Folau Fainga’a, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Matt Philip, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, James O’Connor, Jordan Petaia.

Australia Squad for England Series 2022

Dave Rennie has named a 35-player Australia squad for July’s three-Test series against England.

Waratahs back-row Michael Hooper will captain the Wallabies squad, which includes six uncapped players – Pone Fa’amausili, Nick Frost, Jed Holloway, Cadeyrn Neville, David Porecki and Suliasi Vunivalu.

Brumbies lock Neville gets his first international call-up at the age of 33 while Vunivalu is selected having impressed for the Reds following his switch from rugby league.

Rennie’s three overseas-based picks for the matches in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney are fly-half Quade Cooper, centre Samu Kerevi and wing Marika Koroibete.

Reece Hodge is arguably the most high-profile omission while Izack Rodda is ruled out with a foot injury. Fraser McReight is another not included, with Rennie saying the back-rower will benefit more from playing in the Pacific Nations Cup with Australia A.

Forwards

Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies, 54 Tests)

Angus Bell (Waratahs, 17 Tests)

Pone Fa’amausili (Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)

Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies, 26 Tests)

Nick Frost (Brumbies, uncapped)

Michael Hooper (Waratahs, 119 Tests)

Jed Holloway (Waratahs, uncapped)

Rob Leota (Melbourne Rebels, 7 Tests)

Lachlan Lonergan (Brumbies, 4 Tests)

Cadeyrn Neville (Brumbies, 1)

Matt Philip (Melbourne Rebels, 21 Tests)

David Porecki (Waratahs, 1)

Pete Samu (Brumbies, 20 Tests)

Scott Sio (Brumbies, 70 Tests)

James Slipper (Brumbies, 115 Tests)

Darcy Swain (Brumbies, 11 Tests)

Taniela Tupou (Queensland Reds, 38 Tests)

Rob Valetini (Brumbies, 19 Tests)

Harry Wilson (Queensland Reds, 10 Tests)

Backs

Tom Banks (Brumbies, 20 Tests)

Quade Cooper (Kintetsu Liners, 75 Tests)

Jake Gordon (Waratahs, 11 Tests)

Len Ikitau (Brumbies, 14 Tests)

Andrew Kellaway (Melbourne Rebels, 14 Tests)

Samu Kerevi (Suntory Sungoliath, 39 Tests)

Marika Koroibete (Saitama Wild Knights, 43 Tests)

Noah Lolesio (Brumbies, 10 Tests)

Tate McDermott (Queensland Reds, 15 Tests)

James O’Connor (Queensland Reds, 61 Tests)

Hunter Paisami (Queensland Reds, 15 Tests)

Izaia Perese (Waratahs, 2 Tests)

Jordan Petaia (Queensland Reds, 17 Tests)

Suliasi Vunivalu (Queensland Reds, uncapped)

Nic White (Brumbies, 48 Tests)

Tom Wright (Brumbies, 10 Tests)

Australia Fixtures July 2022

Sat 2 July, Australia 30-28 England

Sat 9 July, Australia v England (10.55am, Brisbane) Live on Sky Sports

Sat 16 July, Australia v England (10.55am, Sydney) Live on Sky Sports

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