Edinburgh: Western Force winger Harry Potter has, with unfailing good grace, put up with a lifetime of jokes about his name but the 26-year-old has earned his own, deserved fame after being selected for the Wallabies against Scotland on Monday.
It was with a neat twist of irony that Potter learned of his Test debut at the Wallabies hotel on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, just a five-minute walk from the cafe where author JK Rowling started writing a book about a boy wizard, which was published a few months before Potter was born in 1997.
Potter will become Wallaby No.989 on Monday morning (AEDT), and was one of six changes to the Wallabies’ starting side that beat Wales last weekend in Cardiff.
The suspension of Samu Kerevi has seen Len Ikitau return to inside centre, and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii recalled to the starting side at No.13. Jake Gordon also returns to the starting halfback spot, having recovered from a head cut.
Harry Potter at Wallabies training on the Spring Tour.Credit: AP
Potter has taken the place of Max Jorgensen, who suffered a cork against Wales and didn’t train early in the week. Jorgensen is on the bench, however.
Schmidt has also made major changes to his forward pack, with star No.7 Fraser McReight replaced by Carlo Tizzano, the youngster who made a strong debut in the Rugby Championship but hasn’t been used on the tour so far.
Harry Wilson returns at No.8 and as captain, and Seru Uru drops out of the team. Nick Frost has also been left out, with Jeremy Williams back from a hip complaint and partnering Will Skelton the second-row.
James Slipper’s knee injury has seen him replaced by Isaac Kailea on the bench.
It is, again, a big batch of changes by Schmidt who has not been afraid of changing a winning combination on this tour. The New Zealand coach is a big believer in players being fit enough to train all week, and will make changes even if they’re expected to be fit later in the week.
He has also spoken about the desire to field fresh players, and after a long year, has elected to select players who aren’t as banged up.
The six-day turnaround to the Wallabies’ clash with Ireland next week will have also been a consideration in several of Schmidt’s changes, particularly with McReight. Skelton is also due to return to France next week.
“The week has been complicated, with the freezing conditions ruling out training fields but the group have adapted well to the situation,” Schmidt said in a statement.
“The core of the Scotland team has been together for a number of years. They’re cohesive and combative and we will need to be at our best on Sunday.”
Wallabies team to play Scotland
Wallabies team to play Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on Sunday November 24 at 1:10pm GMT/12:10am AEDT (Monday)
1. Angus Bell (34 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
2. Matt Faessler (14 Tests) – USQ Saints
3. Allan Alaalatoa (78 Tests) – West Harbour Juniors
4. Jeremy Williams (9 Tests) – Wahroonga Tigers
5. Will Skelton (31 Tests) – The Hills Sports High School
6. Rob Valetini (50 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
7. Carlo Tizzano (4 Tests) – University of Western Australia
8. Harry Wilson (c) (20 Tests) – Gunnedah Red Devils
9. Jake Gordon (27 Tests) – Canterbury Juniors
10. Noah Lolesio (27 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
11. Harry Potter* – Moorabbin Rams
12. Len Ikitau (37 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (2 Tests) – The Kings School
14. Andrew Kellaway (37 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
15. Tom Wright (35 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles
Substitutes
16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (18 Tests) – Southern Districts
17. Isaac Kailea (6 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
18. Zane Nonggorr (9 Tests) – Gold Coast Eagles
19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (39 Tests) – Randwick
20. Langi Gleeson (12 Tests) – Harbord Harlequins
21. Tate McDermott (39 Tests) – Flinders Rugby Club
22. Ben Donaldson (15 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles
23. Max Jorgensen (5 Tests) – Balmain Wolves
*denotes uncapped
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