West Australian junior Carlo Tizzano will make his Test debut for the Wallabies in their Flight Centre Rugby Championship opener against South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon from 12:30pm WST.
Tizzano will start at openside flanker in the sold-out Test, joining Rob Valetini and Harry Wilson in the backrow at Suncorp Stadium against the Rugby World Cup winning Springboks.
The 24-year-old Force back-rower becomes the first WA raised player to debut for the Wallabies since Curtis Rona in 2017. Dane Haylett-Petty was the last Western Australian player to play for the Wallabies in 2020.
Tizzano was born and bred in Perth, attending Hale School and Trinity College, while playing for WA Fortescue Premier Grade club University, including a handful of recent games.
Tizzano was one of the stars of the Force’s 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, leading the league for tackles and winning the Club’s Members’ MVP.
Force skipper Jeremy Williams will provide versatility across the forward cover.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “There’s a mix of continuity and freshness in the squad and the players have worked with good enthusiasm during the week, but we know there’s still plenty to work on.”
“We’re conscious of the size of the challenge and the size of our opponents but there’s a keenness in the player group to take a step forward.”
Watch all the action on Stan Sport with every Wallabies Test streaming ad-free, live and on demand with Wallabies at home in 4K UHD. Wallabies matches will also be shown live on the Nine Network.
The Wallabies will be in Perth the following week to face the Springboks at Optus Stadium from 5:45pm WST on Saturday 17 August with tickets selling fast via Ticketmaster.
The game will be preceded by the Rugby Championship Long Lunch on Friday 16 August at the River View Room at Optus Stadium, with Bryan Habana, Joe Schmidt, Nathan Sharpe and Phil Waugh among the guest speakers. Tickets available here.
Wallabies team to play South Africa
@ Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday 10 August at 12:30pm AWST
1. Isaac Kailea (3 Tests) - Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
2. Matt Faessler (7 Tests) – USQ Saints
3. Allan Alaalatoa (c) (70 Tests) – West Harbour Juniors
4. Nick Frost (16 Tests) – Hornsby Lions
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (32 Tests) – Randwick
6. Rob Valetini (42 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
7. Carlo Tizzano* - University of Western Australia
8. Harry Wilson (13 Tests) – Gunnedah Red Devils
9. Jake Gordon (22 Tests) – Canterbury Juniors
10. Noah Lolesio (20 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
11. Filipo Daugunu (10 Tests) – Wests Bulldogs
12. Hunter Paisami (27 Tests) - Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
13. Len Ikitau (29 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
14. Andrew Kellaway (29 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
15. Tom Wright (28 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles
Substitutes
16. Josh Nasser (2 Tests) - Easts Tigers
17. James Slipper (136 Tests) – Bond Pirates
18. Zane Nonggorr (6 Tests) – Gold Coast Eagles
19. Jeremy Williams (3 Tests) – Wahroonga Tigers
20. Luke Reimer* - Lindfield Junior Rugby Club
21. Tate McDermott (31 Tests) – Flinders Rugby Club
22. Tom Lynagh (1 Test) – University of Queensland
23. Dylan Pietsch (1 Test) – Leeton Phantoms
*denotes uncapped
