Shake-up in the Wallabies camp as Joe Schmidt orchestrates a significant shift in the lineup for the upcoming clash against Italy, introducing four fresh faces including NRL convert Carter Gordon. This tactical maneuver comes off the back of a crushing 25-7 loss to England, with the Wallabies desperate to redeem themselves in Udine this weekend.
In a bold move by Schmidt, Carter Gordon, who last donned the Wallabies jersey at the 2023 World Cup, is set to make a dramatic return as starting fly-half. His selection is part of a broader strategy to inject new energy into the team, which also sees Corey Toole, Matt Faessler, and Tom Hooper stepping up to the starting XV.
The backline retains some consistency with Andrew Kellaway holding firm at fullback for his third consecutive Test, flanked by Harry Potter and the newly added Toole. The center pairing of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Hunter Paisami remains intact, signaling a vote of confidence from Schmidt despite the availability of Len Ikitau. The halves will feature a dual Gordon setup, with Jake Gordon lining up alongside Carter at scrum-half.
Continuity is evident in the forwards as well, with captain Harry Wilson anchoring the back-row alongside Fraser McReight and newcomer Hooper. The lock positions are filled by Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost, with a front-row trio of Taniela Tupou, Angus Bell, and Faessler aiming to solidify the scrum.
"The group have rolled up their sleeves and had a solid week of preparation after dusting themselves off from what was a frustrating performance last weekend,"
Schmidt remarked.
Substantial changes are also seen on the bench, which welcomes new faces including Aidan Ross, Zane Nonggorr, and Pete Samu, suggesting Schmidt is not shying away from experimenting with his squad depth.
The Wallabies are set to face a confident Italian side, fresh from their competitive stint in the Six Nations. Schmidt’s revamped team and strategic shuffles highlight his intent to not only confront but overcome the challenges posed by the spirited Azzurri squad.
Team to face Italy: Wallabies: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Corey Toole, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Rob Valetini, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Filipo Daugunu
Date: Saturday, November 8 Venue: Bluenergy Stadium, Udine Kick-off: 18:40 local (17:40 GMT) Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referees: Hollie Davidson (SRU), Sam Grove-White (SRU
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Shake-up in the Wallabies camp as Joe Schmidt orchestrates a significant shift in the lineup for the upcoming clash against Italy, introducing four fresh faces including NRL convert Carter Gordon. This tactical maneuver comes off the back of a crushing 25-7 loss to England, with the Wallabies desperate to redeem themselves in Udine this weekend.
In a bold move by Schmidt, Carter Gordon, who last donned the Wallabies jersey at the 2023 World Cup, is set to make a dramatic return as starting fly-half. His selection is part of a broader strategy to inject new energy into the team, which also sees Corey Toole, Matt Faessler, and Tom Hooper stepping up to the starting XV.
The backline retains some consistency with Andrew Kellaway holding firm at fullback for his third consecutive Test, flanked by Harry Potter and the newly added Toole. The center pairing of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Hunter Paisami remains intact, signaling a vote of confidence from Schmidt despite the availability of Len Ikitau. The halves will feature a dual Gordon setup, with Jake Gordon lining up alongside Carter at scrum-half.
Continuity is evident in the forwards as well, with captain Harry Wilson anchoring the back-row alongside Fraser McReight and newcomer Hooper. The lock positions are filled by Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost, with a front-row trio of Taniela Tupou, Angus Bell, and Faessler aiming to solidify the scrum.
"The group have rolled up their sleeves and had a solid week of preparation after dusting themselves off from what was a frustrating performance last weekend,"
Schmidt remarked.Substantial changes are also seen on the bench, which welcomes new faces including Aidan Ross, Zane Nonggorr, and Pete Samu, suggesting Schmidt is not shying away from experimenting with his squad depth.
The Wallabies are set to face a confident Italian side, fresh from their competitive stint in the Six Nations. Schmidt’s revamped team and strategic shuffles highlight his intent to not only confront but overcome the challenges posed by the spirited Azzurri squad.
Team to face Italy:
Wallabies: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Corey Toole, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Rob Valetini, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Filipo Daugunu
Date: Saturday, November 8
Venue: Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
Kick-off: 18:40 local (17:40 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Hollie Davidson (SRU), Sam Grove-White (SRU