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. It is Lonergan who drops out of the match day squad to make way for Thomas.

Thomas brings a sniping threat from the bench in the mould of his injured Reds teammate Tate McDermott, offering a contrast with starting halfback Jake Gordon.

Thomas has played 55 Super Rugby games and faced the British and Irish Lions twice with the First Nations and Pasifika and Australia and New Zealand selections.

Five-eighth Carter Gordon is named in the starting lineup

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