By Bilal Ahmed
The Wallabies are preparing for a challenging encounter against France this Saturday in Brisbane, following a narrow 31-33 loss to Ireland last weekend. The team faces significant changes, including the debut of Declan Meredith at fly-half, a decision necessitated by injuries to key playmakers.
Carter Gordon, who was a prominent player against Ireland, has been ruled out of the upcoming July Tests due to a calf strain. This injury also means he will miss the following match against Italy in Perth. Additionally, backup fly-half Ben Donaldson is also injured, leading coach Joe Schmidt to call on Meredith for his first international appearance.
Squad Changes and Debutants
Meredith, at 27, is set to become Wallaby number 997. He had a strong season with the ACT Brumbies, contributing to upset victories over the Crusaders and Chiefs. He will be supported by club teammates Ryan Lonergan and Len Ikitau. Meredith’s kicking accuracy, which stood at 90% in the Super season, will be crucial for the Wallabies.
The team will also be without Tom Hooper, who sustained a shoulder injury. Nick Champion de Crespigny has been named as reserve. Tom Wright returns at fullback, with Jock Campbell moving to the bench. Filipo Daugunu will complete the matchday 23.
Coach Schmidt mentioned that Noah Lolesio was considered for a recall, despite not having played for the Wallabies in a significant period. However, the decision was made to bring in Meredith, who has been training with the team. Campbell, a Queensland Reds fullback, has also been discussed as a potential cover for the fly-half or fullback positions, having played a similar role for his club.
Challenges Ahead
France, the reigning Six Nations champions, will present a formidable challenge. They recently secured a narrow 34-32 victory against a second-string French side in the opening round of the Nations Championship. Although France will be without Damian Penaud, they are welcoming back nine players from the Top 14 final.
The Wallabies face a tough historical trend, with France currently on a three-match winning streak against them. Schmidt’s team is also looking to avoid six consecutive Test defeats, a situation not seen since 2015-16. The last time Australia defeated France was in 2021 at Suncorp Stadium, where they achieved two victories.
In their recent loss to Ireland, the Wallabies demonstrated strong performance in several metrics, including carrying metres, defenders beaten, clean breaks, and turnovers won. However, issues with composure and discipline, including conceding 12 penalties and missed kicks, ultimately cost them the game. The team squandered ten points from missed conversions and penalties.
The Wallabies have experienced a pattern of losing close matches, with eight Tests lost by three points or fewer in the last five years. This contrasts with rivals like Ireland, France, and New Zealand, who have won more matches by similar slim margins. This suggests a need for a more decisive finishing ability and reliable kicking.
Captain Harry Wilson has previously made bold decisions, opting for tries over draws, which proved successful in some instances. However, against Ireland, his choices for kicks in the final ten minutes did not yield the desired outcome. The team will be looking for players like Lonergan to step up with their kicking accuracy. The Wallabies scored five tries against Ireland, earning them two consolation points on the Nations Championship ladder.
The team will wear their Indigenous jerseys for Naidoc week, with players such as Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii expected to create opportunities for wingers Dylan Pietsch, Max Jorgensen, and Wright.
The match against France is scheduled for Saturday evening in Brisbane.
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Source: theguardian.com
