The Wallabies will call on skyscraper Rory Arnold to make a Test comeback two years after he left for France thinking his last chance to wear Australian gold was gone.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Arnold joins Kurtley Beale and Will Skelton in making a Test comeback against Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium on Monday morning [AEDT].
The 31-year-old lock will return to the starting XV for his first cap since 2019, while Beale will provide cover from the pine with Andrew Kellaway earning the nod at fullback and James O'Connor returning to flyhalf. Skelton is set for his first Test appearance in five years off the bench.
Izaia Perese is in line to make his Test debut off the bench, while Allan Alaalatoa has beaten Taniela Tupou to the No. 3 jersey.
"To be able to call on the experience and quality of players like Rory, Kurtley and Will is really valuable for our group," Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said.
MORE RUGBY UNION
"Those three guys have merged with the group seamlessly, worked hard on their detail this week and are super excited to earn another opportunity to represent their country.
"Izzy is someone who's been on our radar for a little while now and has been impressive in training and deserves his chance.
"I've had the pleasure of working with a number of players in the Scotland set up and we've prepared knowing how tough of a challenge it's going to be at Murrayfield."
A return to Edinburgh brings O'Connor back to the site of his rugby revival, where the Wallabies playmaker "drew a line in the sand" to inspire a comeback.
The 31-year-old took "a trip down memory lane" this week as he returned to a hill overlooking Edinburgh and posted a series of raw videos and photos.
O'Connor had spent two nights in a French jail after being found in possession of cocaine in early 2017. It was then he decided to start over.
Among the photos and videos posted was a shot of where O'Connor had his first training session following his third ankle surgery. There he decided he would "take footy seriously again".
"As you can see I wasn't in the best shape, struggling to do a few movement drills," O'Connor wrote on Instagram. "March 2018 I drew a line in the sand. Time. Repetition. Discipline. Accountability. No longer [lying] to myself."
SPRING TOUR
Monday: Scotland v Wallabies at Murrayfield, 1.15am. Broadcast live on Stan Sport.
Wallabies squad: 1. James Slipper, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Izack Rodda, 6. Rob Leota, 7. Michael Hooper (c), 8. Rob Valetini, 9. Nic White, 10. James O'Connor, 11. Jordan Petaia, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Tom Wright, 15. Andrew Kellaway. Replacements: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Will Skelton, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Kurtley Beale, 23. Izaia Perese.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
