Hodge, Wilson return for Australia, Vunivalu set for debut

SYDNEY : Wallabies Reece Hodge and Harry Wilson will play their first tests this year and former rugby league standout Suliasi Vunivalu could make his test debut in Saturday's series decider against England.

Australia coach Dave Rennie made a handful of changes to the matchday squad from the team that was beaten 25-17 in Brisbane last week, most of them forced by injury or suspension.

The versatile Hodge, who was left out of the initial squad for the series, was named at fullback for the third test after a trio of other options were all ruled out by injury.

Wilson will play at blindside at Sydney Cricket Ground to allow Rob Leota to bolster Rennie's severely depleted stock of lock forwards off the bench after starting in the number-six shirt for the first two tests.

"Harry and Reece are both super excited to wear the Wallaby gold for the first time this year and have trained extremely well," Rennie said in a news release.

"We know we're a much better team than how we played in Brisbane and we've had a good week of preparation which will allow us to put in a performance that makes Australians proud on Saturday night."

Nick Frost, who made his debut off the bench last week, will make his first test start alongside Matt Philip in the second row.

James Slipper will start at loosehead prop instead of the less experienced Angus Bell, while Allan Alaalatoa is on the bench to cover tighthead after recovering from a concussion sustained in Australia's 30-28 opening test victory in Perth.

Winger Vunivalu, a powerful and prolific try-scorer in the National Rugby League before switching codes, was named as back three cover among the replacements.

Tate McDermott will back up scrumhalf Nic White, displacing Jake Gordon, while playmaker James O'Connor is dropped from the matchday 23 after an error-strewn cameo in Brisbane.

Centre Len Ikitau has recovered from a calf injury but was named among the replacements with Samu Kerevi and Hunter Paisami set to reprise their hard-running midfield combination.

Australia: 15-Reece Hodge, 14-Tom Wright, 13-Hunter Paisami, 12-Samu Kerevi, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Noah Lolesio, 9-Nic White, 8-Rob Valetini, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Harry Wilson, 5-Matt Philip, 4-Nick Frost, 3-Taniela Tupou, 2-Dave Porecki, 1-James Slipper

Replacements: 16-Folau Fainga'a, 17-Angus Bell, 18-Allan Ala'alatoa, 19-Rob Leota, 20-Pete Samu, 21-Tate McDermott, 22-Len Ikitau, 23-Suliasi Vunivalu