Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has backed 18-year-old rookie Jordan Petaia to successfully make the transition to Test rugby. The Queensland Reds flyer has been named on the wing for the weekend’s clash with Italy in Padua – one of six changes to the side that lost 9-6 in Cardiff to Wales last week.
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Cheika said he was initially being tipped off about Petaia by Reds coach Brad Thorne last year and had shown in training in Europe this month that he is comfortable playing alongside international players.
“He’s a very skilful young player,” Cheika said. “When he came on the tour, I wasn’t sure if he’d play or not but he’s shown me, the other players and the other coaches that he’s up for it. Thorney said to me way back, ‘This kid will be playing on the spring tour’.
“I probably didn’t pay much attention at the time because he’s a second rower, what does he know! But he’s obviously a quality judge of players because Jordan’s made all the right moves during the season … it was the time to give him an opportunity.”
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Free-running NSW Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon will also make his debut alongside Matt Toomua who starts at five-eighth with Bernard Foley moving to inside centre.
“He’s got a bit more running around the fringes and he’s been competing with Nick [Phipps] strongly at the Waratahs,” Cheika said of Gordon. “He’s performed really well at training … he’s linked well with the forwards and I just think it was a great chance for him to get a run.”
Cheika said the decision to move Foley from 10 to 12 was to give Toomua the chance to stake his claim for a regular spot in the side in his favoured position. “I wanted to give them all an opportunity to play there and Beale’s had his opportunity and Foley’s had his,” he said. “Now Toomua will get his opportunity to play there.
“It was just a question of what I decided to do – whether I went with Beale alongside him or Foley or whether we decided to go with this combo initially. With Beale on the bench, he’ll get his opportunity out there as well.”
Tolu Latu has somewhat surprisingly been left out after doing well against Wales with Folau Fainga’a restored to the starting line-up. Taniela Tupou is named at prop ahead of Allan Alaalatoa. Israel Folau moves from the wing to fullback with Dane Haylett-Petty dropped to the bench. Veteran utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper will win his 117th cap to leapfrog Nathan Sharpe as the third most-capped Wallabies player.
Wallabies: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Jordan Petaia, Matt Toomua, Jake Gordon, David Pocock, Michael Hooper (captain), Jack Dempsey, Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda, Scott Sio, Folau Fainga’a, Taniel Tupou. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Jermaine Ainsley, Sekope Kepu, Rory Arnold, Pete Samu, Will Genia, Kurtley Beale, Dane Haylett-Petty.