Champion de Crespigny to debut, Lynagh at flyhalf against Lions

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has selected Nick Champion de Crespigny for his debut Test as he confirmed his team to face the British & Irish Lions on Saturday in Brisbane.

The Force back-rower will start alongside Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson, continuing a breakout season for the 29-year-old.

Champion de Crespigny joined the Force at the start of the season after three seasons in the French Top 14 with Castres.

It comes with Rob Valetini and Langi Gleeson both out with injury, with Gleeson picking up a cork in the win over Fiji, while Will Skelton was also ruled out with injury.

Fellow Force teammate Jeremy Williams, named in the second row with Nick Frost, backed the bruising back-rower to step up to the next level.

"(Nick's) really physical on the field and really loves that part of the game, just getting up in peoples' faces and tackling them, so, you know, if he got his opportunity to go out there, I'm sure he'd thrive and he'd love it and he'd play outstandingly,” Schmidt said.

On top of this, Queensland Reds flyhalf Tom Lynagh wins the race to start in the halves in the place of Noah Lolesio (neck).

The young playmaker will become the first father-son duo to start against the Lions, after his dad, Michael, achieved the same feat in 1989.

Lynagh partners Jake Gordon, who has been cleared of injury, to be fit for the match.

In further changes, Matt Faessler returns to the side as the Reds hooker starts in the front-row, with Billy Pollard off the bench.

He partners James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa, with Angus Bell and Tom Robertson off the bench.

With his naming in the starting side, Slipper becomes the second Australian to play in back-to-back Lions series, while Robertson will play his first Test since 2022 if called upon.

“The whole squad has worked hard as a group to prepare for what’s going to be a massive challenge against an in-form Lions team,” Schmidt said.

“With the short runway leading up to such a big Test match, we know we must adapt fast and improve quickly, from the performance we had against Fiji recently.

“We’re very much aware of the occasion and conscious of earning the support from the public through the effort they see on the field.”

Wallabies starting XV: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter; 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Jake Gordon; 8 Harry Wilson (capt), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny; 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost; 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 James Slipper. Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Andrew Kellaway

British & Irish Lions starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 James Lowe; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 8 Jack Conan, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Tadhg Beirne; 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Maro Itoje (capt); 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Ellis Genge. Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Bundee Aki.