AUSTRALIA CENTRE SAMU Kerevi will return from injury for their Rugby World Cup opener with Georgia on Saturday [KO 5pm Irish time].
Kerevi, 29, has been sidelined with a hand issue since early August and replaces Lalakai Foketi in the starting lineup for Saturday’s game in Paris.
“Kerevi coming back gives us another option,” head coach Eddie Jones told reporters.
“He’s ready to go. He gives us another running threat out wide,” he added.
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Suntory Sungoliath’s Kerevi is one of three changes rom last month’s loss to France in the Wallabies’ final warm-up match.
Ben Donaldson comes in for Andrew Kellaway at full-back and Marika Korebeite replaces Suliasi Vunivalu on the wing for the match at the Stade de France.
Against Les Bleus in August, out-half Carter Gordon missed 10 points from the tee, but Jones views 24-year-old Donaldson as a dependable option in front of the posts as well as a replacement at outside-half.
“His goal-kicking has been a high standard,” Jones said.
“It’s an area we’ve needed to bolster a bit.”
Tight-head prop Taniela Tupou will make his 50th Test appearance against the Lelos, with experienced scrum-half Nic White coming onto the bench alongside Foketi and Vunivalu.
Georgia’s matchday 23 includes nine players – Shalva Mamukashvili, Konstantine Mikautadze, Beka Gorgadze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Merab Sharikadze, Guram Gogichashvili, Beka Gigashvili, Gela Aprasidze and Giorgi Kveseladze – who played the Wallabies at the 2019 World Cup, a 27-8 pool stage win for Australia.
Australia:
- 15. Ben Donaldson
- 14. Mark Nawaqanitawase
- 13. Jordan Petaia
- 12. Samu Kerevi
- 11. Marika Korobeite
- 10. Carter Gordon
- 9. Tate McDermott
- 1. Angus Bell
- 2. David Porecki
- 3. Taniela Tupou
- 4. Richie Arnold
- 5. Will Skelton (captain)
- 6. Tom Hooper
- 7. Fraser McReight
- 8. Rob Valetini
Replacements:
- 16. Matt Faessler
- 17. Blake Schoupp
- 18. Zane Nonggorr
- 19. Rob Leota
- 20. Langi Gleeson
- 21. Nic White
- 22. Lalakai Foketi
- 23. Suliasi Vunivalu
Georgia:
- 15. Davit Niniashvili
- 14. Akaki Tabutsadze
- 13. Demur Tapladze
- 12. Merab Sharikadze (captain)
- 11. Miriani Modebadze
- 10. Luka Matkava
- 9. Vasil Lobzhanidze
- 1. Nika Abuladze
- 2. Shalva Mamukashvili
- 3. Guram Papidze
- 4. Nodar Cheishvili
- 5. Konstantine Mikautadze
- 6. Tornike Jalagonia
- 7. Luka Ivanishvili
- 8. Beka Gorgadze
Replacements:
- 16. Tengizi Zamtaradze
- 17. Guram Gogichashvili
- 18. Beka Gigashvili
- 19. Lasha Jaiani
- 20. Giorgi Tsutskiridze
- 21. Gela Aprasidze
- 22. Tedo Abzhandadze
- 23. Giorgi Kveseladze
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