Samu Kerevi is a chance to return from injury in Bledisloe III but there is a shock inclusion among the 31-man Wallabies squad heading to Japan.
Uncapped Waratahs forward Jed Holloway has been added to bolster the back-row stocks for the Yokohama Test, the Sydneysider rewarded for a strong finish to the Super Rugby season and an equally impressive National Rugby Championship campaign with NSW Country.
With Lukhan Tui opting to spend more time with his family following the passing of his stepfather, Holloway’s Waratahs teammate Jack Dempsey has also been included as a back-row option.
Dempsey was the breakout star towards the end of the Wallabies’ 2017 Rugby Championship campaign, before suffering a serious hamstring injury in the one-off game against the Barbarians sidelined him for almost 10 months.
The duo will fight it out alongside Angus Cottrell, who was part of the squad that toured South Africa and Argentina, for a spot on the bench against the All Blacks.
Kerevi’s inclusion comes after the Reds centre missed the entirety of the Rugby Championship through a biceps injury. Kerevi started all three Tests for the Wallabies at outside centre but now faces a challenge to regain the No.13 jersey from Reece Hodge, who did a solid job deputising in the Queenslander’s absence.
The Wallabies will add to their squad for Tests against Wales, Italy and England after Saturday week’s Bledisloe Test.
Wallabies squad for Bledisloe III
Forwards: Jermaine Ainsley, Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman,Angus Cottrell, Jack Dempsey, Folau Fainga’a, Ned Hanigan, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, David Pocock, Izack Rodda, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou.
Backs: Tom Banks, Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia Jake Gordon, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Jack Maddocks, Sefa Naivalu, Nick Phipps.