Wallabies coach turns to rookie halfback for France Test

Reds halfback Kalani Thomas is set to become the fifth Wallabies debutant this year after being named on the replacements bench to face France this Saturday in Paris.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has given debuts to Corey Toole, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Aidan Ross and Ryan Lonergan this season and introduced 19 new Wallabies last season. It is Lonergan who drops out of the match day squad to make way for Thomas.

Kalani Thomas will become the fifth Wallabies debutant this season.Credit: Getty Images for ARU

Thomas brings a sniping threat from the bench in the mould of his injured Reds teammate Tate McDermott, offering a contrast with starting halfback Jake Gordon.

Thomas has played 55 Super Rugby games and faced the British and Irish Lions twice with the First Nations and Pasifika and Australia and New Zealand selections.

Five-eighth Carter Gordon is named in the starting lineup as part of five changes after recovering from a quad strain which kept him out of the record Ireland defeat last Saturday in Dublin and hampered his kicking on his return Test against Italy.

Dylan Pietsch returns to the team after suffering from illness on the Spring tour, taking his place on the left wing and combining with Harry Potter on the right wing and Max Jorgensen who retains his place at fullback.

After the Wallabies’ lineout malfunctioned last Saturday with six missed throws, Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams are reunited in the second row, with Tom Hooper restored to his strongest position as blindside breakaway and Rob Valetini on the bench.

Frost and Williams will face Emmanuel Meafou, the Australian-raised second-rower who returns for France.

Taniela Tupou returns to the starting lineup after being rested in the defeat against Ireland, with Allan Alaalatoa named as his replacement.

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The Wallabies’ last training session of the season included a future teammate of Tupou’s with 19-year-old Racing tighthead prop Lehopa Leota, who has already played three times in Top 14 and will be qualified to play for France.

The invitation of young Australian French-based players to training is part of a Rugby Australia strategy to actively engage with the diaspora, which includes at least 21 individuals spread across the Top 14’s best clubs.

If the Wallabies lose against France on Saturday, it would be the first time the Wallabies have lost 10 Tests in a calendar year.

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