Jeremy Williams and Harry Potter among five Western Force players named in Wallabies side to face Fiji

Five Western Force stars will get their chance to press their case for a berth against the British and Irish Lions after they were named in the Wallabies side to face Fiji on Sunday. Force captain Jeremy Williams will start in the second row for Joe Schmidt’s side at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday, while departing winger Harry Potter has also been handed a starting berth in the no.14 jersey. Off the back of their showings for the Force against the Lions at Optus Stadium last Saturday, halves pairing Nic White — returning to his Hunter Valley roots — and Ben Donaldson have been named on the bench, as has flanker Carlo Tizzano. But there was no immediate room for Force outside back Dylan Pietsch despite his sparkling showing against the Lions last week. Also missing out from a Force perspective were prop Tom Robertson, despite a sterling showing against the Lions’ front row, back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny and lock Darcy Swain. There are few surprises in the Wallabies starting 15 to face Fiji, with James Slipper (picked over Angus Bell) and Allan Alaalatoa bookending David Porecki in the front row, and Brumbies lock Nick Frost reigniting his partnership with Williams. Reported injuries to back-rower Rob Valetini, lock Will Skelton, and scrum-half Jake Gordon have opened the door for the likes of Langi Gleeson and Tate McDermott to start. Despite Tizzano’s impressive Super Rugby Pacific season, McReight’s sensational end to last season for the Wallabies was always going to weigh heavily on Schmidt’s mind when it came to selection. While Tizzano is undersized by Test standards, Schmidt has named Brumbies lock-flanker hybrid Tom Hooper among the reserves to provide cover across the second row and six and eight spots. Waratahs’ young guns Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Max Jorgensen will start in the backs despite injury-afflicted ends to their Super Rugby seasons. Wallabies vs Fiji (McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday 1.30pm) James Slipper, David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams Langi Gleeson, Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReightTate McDermott, Noah Lolesio Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright, Harry Potter Substitutes: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu.