33-year-old Australian second row Caderyn Neville will make his debut against England this Saturday, as the Wallabies named their team for the first test.
Named four times in Wallaby training squads since 2012, the veteran lock – who has played for the Rebels, Reds and Brumbies in Super Rugby – becomes the third oldest post-war debutant for Australia.
The former rugby league player also used to row for his country at the Youth Olympics, something alluded to by coach Dave Rennie when asked about the selection.
“He’s an ex-rower and that’s why he’s got such a massive engine,” Rennie said, “He played a bit of league at one stage. He’s a big man so you would have noticed him out there.
“He’s had injuries, he’s spent a bit of time overseas and he’s come back for a final dig. He’s a big man and a good athlete.
“He’s a great story for the guys out there who might have thought the dream had passed them. From a perseverance point of view it’s a great story.”
The other debutant in the Australian side is 29-year-old hooker David Porecki, who played for Saracens and London Irish in a five-year spell in England.
And he believes he has picked up lessons from his time in the UK that he will take forward into this game against the men in white.
“You get an insight into their set piece and into their mentality and what their foundations are built on,” Porecki said.
“It is old-school, traditional rugby that they have modernised, but their foundations stay the same.
“It revolves around a strong set piece, kicking game, territory, exactly what we are expecting when we face them on Saturday. They build their game around that.”
Australia team to face England: Bell, Porecki, Alaalatoa, Swain, Neville, Leota, Hooper (c), Valetini, White, Cooper, Koroibete, Kerevi, Ikitau, Kellaway, Banks
Substitutions: Fainga’a, Sio, Slipper, Philip, Samu, Gordon, Lolesio, Petaia
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