Reds halfback Kalani Thomas is set to become the fifth Wallabies debutant this year after being named on the replacements bench to face France this Saturday in Paris.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has given debuts to Corey Toole, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Aidan Ross and Ryan Lonergan this season and introduced 19 new Wallabies last season. Lonergan drops out of the match day squad to make way for Thomas.

Schmidt said that Brumbies halfback Lonergan had been involved in the decision to give his teammate a first opportunity with the Wallabies.

“Lonners [Lonergan] was part of the decision as well [to pick Thomas], the great thing in the group is that everyone is very supportive of each other,” Schmidt said.

“Immediately, Ryan is going through things with Kalani, but Kalani’s trained for f

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