The Wallabies are banking on some magic in the backline, giving winger Harry Potter a debut and returning Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the starting line-up for the Scotland test match.
The Wallabies hope to continue their good form in the cold with Suaalii set for his biggest test yet in gold when he returns to start as an outside starter in the third leg of their British Isles Grand Slam bid on Sunday (Monday AEDT ).
In a team that makes six changes from the one that crushed Wales last Sunday, Schmidt will also hope for a touch of magic from Potter, the English defender who will become Wallaby number 989 in the city where his fictional namesake was invented.
Harry Potter admits he was stunned by the magical moment when he was informed: “You’re a wallaby, Harry…”
The English-born Australian centre-back, the player with the most enchanted name in rugby, revealed on Friday that he felt it was a great honor to receive his Wallabies’ debut.
But on his first tour with the national team, the 26-year-old admitted it was a surprise to be plucked from coach Joe Schmidt’s selection hat to make his debut against Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
NRL convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been called up to the starting team in his third game for the Wallabies on the Spring Tour.
Wallabies hope winger Harry Potter can offer some magic on debut
“It was nice to get into the team, but getting into the team is something else actually,” admitted Western Force midfielder Potter, who is the 18th different player to debut for the Wallabies in 2024.
But I really wanted to try it. I’m very excited to have the opportunity and grateful that the coaches gave it to me.
“To be honest, I was quite surprised. Obviously, the team has been doing very well and there has been good continuity, so it is a great honor to receive that (selection announcement) at the team meeting. Yeah, a bit of a shock and I’m excited about it.’
Potter, who made his name in Britain with Premiership side Leicester, has always, inevitably, had to endure puns about his name, but somehow it seemed fitting that his first cap was won in Edinburgh, the city where JK Rowling wrote the books about her fictional namesake.
Over 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 dealt with all the jokes with patient good nature.
“It’s a good challenge for journalists to see if they can come up with a unique or original Harry Potter pun,” he noted after originally being selected for the team.
“It’s been 26 years, so I think it’s pretty funny.” And yes, hats off if you come up with something original.”
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has been forced to make six changes to his team ahead of the clash against Scotland.
There was nothing too original about team-mate James Slipper giving him the nickname ‘Wizard’, but now Potter really has a chance to live up to that name by taking up the left wing position.
Reflecting on his promotion on Friday, Potter reckoned he had enjoyed the best of both worlds of rugby while playing in England before returning to Australia.
‘My view of rugby has probably changed quite a bit. I learned a lot in Europe about the differences between rugby here. “You could say it’s more of a Test style of rugby, with a lot of set pieces, a lot of territory and concentration on kicking,” he said.
“Then coming back to Australia, Super Rugby is exciting, there is a lot of concentration on the attack and the backs have the ball in their hands. So I’ve enjoyed it and done a bit more of that at club level, and I hope the Wallabies can put a bit of that into Murrayfield.
“I’m very grateful I had the opportunity I had 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.” Don’t play for the Wallabies unless you play rugby in Australia.
“I’m very grateful to have been able to make that debut a reality; fingers crossed, in two more days.”