Wallabies go with rookie half backs for French test

France name two uncapped players in the starting XV - Perpignan's Melvyn Jaminet and Gaëtan Barlot of Castres

NEW CAP: Scrum-half Jake Gordon during a Wallabies training session ahead of Wednesday's test match against France.

SCRUM half Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio will form a new Wallabies halves combination for the opening Test against France in Brisbane on Wednesday. Gordon overcame a knee injury to win the battle with Tate McDermott to wear the vacant halfback jersey at Suncorp Stadium with regular starter Nic White sidelined.

With James O’Connor also injured, Brumbies young gun Lolesio gets his second start after making his Test debut last year against the All Blacks in an unhappy outing with the Wallabies pummelled 43-5. While Queenslander McDermott impressed on home turf during the Super Rugby AU season, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie instead opted for the mature head of Gordon, who will turn 28 on Tuesday.