the specialist Wallabies set to go head-to-head with Britain and Ireland’s best

As the Autumn Nations Series wraps up for another year, it is fair to say assumptions around next year’s British & Irish Lions tour have become much murkier.

The Wallabies coming into this tour were expected to struggle, with wins hard to come by.

Instead, with a match to go, they’ve now broken a ten-year drought at Twickenham, left Cardiff with their biggest win over Wales at Millennium Stadium and, while the grand slam run ended in Scotland amid disrupted preparations, injuries and a stunning performance by the home side, there was plenty of exciting prospects to draw attention to.

Turns out there is life in the Lions series just yet – and not only have several key Wallabies stood up, but have shown themselves to be effective weapons against many players who are expected to put on the Lions jersey next year.

As we approach Ireland, we’ve collated several key players that we think will be exciting head-to-head competitors when the Lions arrive next year.

Think there is a player or a head-to-head contest we’re sleeping on? Let us know in the comments.

The aggressors: Lukhan Salakia-Loto & Harry Wilson (vs. Jonny Hill & Tadhg Berne) 

The Lions are set to come to Australia with no shortage of big lads, from the almost certain inclusion of exciting players like Tadhg Berne to outside challengers like Jonny Hill – the man who kept Darcy Swain up at night after the 2022 England series.

In response though, Harry Wilson has been phenomenal in 2024, his leading-by-actions approach and ability to get in amongst the muck reflected in the improvement of both results and discipline in the Wallabies.

Another success has been Lukhan Salakia-Loto, who has enjoyed a strong year across the park. Time overseas has proven invaluable for the big lock, proving especially effective off the bench. Under Joe Schmidt and Les Kiss at the Reds, expect him to only grow in confidence and physicality. 

The jackler: Carlo Tizzano (vs Caelan Doris)

Harry Wilson would also be in the running here – further reflecting Australia’s loose forward depth. Over the last few years, the Wallabies have lacked an element of physicality; sometimes, you just need a big bastard to attack rucks, smash people and commit murder. 

Moving back home to the Western Force has been good for Carlo Tizzano. Off the back of a strong Super Rugby season, the flanker has not only bolted into the Wallaby squad to become a worthy challenger knocking on the door behind Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini and Wilson, but he brought physicality and consistency. 

His 240 tackles across Super Rugby Pacific (averaging 17 a game) made him the leading tackler in the whole competition in 2024 – and that carried over into the Rugby Championship, making 35 tackles against South Africa with a 100% success rate and hitting a mammoth 60 rucks in two games.

He’ll have his work cut out against several experienced ruckmen in the Lions – notably Ireland skipper Caelan Doris, who has been named in the 2023 and 2024 World Rugby Dream Team of the Year. Head to head, the Irishman would likely have Tizzano’s number – but the West Australian has shown up several players who made that team.

When fellow Wallaby John Nasser thinks you ‘have a few screws loose’, you’ve left an impression.

The attacking weapon: Len Ikitau (vs Huw Jones, Garry Ringrose)

The centres will be a fascinating contest in July next year and likely be a major factor in who wins the series.

This was proven against Scotland, with Sione Tuipolotu and Huw Jones getting the better of their opposite numbers. Jones, having been an established part of the Scottish side, is a frontrunner to make the Lions, as will his Irish counterpart, Garry Ringrose.

Together, you have two attacking weapons that can not only score tries, but serve as effective distributors to open up other players. However, in this regard, Australia has a proven world-class response of their own.

It’s incredible to think about how much Len Ikitau has achieved in his 30-odd Test matches. An established member of the centres, it has often come down to who you pair with him for Australia’s attack. At Super Rugby level, very few can beat him.

While fellow Brumby Tom Wright would also be in consideration, the sheer versatility of Ikitau will prove critical – if he bests his opposite number, Australia’s chances of winning a match – and a series – change considerably.

The secret weapon: Allan Aalaatoa (vs Cian Healy)

There are so many options on both sides as to who is the most underrated player – but in truth, it comes down to your front row.

Cian Healy might be in the latter stages of his career, but the 133-capped Irish star will be a strong head of experience for Andy Farrell to turn to, having been included in previous tours – notably, the 2013 Australian tour.

If picked, he will come up against backup Wallaby captain Allan Aalaatoa. An influential figure across the Brumbies and Wallabies, the rupturing of his Achilles in 2023 started the derailment of the Wallabies’ World Cup campaign.

