Kiss keeps Suaalii on the wing as Wallabies name side for Bledisloe opener at Eden Park

Les Kiss has named his Wallabies side for the first Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park, keeping Joseph Suaalii on the left wing rather than moving him into the midfield vacancy created by Hunter Paisami’s suspension.

Suaalii, one of Australian rugby’s most high-profile recruits, wore the No.11 jersey for the first time against the Springboks and Kiss has opted to leave him there. Instead, Len Ikitau shifts to inside centre at No.12, with Reds rookie Isaac Henry handed his chance in the No.13 shirt in a reshuffled midfield.

In the forwards, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto earns a starting berth alongside Jeremy Williams in the second row, the one change to a forward pack that otherwise remains intact from the side that defeated South Africa in Perth. Harry Wilson captains the side from No.8.

The bench carries several new faces after overseas-based props Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper were ruled unavailable. Former All Black Aidan Ross is named among the replacement front rowers and will line up against his old team for the first time. He is joined by 22-year-old Massimo du Lutiis, who made his Test debut against Japan in Townsville and has since featured in both matches against Argentina.

Brumbies lock Lachlan Shaw and Nick Champion de Crespigny of the Force cover the second and back rows from the bench, while Tate McDermott, rookie flyhalf Declan Meredith and Harry Potter complete the back replacements.

The Wallabies’ starting XV in full: 1 Angus Bell, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Jeremy Williams, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 9 Ryan Lonergan, 10 Ben Donaldson, 11 Joseph Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Isaac Henry, 14 Max Jorgensen, 15 Tom Wright.