The Wallabies are trusting in some backline wizardry, handing a debut to winger Harry Potter and returning Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the starting line-up for the Scotland Test match.
The Wallabies are hoping to continue their hot form in the cold with Suaalii set for his biggest examination yet in the gold as he returns to start at outside centre for the third leg of their British Isles grand slam bid on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
In a side featuring six changes from that which crushed Wales last Sunday, Schmidt will also hope for a touch of magic from Potter, the English-born back who will become Wallaby No.989 in the city where his fictional namesake was invented.
Harry Potter admits he was left stunned by the magic moment when he was informed ‘You’re a Wallaby, Harry…’
Australia’s English-born utility back, the player with the most enchanted name in rugby, revealed on Friday how he felt it was a huge honour to be handed his Wallabies’ debut.
But on his first tour with the national team, the 26-year-old admitted it came as a surprise that he should be pulled out of coach Joe Schmidt’s sorting hat to make his bow against Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
NRL convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been recalled to the starting side in his third match for the Wallabies on the Spring Tour
The Wallabies are hoping winger Harry Potter can deliver some magic on debut
‘It was nice to get in the squad, but getting in the team’s another thing, really,’ admitted Western Force flyer Potter, who’s the 18th different player to be handed a debut for the Wallabies in 2024.
‘But I was pretty keen to get my go. I’m really excited to have the opportunity and grateful the coaches have given me that chance.
‘I was pretty shocked to be honest. The team’s obviously been going really well, and there’s been some good continuity, so it’s a huge honour to get that (selection announcement) in the team meeting. Yeah, a bit of a shock, and I’m excited for it.’
Potter, who made his name over in Britain with Premiership side Leicester, has always, inevitably, had to put up with the puns about his name, yet it felt somehow fitting that his first cap should be won in Edinburgh, the city where JK Rowling wrote the books about his fictional namesake.
Down the years, the London-born player, who moved to Melbourne as a child and then returned to England to really launch his professional rugby career, has met all the jokes with patient good grace.
‘It’s a good challenge for journalists to see if they can think of a unique or original Harry Potter pun,’ he noted after originally being selected for the squad.
‘It’s been 26 years of it, so it’s pretty funny, I reckon. And yeah, tip my hat if you think of something original.’
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has been forced into making six changes to his side ahead of their clash against Scotland
There was nothing too original about his teammate James Slipper giving him the nickname ‘Wizard’, but now Potter really has the chance to live up to the name as he grabs the left wing berth.
Reflecting on his rise on Friday, Potter reckoned he had enjoyed the best of both rugby worlds while playing in England before moving back to Australia.
‘My views of rugby have probably changed quite a lot. I learned so much in Europe about how rugby differs up here. Arguably, it’s more of a Test match style of rugby, lots of set piece, lots of territory and kicking focus,’ he said.
‘Then, going back to Australia, Super Rugby is exciting, lots of attacking focus, backs getting their hands on the ball. So I’ve enjoyed that, and doing a little bit more of that at club level, and hopefully the Wallabies can put a bit of that out there at Murrayfield.
‘I’m very grateful to have got the opportunity I did in the UK, and it worked out well for me but I wanted to come back to Australia, partly because I wanted to play for the Western Force, but largely because you can’t play for the Wallabies unless you’re playing rugby in Australia.
‘I’m so grateful to have been able to make that debut happen – fingers crossed, in two more days.’
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