Jock Campbell will start at fullback for Australia in Saturday's Nations Championship Test against Ireland at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, ending a 1,316-day exile from Test rugby. The 30-year-old last played for the Wallabies in November 2022, when Australia suffered their first ever loss to Italy in Florence. Campbell, who has four Test caps, earned his recall after an impressive Super Rugby season with the Queensland Reds.
Key Returns and Debuts
James Slipper, Australia's most-capped Test player with 140 appearances, was named as a replacement loosehead prop, confirming his return from retirement. The 35-year-old had stepped away from international rugby after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Centre Len Ikitau, flanker Tom Hooper, and props Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou all return to the Wallabies after playing club rugby in Europe. Lock Lachlan Shaw is among the replacements and could make his Test debut.
Halves and Captaincy
Flyhalf Carter Gordon and scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan will start in the halves, with Ben Donaldson and Tate McDermott providing backup from the bench. Loose forward Harry Wilson retains the captaincy for the match.
Australia also host France and Italy in July's southern hemisphere section of the new competition. “The group has reconnected quickly and we’ve worked hard over the past week to prepare as best we can for what is an exciting challenge against the number three team in world rugby,” said coach Joe Schmidt.
Team Lineup
Australia: 15-Jock Campbell, 14-Max Jorgensen, 13-Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12-Len Ikitau, 11-Dylan Pietsch, 10-Carter Gordon, 9-Ryan Lonergan, 8-Harry Wilson (captain), 7-Fraser McReight, 6-Rob Valetini, 5-Josh Canham, 4-Jeremy Williams, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Josh Nasser, 1-Angus Bell
Replacements: 16-Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17-James Slipper, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Lachlan Shaw, 20-Tom Hooper, 21-Tate McDermott, 22-Ben Donaldson, 23-Tom Wright