With several years left in the tank and coming back into a strong groove in Schmidt’s set-up, proving especially effective off the bench, Aalaatoa will prove a handful in the closing championship minutes of all three Lions Tests.

The wonder kid: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (vs Marcus Smith)

It didn’t take long for the Wallabies’ new golden child to assert himself. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has a bright future ahead of him in gold, and his sheer versatility to play anywhere makes him extremely dangerous.

His passing, game awareness and ability to unleash other weapons are even more impressive when you consider how young he is in his career. With even more time in the saddle and a full Waratahs season under his belt, he could become the player most Lions stars will be on the lookout for.

However, opposite him is one of the most exciting flyhalves in world rugby, Marcus Smith. While Finn Russell would be considered the front-runner for the Lions’ starting flyhalf, Smith’s ability to put players in space is as good as Suaalii’s. He also has a lot of experience under his belt with over 160 caps at a provincial level, insane when you consider he is still only 25. 

While Suaalii got the better of him this Autumn Series, you’d back Smith to find a way to strike back throughout a Lions series and be a more than capable replacement should Russell go down.

The lineout general: Jeremy Williams (vs. Maro Itoje)

Staying at Twickenham, if there was one element of that contest that surprised many fans, it was the strong performance shown by the Wallaby lineout – most notably, the performance of Jeremy Williams. 

The loss of the Wallaby rookie hours out from the Scotland Test was noticeable, especially when you compare it with how well he out-played England and Lions veteran Maro Itoje.

Itoje will likely be in the conversation for 2025, having been a key part of the last two Lions tours to New Zealand and South Africa. An astounding competitor, the England lock will likely have his eye on the exciting Western Force gun, and it sets up one of the less discussed, but no less compelling contests.

The X-Factor: Fraser McReight & Rob Valetini (vs. Josh van der Flier & Aaron Wainwright)

If there is one place the Wallabies look more dangerous than any other, it is the quality of depth and players in the loose forwards.

At the top of the pile are world-class options Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini, the former causing all sorts of problems for Wales and England throughout 2024, with the latter being the most consistent performer in gold over the last several years.

These are players who can, and have, won matches for the Wallabies.

The loose forward battle is also what makes the clash this weekend against Ireland such an exciting appetiser for the Lions – in addition to facing Caelan Doris, the Wallabies will have to contain the incredible talent that is Josh van der Flier, one of the shining stars of the Irish team during their surge under Schmidt and Farrell.

A likely player who will also join them is one of the shining lights out of Wales, Aaron Wainwright. In a year to forget for the men in scarlet, Wainwright came close to single-handedly winning Wales several games – including the first Test of the July series against the Wallabies – and when put in a side with momentum under their belt, the Welsh loose forward will likely flourish. 

Most valuable player: Angus Bell (vs. Tadhg Furlong)

Lastly, it is the eternal question – who is the player that not only can carry both teams on their shoulders but should they go down, could likely determine the series as a whole?

In an Andy Farrell-coached Lions side, Tadhg Furlong is a natural inclusion. While 2024 has seen the Irish prop hampered by injury, the growth of Irish rugby has come hand-in-hand with his growth into one of the most formidable players worldwide.

Until 2024, Furlong was the only player to be selected in every World Rugby Dream Team of the Year since its inception in 2021. A near 80-capped veteran, he’s also participated in the last two Lions series, starting in every Test match. If there is any anchor to an already imposing Lions squad, it is this Leinster star.

Who can the Wallabies produce in response to such an experienced player?

Australia’s growing options in the front row have not gone unnoticed, with a blossoming contingent of new talent led by Taniela Tupou, Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper, who bring a combined 278 caps between them alone.

But if there is any player that sums up the Wallabies in 2024, it is Angus Bell.

A barnstorming, dangerous runner who broke nine tackles at Twickenham, Bell has shown when he gets on top, it is hard to beat him. With an engine that enables him to play nearly the full eighty minutes in nearly every game, he is a microcosm of the whole team – throwing everything they can muster to be the side that reverses years of decline. 

Bell, like the Wallabies at large, does have weaknesses – notably his scrummaging. However, there is no denying the talent he has – and should he overcome those weaknesses, the rest of the Wallabies will rise with him.