Florence: Young Waratahs duo Mark Nawaqanitawase and Ben Donaldson have been named to make their Wallabies debuts this weekend against Italy as coach Dave Rennie announced a whopping 11 changes to Australia’s starting XV from last week’s narrow loss to France.
After a one-point win against Scotland followed by a 30-29 defeat to France, the Wallabies have rested a number of their stars for the Florence fixture to keep them fresh for game four of the tour against Ireland next week.
With rotation comes opportunity for Nawaqanitawase, a potent winger with excellent aerial skills, and Donaldson, a silky playmaker from Randwick who has been compared to a young Stephen Larkham.
Nawaqanitawase (pronounced Nah-wang-gah-knee-tah-wah-zay) has replaced Andrew Kellaway on the right wing for this match, while Donaldson has been picked on a Wallabies bench featuring five forwards and three backs.
When it comes to a Wallabies debut from the clouds, Nawaqanitawase’s ascension this year is some story.
He was so far down the pecking order at NSW that he wasn’t selected in two Waratahs sides for a pre-season trial match.
Mark Nawaqanitawase (left) and Ben Donaldson (right) are posied for Wallabies debuts this weekend against Italy.Credit:Getty
Through solid performances, initially off the NSW bench, Nawaqanitawase eventually earned selection for Australia A before flying to Auckland for a holiday, thinking his year was over.
The 22-year-old from the Eastwood club in Sydney had to race back to Australia after Rennie informed him he’d be heading to Europe.
“He’s had a hell of a season,” Rennie said. “He was excellent for Australia A, both in Fiji and in Japan. He’s a big man. Aerially, he’s outstanding, [as well as] going forward and under the high ball.
“He’s made big shifts defensively and he’s got post-tackle presence. He kicks the ball well. Generally we’ve got a pretty small back line, so he gives us a point of difference.”
Nawaqanitawase and Donaldson were teammates in the 2019 Junior Wallabies side that made the World U20 Championships final.
It’s not often two Waratahs players make their Test debuts in the same match. The last time it occurred was when Lachlan Swinton and Angus Bell debuted against the All Blacks in Brisbane in 2020.
Before that, Dean Mumm and Luke Burgess debuted together in 2008. Other Waratahs pairs to do so include Brett Sheehan and Benn Robinson (2006), Lachlan MacKay and Al Kanaar (2005), as well as Lote Tuqiri and Morgan Turinui (2003).
The Waratahs have never had three players debut in the same Test during the professional era (post 1996).
Noah Lolesio during Australia’s 24-8 loss to the Springboks at Allianz Stadium in September.Credit:AP
Noah Lolesio gets his chance at No.10 for the Wallabies this weekend, with Bernard Foley set to have a break after four straight Tests.
Lolesio was overtaken by Foley in the Wallabies pecking order after an underwhelming performance in the Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks in Sydney.
“Noah is running the [show] and we’ll play it as we see it,” Rennie said. “We’re conscious of the fact it’s a good Italian side. They’ve made really good shifts over the last 12 months. We’ve picked a side we think is strong, fresh, and so there is no plan to throw guys into the game early. We’ll judge it as we see it.”
Rennie has opted to give Foley, Michael Hooper, James Slipper, Nic White, Rob Valetini and a handful of other senior players a freshen-up before a huge clash with Ireland next week.
Slipper’s absence means Allan Alaalatoa will captain the side and become the 85th male to be given the honour of leading the Wallabies.
“He’s hugely respected,” Rennie said. “For anyone who knows Allan well, he’s a hell of a man. A very proud moment for him and his family. There was a lot of excitement when we named the team because of a couple of new boys. The biggest roar though was for Al when he was named as skipper. He could definitely skipper Australia long-term.”
Will Skelton has been given his first Wallabies start since 2016, where he will partner Nick Frost in the second row.
Rennie has also gone with an entirely new back row in Ned Hanigan, Fraser McReight and Pete Samu.
Despite mass changes – only Frost, Tom Wright, Len Ikitau and Jock Campbell remain in Australia’s starting team from the most recent match in Paris – Rennie is comfortable Australia has a strong enough side to come away from Florence with a second victory of the tour.
“You can’t churn out the same side five weeks in a row and expect to be at your best late in the tour,” Rennie said. “We’ve got confidence in the group. We’ve got really good depth. When you look at the team, it’s a good side. We expect that team to front up.”
The Wallabies have never lost to Italy since the teams first met in 1983.
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