Taniela Tupou and Andrew Kellaway find the opening range of NSW Waratus, where the UK & Ireland lions and Irish lions are likely the latest victims to be rapidly improving.
The Wallabies duo has five more players with testing experience, two of whom, Tane Edmed and Darby Lancaster, boast a lonely international start.
Waratus coach Dan McKellar otherwise handed the younger half to Teddy Wilson and Jack Bowen the opportunity to oppose tourists away from Queensland Reds to win 52-12 at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Lions have been running for half a century on Australian opposition, and it was the second time in five days that Andy Farrell’s team hit Western power 54-7 on Saturday.
Waratah finished under the Reds on the Super Rugby ladder, while Queen’s Lander had nine wallabies on Match Day 23 as well as nine wallabies compared to the seven of Waratah.
The Reds were able to hang with the Lions for most of the first half, but then admitted 31 unanswered second half points, resulting in a massive defeat.
Rockmat Philip has just returned from two seasons in Japan recently, making his Warata debut from the bench.
But with the duo released earlier this week from Wallabies Camp, there’s Tupou and Kellaway, who will feel they have a point to prove.
Tupou’s lack of Super Rugby season has taken a spot on the Wallabies bench for two weeks for his first Test with the Brisbane Lions, with Keraway appearing to be behind Harry Potter, Filippo Daugnu, and now Dylan Pietchu is also in the outdoors.
In Sydney, despite the likely biased scoreline, Sydney expects a near-capacity Allianz Stadium.
Waratha team against the lion
Lawson Clayton, Andrew Keraway, Larakai Foquetty, Joey Walton, Derby Lancaster, Jack Bowen and Teddy Wilson. Hugh Sinclair, Charlie Gamble, Rob Leota, Miles Amatocero, Fergus Lee Warner, Taniera Tupou, Ethan Dobbins and Tom Lambert. Alternatives: Mahe Vailanu, Jack Barrett, Daniel Botha, Matt Philip, Jamie Adamson, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Henry O’Donnell.