Australia pick rugby league convert Suaalii to face England

Rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will make his Australia debut without having played a game of senior club rugby union after being named in the Wallabies team to play England at Twickenham on Saturday.

The 21-year-old has been selected at outside centre for the opening match of Australia's tour of Britain and Ireland.

A standout schoolboy rugby union player, Suaalii elected to begin his professional career in rugby league with Sydney Roosters.

But he has now switched codes, following in the footsteps of former rugby league stars such as Israel Folau and Sonny Bill Williams, signing a multi-million dollar deal with Rugby Australia.

Suaalii is the only change to the starting XV from the side's last test – a 33-13 defeat by New Zealand in Wellington in September.

The Wallabies lost five of their six matches in this year's Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship under Joe Schmidt, the former Ireland coach.

Schmidt took charge after Eddie Jones oversaw a woeful 2023 World Cup campaign where the Wallabies crashed out in the pool stage.

Australia (15-1)

Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Rob Valentini; Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost; Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell

Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen

Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)