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Ian Chadband

'Stop the Chariot-singing': Kiss looks to bench power

Rob Valetini has been given a place on a powerful-looking bench for the Wallabies at Twickenham. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Wallabies coach Les Kiss has rung the changes for their visit to Twickenham and is ready to unleash some of their biggest weapons from the bench to silence England fans' anthem, Swing Low Sweet Chariot.

The 61-year-old, aware of how important this Nations Championship tour to the UK is to setting his side on the right course to next year's home World Cup, will uncork the front-row explosivity of Taniela Tupou and the back-row brilliance of two-time John Eales Medal winner Rob Valetini from among his substitutes.

Kiss prompted a surprise by breaking up his trusted back-row combo by dropping Valetini to the bench and bringing lock Jeremy Williams  as blindside flanker alongside captain Harry Wilson and current John Eales Medal winner Fraser McReight, who'll be playing his 50th Test.

Les Kiss
Coach Les Kiss with Fraser McReight, who'll play his 50th Test at Twickenham. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

He's also shifted Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the wing to help thwart England's high-ball assault that sank the Wallabies at Twickenham last year and the whole match-day squad has a very different feel to the 23 chosen for last month's humbling defeat by the All Blacks. 

"Trying to get that impact from the bench is massive for us. So if we can stop the Chariot-singing and get that right, and play our game, we'll be in a good place," said Kiss, confident they can return to winning ways after the two NZ defeats proved a jolting reality check after the fine start to his tenure.

"Our scrum's been strong; it's just got stronger. We know that's an area that we can work off. Our lineout has been very strong and reliable, and our maul has been very effective," he said.

"So we know we've got those things in place to be able to build off, and we want to make sure that those things are seen this weekend."

Williams
Jeremy Williams has been switched from lock to blindside flanker in an experimental move. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Bringing in Williams at six has an element of risk, as he's played there only half-a-dozen times in Super Rugby and never in a Test, with even the Western Force skipper himself admitting he was a bit surprised about the move, even if he feels "comfortable" at blindside flanker.

But Kiss explained these four Nations Championship matches were his last chance to experiment before the World Cup and he wants to develop Williams' versatility.

"We know Jez's got a good engine and he'll finish off the game for us," said Kiss. "He can move up to lock later in the game and we can move Bobby (Valetini) into a situation where his power and strength can come into play later on in the game."

Two years after his Wallabies debut at Twickenham featured centre Suaalii soaring in the aerial duels, he's now been shifted to the wing in place of Harry Potter, enabling the returning Len Ikitau to team up with Isaac Henry in midfield while he'll have a key role defending the inevitable high-ball bombardment on the right edge.

But what's his best position? "It is a good question," said Kiss. "He is serving something from the wing for us at the moment in terms of the aerial skills and also his ability to hunt across the park and sniff up opportunities. The aerial skills, we know, will be massively important this weekend. 

"It's possible he could play in different positions on this tour."

For the moment, though, Kiss has resisted the temptation of giving 37-year-old utility back Kurtley Beale his first Test outing for five years following the shock of drafting him into the squad.

"Well, he's in the squad, so he was in the selection mix for sure," said the coach. "Kurtley's totally aware that he is in the picture. He's not here as a passenger."

Wallabies:

Angus Bell, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Jeremy Williams , Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Declan Meredith, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Isaac Henry, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright. Replacements: Josh Nasser , Isaac Kailea, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu.

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