SYDNEY, Sept 19 (Askume) – Australia coach Joe Schmidt made several changes to the backline but just one to the frontline for Saturday’s Rugby Championship test against the All Blacks.
The Wallabies are set to suffer a heavy defeat at Stadium Australia after suffering a record 67-27 loss to Argentina in Santa Fe two weeks ago.
“Hopefully we can gain a little bit of confidence, but you can’t build confidence on a weak foundation,” Schmidt told reporters on Thursday.
“I think we’ve got to get a bit of reality first… so a bit of reality at the start and then hopefully we’ll get a bit of an advantage over the weekend and obviously on Saturday.”
The New Zealander recalled four players who were unavailable for the Santa Fe game due to injury.
Noah Lolesio returns to the front line alongside recalled center Nic White, Tom Wright returns at guard, and Hunter Pasami will bring his powerful running back to center after returning from a knee injury.
“Hunter has been a very solid player for us,” Schmidt said. “Hunter has a lot of good experience with Len Ikitou. So having those two guys with Nick and Noah helps create harmony.”
The team will field flanker Fraser McCreight in his first Rugby Championship Test of the year after he recovered from a broken hand.
This means there is no place in the squad for Carlo Tizzano, who has made a good start to his Test career in the last four matches.
“Carlo’s performance was outstanding, absolutely outstanding,” Schmidt told reporters on Thursday.
“(But) I think Frazier might be as good as him before that, so we’re looking at finding a spot for both of them.”
Loosehead James Slipper has the chance to overtake George Gregan as Australia’s most-capped player after he was selected as a substitute for his 140th Test match.
Australia last won the Bledisloe Cup in 2002 and after a humiliating loss in Santa Fe, the Wallabies have little hope of regaining trans-Tasman supremacy by beating the All Blacks on Saturday and again in Wellington next week.
“This is a huge motivation for us,” Lolesio said.
“Obviously, it’s been 22 years … we really hope for the best this Saturday.”
Team: 15-Tom Wright, 14-Andrew Kellaway, 13-Lian Iakito, 12-Hunter Paisami, 11-Marika Koloybet, 10-Noah Lolesio, 9-Nick White, 8-Harry Wilson, 7-Fraser McWright, 6-Rob Valetini, 5-Jeremy Williams, 4-Nick Frost, 3-Tani Latupe, 2-Matt Fessler, 1-Angus Bell
Substitutes: 16-Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17-James Slipper, 18-Alan Aratoya, 19-Lujan Saracia-Lotto, 20-Ranji Gleeson, 21-Tate McDermott, 22-Tomalina, 23-Dylan Peach.
