"Vintage" Wallaby to make debut against England in 1st test

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Second rower Cadeyrn Neville will become the oldest Wallabies player in more than 20 years to take part in his first rugby test after his surprise inclusion in the Australia side to face England on Saturday in Perth.

The 33-year-old Neville was a confirmed starter Thursday in the test lineup — 10 years after he was called into the Australian squad without earning a cap.

In 2012, Neville was in his first year playing for the Melbourne Rebels — his first of three Australian Super Rugby sides — when he was drafted into the Wallabies squad to travel to Argentina and then later on a Britain tour but never made it into a match-day 23.

But after shifting to Queensland, a stint in Japan, and then the ACT Brumbies in 2020, Neville has been rewarded. He's the third-oldest player to debut for the Wallabies since World War Two, behind ex-Springbok Tiaan Strauss in 1999 (aged 33 years and 349 days), and one-test back-rower Ken Yanz in 1958 (aged 33 years and 295 days).

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie also named David Porecki to make his test debut. Porecki spent five years in English rugby with Saracens and London Irish before returning to Australia in 2020 and playing in the New South Wales Waratahs front row.

Michael Hooper will captain the Wallabies for the 66th time. Nic White and playmaker Quade Cooper will resume their halves partnership for the first time since leading the Wallabies to five straight test wins in 2021.

Fellow Japan-based back Samu Kerevi will return at inside center to link with Len Ikitau in the midfield, who will start his 10th consecutive test at outside center. Prop James Slipper, a 114-test stalwart and who made his test debut against England in Perth in 2010, is in the reserves.

.The teams will play two other tests in Brisbane and Sydney on the following two Saturdays.

The series winner will capture the Ella-Mobbs Trophy, named after Indigenous 25-cap Wallabies great Mark Ella and English war hero Edgar Mobbs. The new trophy has replaced the previous Cook Cup.

“The whole squad has worked hard over the past fortnight for what’s going to be a tough three-test series against a very good England side," Australia coach Dave Rennie said.

England, which has beaten Australia in eight consecutive matches, was expected to name its side and a new captain later Thursday.

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Teams:

Australia: Angus Bell, David Porecki, Allan Ala'alatoa, Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Leota, Michael Hooper (captain), Rob Valetini, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway, Tom Banks; Reserves: Folau Fainga’a, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Matt Philip, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Jordan Petaia.

England: to be named.

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