Carter Gordon to start as Wallabies rotate for Italy in Udine

Coach Joe Schmidt has named a rotated Wallabies side to face Italy in Udine on Saturday, November 8, with 24 year old Carter Gordon making his first Test start since the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The match at Bluenergy Stadium kicks off at 1840 local time, and Gordon will partner Jake Gordon in the halves as Australia looks to rebound from a 25-7 defeat by England at Twickenham last weekend.

The starting XV contains four changes from the side that lost in London, with Corey Toole, Matt Faessler and Tom Hooper joining Gordon in the run-on team. Andrew Kellaway keeps his spot at fullback for a third straight Test while Harry Potter and Toole form the wing pairing. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Hunter Paisami continue in midfield, and Harry Wilson captains the pack at number eight with Fraser McReight and Hooper in the backrow. The front row is Angus Bell, Matt Faessler and Taniela Tupou, and Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost start in the second row.

The matchday 23 also shows rotation. Billy Pollard returns to the bench as the replacement hooker, while Aidan Ross, Zane Nonggorr and Pete Samu are included among the substitutes. Samu is set to make his first Test appearance since 2023 if he...