In the city where Harry Potter was created, a new wizard is in town and will debut for the Wallabies against Scotland just 4.3 kilometres down the road from where JK Rowling penned the best-selling book.
By unleashing Harry Potter at Murrayfield, the 26-year-old outside back, born just months after Rowling published her novel after writing it at the Elephant House Cafe in Edinburgh, will become the 18th Wallabies debutant in 2024 – the most since WWI.
The Roar understands Potter will start on the wing for Joe Schmidt’s side as one of three changes to the backline.
It’s believed the versatile back has come in for Max Jorgensen, who will shift to the bench, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii promoted to partner Len Ikitau in the midfield after Samu Kerevi’s red card.
The final change expected in the backline is at halfback, with Jake Gordon set to return from a head injury in place of Nic White.
Harry Potter is set to become the 18th Wallabies debutant in 2024. (Photo by Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)
Schmidt is expected to tinker with his forward pack for the Wallabies’ third Test on their Grand Slam tour, with at least one significant change in the works.
With Scotland expected to go hard at the breakdown to try and slow the Wallabies’ ball down, it’s believed the experienced mentor, who spent six years coaching in the Six Nations with Ireland, is strongly considering a tweak to the back-row that will see Carlo Tizzano return at openside flanker.
The 24-year-old didn’t miss a tackle in his opening three Tests after debuting against the Springboks during The Rugby Championship when Fraser McReight was sidelined due to injury.
Now, after patiently waiting months for another crack, the hard on-baller, who loves the confrontation, is set to be unleashed to try and combat the feisty Scots in a Test expected to go down to the wire and be a stark contrast to last weekend’s massive win under the roof in Cardiff.
The selection switch comes after Schmidt spoke of needing to pay particular attention to the crucial area.
“I’ve got massive respect for Scotland,” Schmidt said following the Wallabies’ 52-20 win over Wales. “I think they will be very tough.
“They play a fast game, they play a fast game, they put massive pressure on the breakdown, they’ve got a good loose-forward trio but I think their tight-five have been going really well as well.”
Carlo Tizzano is expected to play his first Test for the Wallabies since facing Argentina in September. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
How much a consideration next week’s six-day turnaround ahead of facing Ireland in Dublin had remains to be seen, but Schmidt has shown his desire to trust his depth and this weekend will be no different.
Former Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore, who made his debut start at Murrayfield and copped a hiding at the same venue in his final Test in 2017, said he expected Scotland to attack the men in gold at the breakdown.
“Typically, Scotland competes very hard at the breakdown and can turn that into a real mess,” the former hooker told The Roar.
“They’ll know that if they can do that against us, they sort of limit our rhythm and our ability to play footy.
“I think the last couple of weeks we’ve shown our desire to really play some footy and get on the front foot and start to move the ball a bit, so they’ll want to disrupt that, no doubt.
“That front-foot ball is so important against these teams, getting clean ball and dominant ball carries and really aggressive cleanouts that are really accurate around the breakdown. It’s really important because they do like to cause a mess there – that’s been one of their hallmarks.”
Potter’s ascension to the top of Australian rugby continues an incredible rise for the English-born back.
Harry Potter made his name at Welford Road after a successful stint at Leicester before signing with the Western Force. (Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
But with Potter becoming the eighteenth debutant of 2024, Schmidt’s Wallabies will equal the teams of 1920 and 1928 in the most first caps dispensed in a single season.
It’s an incredible number given the 1920 side that took on a New Zealand XV in Sydney was the first Test to be played by the Wallabies after The Great War.
Meanwhile, the 18 fresh faces in 1928 can be accounted for after the Waratahs went on a nine-month tour of the British Isles, France and Canada, and only a handful of the team made themselves available for the tour of New Zealand in September.
Schmidt can’t put either factor down to the mass of players he’s capped, with the New Zealander instead focussing on expanding his base and focusing on those that will be playing in the Super Rugby Pacific competition in 2025.