Australian Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who comes from a rugby union background and has never played a single match for a rugby union club, was selected on Thursday as center forward for the Wallabies. Wallabies to face England on Saturday at Twickenham as part of the autumn tour. The 21-year-old is the only change from the Wallabies team that started their last test in September in Wellington, where they were beaten 33-13 by the All Blacks.

Suaalii began his XIII career with the Sydney Roosters before switching to XV, as did his compatriot Israel Folau and New Zealander Sonny Bill Williams before him, signing a multi-million dollar contract with Rugby Australia.

The Wallabies have lost five of their six games this season in the Rugby Championship under New Zealand coach Joe Schmidt, who took over from Eddie Jones after Australia’s failure to qualify for the 2023 World Cup at the group stage.

Australia’s line-up:

Wright – Kellaway, Suaalii, Ikitau, Pietsch – Lolesio (o), Gordon (m) – McReight, Wilson (cap), Valentini – Williams, Frost – Tupou, Faessler, Bell

Substitutes : Paenga-Amosa, Slipper, Alaalatoa, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Jorgensen