Former All Black Hodgman to make Australia debut against Georgia

Melbourne: Former New Zealand prop Alex Hodgman will make his debut for Australia when he is included on the bench in a much-changed squad against Georgia in Sydney on Saturday.

The 31-year-old forward played four Test matches for the All Blacks in 2020 and gained eligibility for the Australian Wallabies through his Fijian-Australian father after moving to the Queensland Reds this year.

If Hodgman comes off the bench at Sydney Football Stadium, he will become the first player in the professional era to represent both New Zealand and Australia.

New Australia coach Joe Schmidt made 10 changes to the 15 starting players who beat Wales 36-28 in Melbourne last Saturday after Australia won 2-0 against a struggling Wales side.

They include Darby Lancaster, a winger who has never played for his country but represented Australia in rugby sevens and this year signed a contract with the now-defunct Melbourne Renegades.

The 21-year-old will start on the left wing, pushing the in-form Filippo Daugunu to the right.

Allan Alaalatoa replaces Taniela Tupou as the starting right prop and will become Australia’s third captain in three weeks, with left prop James Slipper being rested after leading the side in Melbourne.

Flanker Liam Wright was surprisingly picked as captain for the first Test win over Wales in Sydney but remains sidelined by a shoulder injury.

Schmidt has completely revamped his top five tight ends lineup, with hooker Billy Pollard and looseheader Isaac Kelia joining Alaalatoa in the front row.

Angus Blyth and Nick Frost will line up in the second row against Georgia, who beat Eddie Jones’s Japan 25-23 in Sendai last weekend.

Outside centre Len Ikitau and loose forward Harry Wilson will also start after returning from injury, while Ben Donaldson and Tate McDermott replace the demoted Noah Lolesio and the eliminated Jake Gordon as starting centre-backs.

In the last meeting between the two teams, Australia defeated Georgia 35-15 in the group stage of the World Cup in France.

Australia:

15-Tom Wright, 14-Filippo Daugunu, 13-Len Ikitau, 12-Hunter Pasami, 11-Darby Lancaster, 10-Ben Donaldson, 9-Tate McDermott, 8-Harry Wilson, 7-Fraser McWright, 6-Rob Valletini, 5-Angus Blythe, 4-Nick Frost, 3-Alan Araratoa (captain), 2-Billy Pollard, 1-Isaac Kelia

Subs: 16-Josh Nasser, 17-Alex Hodgman, 18-Zane Nogol, 19-Tom Hooper, 20-Jeremy Williams, 21-Nick White, 22-Noah Lolesio, 23-Andrew Kellaway.