Debutant: Cadeyrn Neville will make his Australia bow against England, aged 33
(Picture: Getty Images for Rugby Australia)Australia have named their team to face England in Saturday's opening Test in Perth, with lock Cadeyrn Neville becoming his country’s oldest debutant this century.
The former rower and rugby league player, who turns 34 in November, lines up in the second row alongside Darcy Swain.
Another 33-year-old, Quade Cooper, lines up at fly-half in a familiar looking backline that sees former Exeter man Nic White at scrum-half, with Marika Koroibete on the wing and Samu Kerevi at inside centre.
There is no place for James O'Connor, who has not been deemed fit enough to feature after struggling with injury this season.
Michael Hooper captains the side from openside flanker, with David Porecki also making his debut at hooker.
"Cadeyrn got called into a Wallabies squad at the time when Michael Hooper made his debut, so that tells you something. Hoops has had 118 caps since then," head coach Dave Rennie said of Australia’s oldest debutant for more than 20 years.
"He's an ex-rower and that's why he's got such a massive engine. He played a bit of league at one stage. He's a big man so you would have noticed him out there.
"He's had injuries, he's spent a bit of time overseas and he's come back for a final dig. He's a big man and a good athlete.
"He's a great story for the guys out there who might have thought the dream had passed them. From a perseverance point of view it's a great story."
