UPDATE: Dave Porecki (leg) has been ruled out, with Billy Pollard starting and Brandon Paenga-Amosa on the bench.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has made several changes for the third and final Test against the British & Irish Lions.
Western Force duo Nic White and Dylan Pietsch have been added to the starting side alongside ACT Brumbies flanker Tom Hooper for Saturday's match at Accor Stadium.
Watch the Wallabies take on the British & Irish Lions live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
It will be White’s final game in the gold jersey, recently announcing his retirement from international Rugby.
White will partner Tom Lynagh in the halves, who will start in all three Tests after making his starting debut earlier in the series.
Meanwhile, Pietsch fills the void left by fellow Force winger Harry Potter, who suffered a hamstring injury in the second Test defeat.
For Pietsch, it’s a fitting rise for the proud Wiradjuri man who designed the Wallabies jersey before making his Test debut.
It’s a similar story for Hooper, replacing club teammate Rob Valetini after the powerful back-rower pulled up sore from last week.
Meanwhile, Taniela Tupou will start for the first time in 2025 after Allan Alaalatoa’s shoulder injury.
Alaalatoa was ruled out for the rest of the series earlier in the week, departing at half-time at the MCG, while Tupou’s rise continues after impressing for First Nations Pasifika.
He partners James Slipper and Dave Porecki, with Slipper set for his 147th appearance in the gold jersey, which would put him one behind All Blacks great Richie McCaw on the all-time appearance list.
In further changes, Zane Nonggorr comes onto the bench for his first appearance in the Lions tour.
Nonggorr was one of the few Wallabies not released for the tour games, set to finish the game alongside Billy Pollard and Angus Bell.
Schmidt has also reverted back to a 5-3 bench split, with Andrew Kellaway added to the 23.
“The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week’s Test in Melbourne, but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday,” Schmidt said.
“The support in Brisbane and Melbourne helped to lift the squad, and I know the support this weekend in Accor Stadium, will again help to lift the players in the high-pressure moments that we know are coming."
1. James Slipper (146 Tests) – #843; Bond Pirates
2. Billy Pollard (9 Tests) - #958; Lindfield Junior Rugby Club
3. Taniela Tupou (58 Tests) - #917; Brothers Rugby
4. Nick Frost (28 Tests) – #953; Hornsby Lions
5. Will Skelton (33 Tests) - #883; The Hills Sports High School
6. Tom Hooper (12 Tests) - #964; Bathurst Bulldogs
7. Fraser McReight (28 Tests) – #937; Albany Creek Brumbies
8. Harry Wilson (c) (25 Tests) – #933; Gunnedah Red Devils
9. Nic White (72 Tests) - #875, Maitland Blacks
10. Tom Lynagh (5 Tests) - #977; University of Queensland
11. Dylan Pietsch (5 Tests) - #978, Leeton Phantoms
12. Len Ikitau (42 Tests) – #944; Tuggeranong Vikings
13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (7 Tests) – #988; The Kings School
14. Max Jorgensen (10 Tests) – #984; Balmain Wolves
15. Tom Wright (40 Tests) – #939; Clovelly Eagles
Substitutes
16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (20 Tests) – #918; Southern Districts
17. Angus Bell (39 Tests) – #940; Hunters Hill Rugby Club
18. Zane Nonggorr (11 Tests) - #966; Gold Coast Eagles
19. Jeremy Williams (13 Tests) – #973; Wahroonga Tigers
20. Langi Gleeson (16 Tests) - #960; Harbord Harlequins
21. Tate McDermott (44 Tests) – #936; Flinders Rugby Club
22. Ben Donaldson (18 Tests) – #962; Clovelly Eagles
23. Andrew Kellaway (40 Tests) - #943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club
