Suliasi Vunivalu is poised to make his Wallabies debut against England after he was one of four uncapped players named in Australia’s 35-man squad on Sunday.
Vunivalu joins Waratahs duo Jed Holloway and Dave Porecki, and Rebels prop Pone Fa’aumasili, as the new faces in the Wallabies squad, which has no place for veteran lock Izack Rodda, rising Reds talent Fraser McReight and returning fullback Kurtley Beale.
Beale’s omission is no surprise given he has played little rugby with French club Racing 92 this year, while McReight will likely spearhead the Australia A squad that will contest the Pacific Nations Cup in Fiji.
Rodda, meanwhile, is a victim of the impressive return to Australia from Holloway, the Waratahs’ forward’s versatility to play both at lock and the back-row clearly pulling favour with Rennie.
But it is Vunivalu’s inclusion that is the big talking point, with the former Melbourne Storm flyer at last having put a string of games together for the Reds and impressing hugely along the way.
“The core of this squad is a group who have performed strongly for us over the last two seasons, while strong form in Super Rugby Pacific has been rewarded with a handful of new faces,” Rennie said via a media release.
“The past two years have allowed us to build strong foundations as a group but there’s no doubt that we have a lot more in us.
“We’re looking forward to working hard and preparing as a group to put in performances that make our supporters proud against England next month.”
The squad will gather on the Sunshine Coast on Thursday.
Wallabies squad:
Allan Alaalatoa
Tom Banks
Angus Bell
Quade Cooper
Pone Fa’amausili
Folau Fainga’a
Nick Frost
Jake Gordon
Michael Hooper (c)
Jed Holloway
Len Ikitau
Andrew Kellaway
Samu Kerevi
Marika Koroibete
Rob Leota
Noah Lolesio
Lachlan Lonergan
Tate McDermott
Cadeyrn Neville
James O’Connor
Hunter Paisami
Izaia Perese
Jordan Petaia
Matt Philip
David Porecki
Pete Samu
Scott Sio
James Slipper
Darcy Swain
Taniela Tupou
Rob Valetini
Suliasi Vunivalu
Nic White
Harry Wilson
Tom Wright