The Wallabies find themselves in almost unfamiliar territory, with the chance to secure the newly minted Ella-Mobbs Trophy in the second Test against England in Brisbane this evening.
As far as these mid-year three-Test series go, there have only been four of them going all the way back to 2014. The Rugby World Cup years of 2015 and 2019 meant there were no Tests played in June in those years. We just went straight from Super Rugby into a shortened Rugby Championship.
And of those four series, it is only the 2016 series against England where the Wallabies had not won the first Test.
Against France in 2014, the Wallabies won in Brisbane and wrapped up the series in Melbourne, before completing a series clean sweep in Sydney.
And against France again last year, the Wallabies won again in Brisbane but dropped the second Test in Melbourne. A Noah Lolesio penalty goal decided the series back in Brisbane.
The fourth series was against Ireland in 2018, where again the Wallabies won the first Test in Brisbane, but then lost the series following defeats in Melbourne and Sydney.
So, the Wallabies again find themselves leading a series 1-0 going into the second Test, but this playing group would not have any experience of dealing with the pressure successfully.
After his side's miraculous injury-hit and ill-disciplined win in Perth last weekend, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has been forced into team changes for Brisbane.
With fly half Quade Cooper a late scratching just minutes before kick-off in Perth, the Wallabies lost fullback Tom Banks to an arm injury and prop Allan Ala'alatoa to concussion, while lock Darcy Swain was sent from the field via a red card and is now serving a two-week suspension.
But in naming his side on Thursday, Rennie was forced into making more changes than just those that were obvious from the first Test of the year.
Andrew Kellaway was all set to fill the fullback role after performing admirably there last week in place of the injured Banks, but he has since suffered a hamstring injury and will sit Brisbane out.
His absence gives Jordan Petaia an opportunity in the Wallabies' number 15 jersey that Rennie has been keen on for some time, despite his credentials as a custodian remaining a work in progress.
Centre Len Ikitau had limited opportunities in Perth, but in naming the side without him, Rennie conceded that Ikitau had suffered calf soreness in the series opener.
"He hasn't come right," Rennie said on Thursday.
"He tried to run this morning. He's really close but we didn't want to risk anything and confident he'll be right for next week."
The underlying question here surrounds the nature of Wallabies' injuries, too. Kellaway's hamstring is not thought to be serious, nor is Ikitau's calf. But Ikitau is now the fifth calf injury within the squad.
Wallabies look to wider squad
Taniela Tupou will return this week from a long-term calf injury, Pone Fa'amausili remains sidelined, Jed Holloway was ruled out of a certain Test debut last week, and Cooper's late injury on Saturday was a calf as well.
Asked whether there was something of a trend developing, Rennie instead turned it around to opportunities created and the additional squad strength it builds.
"I wouldn't say it's massively disruptive," Rennie said.
"I've talked about the fact we've got a lot more depth than what we had a couple of years ago and it's an opportunity to highlight that."
Tupou returns for Ala'alatoa in the front row. Plenty thought lock Matt Philip should have started last week and he comes straight in for the suspended Swain.
With Ikitau out, Queensland centre Hunter Paisami comes in, while Brumbies flyer Tom Wright slots into Kellaway's wing spot.
On the bench, highly regarded young Brumbies lock Nick Frost is line for a Test debut, while Waratahs utility back Izaia Perese gets his first chance for the year as well.
Concerned about his team's breakdown performance in Perth — and already down openside Tom Curry, who has returned home to manage his concussion recovery — England coach Eddie Jones has picked an extra backrower in a 6-2 forwards-back split on the reserves bench that leaves no need for guessing his side's game plan.
Bath flanker Sam Underhill comes straight into Curry's number seven jersey and Wasps backrower Jack Willis is the extra forward on the bench.
Jones has shaken up his back line, promoting former England under-20s scrum half Jack van Poortvliet, who scored on debut late last week. Leicester teammate and former Sydney University captain, Guy Porter, was also selected after being unused in the first Test.
Porter was in the Brumbies squad before heading back to the country of his birth in mid-2020. He enjoyed Shute Shield Premiership success with Sydney University before linking up with the Brumbies.
Uncapped Northampton back Tommy Freeman is something of a surprise inclusion on the left wing in place of Joe Cokanasiga, where many thought teen sensation Harry Arundell might be promoted after scoring with his first touch last week.
The Wallabies have won their last 10 Test matches played in Brisbane, with their last loss at Lang Park in the series loss to England in 2016. Both teams will hoping recent venue history works in their favour.
Wallabies: Jordan Petaia, Tom Wright, Hunter Paisami, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Nic White; Angus Bell, David Porecki, Taniela Tupou, Matt Philip, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Leota, Michael Hooper (c), Rob Valetini.
Reserves: Folau Fainga'a, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Nick Frost, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, James O'Connor, Izaia Perese
England: Freddie Steward, Jack Nowell, Guy Porter, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman*, Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill, Courtney Lawes (c), Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola
Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Danny Care, Henry Arundell
