Vunivalu poised to make Wallabies debut

1:00 AM BST

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