Fly-half Tom Lynagh will emulate his father, the Wallaby great Michael, when he starts for Australia in Saturday's first Test against the British and Irish Lions.
Fly-half Tom Lynagh will emulate his father, the Wallaby great Michael, when he starts for Australia in Saturday's first Test against the British and Irish Lions.
In the absence of regular starter Noah Lolesio, Lynagh, 22, will win his fourth cap at the Suncorp Stadium, wearing number 10 as Michael did in the 1989 series against the Lions.
With key forward Rob Valetini missing with a calf problem, Champion de Crespigny makes his debut on the flank with Harry Wilson captaining from number eight.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, the 21-year-old cross-code superstar, partners Len Ikitau in the midfield, but there is no place in the squad for giant lock Will Skelton.
"The whole squad has worked hard as a group to prepare for what's going to a massive challenge against an in-form Lions team," said Australia head coach Joe Schmidt.
Loose-head prop Angus Bell is held back on the bench, with the experienced James Slipper starting instead while, with Skelton absent, Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams are in the second row.
Schmidt says both Valetini and Skelton were close to selection as they recover from their calf injuries.
"They were right on the edge, if it was last game of series they probably would have played but you can't try and push them," he explained.
Schmidt has made four changes from the starting XV that edged past Fiji 21-18 earlier this month, after which the Australia boss played down his side's chances of beating the Lions in the three-Test series.
"We didn't play well enough for people to have the expectation that we're going to come bowling into Brisbane and knock the Lions over," Schmidt said at the time.
Suncorp Stadium record adds to Australia 'confidence'
Despite the Lions' strong record in Brisbane – the touring team have never lost in Queensland – Wallaby great Will Genia believes the Australia players will be inspired by the Suncorp Stadium come Saturday.
"I would say for us it's the unofficial home of rugby in Australia," the 110-cap scrum-half told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
"The best record we have is at the Suncorp Stadium. And having played there myself, there is a different feel about it.
"It feels like an actual home ground for us, so that adds a bit of confidence for the boys heading into the game."
Genia started all three Tests for Australia in the 2013 series against the Lions, and despite the 2-1 series defeat he remembers fondly the scale of the occasion 12 years ago.
"If I think back to the actual Test series, I would say it was the greatest experience of my rugby career," he added.
"Once every 12 years, the tradition, history, the prestige and the attention surrounding it – it was an amazing experience.
"I just never experienced anything like it. You know you are coming up against the best players from four nations coming together.
"So that in itself as a challenge was something I really embraced. To put myself in that position under that pressure was something I really enjoyed."
Category: General Sports
