As the Wallabies gear up for their upcoming clash against France in Brisbane, they face a fly-half dilemma that has thrust Brumbies standout Declan Meredith into the spotlight for his Test debut. With Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson sidelined due to injuries—a calf strain and a contusion respectively—Meredith will don the number 10 jersey. This match marks the penultimate test under the stewardship of coach Joe Schmidt, who is set to pass the baton to Les Kiss following this series.
Joe Schmidt's selection strategy has been minimalistic in terms of changes to the lineup, with Meredith's inclusion being one of just two adjustments to the starting XV. The ripple effect of the fly-half injuries has pushed Tom Wright into the starting full-back position, while Jock Campbell will now provide cover from the bench. The wings will once again see Max Jorgensen and Dylan Pietsch, with the midfield partnership of Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii continuing their collaboration.
The Wallabies' forward pack remains unchanged, showcasing a vote of confidence from Schmidt. Harry Wilson will lead as captain from the number eight position, flanked by Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini. The lock pairing of Josh Canham and Jeremy Williams, and a front-row trio consisting of Josh Nasser, Allan Alaalatoa, and Angus Bell complete the starting pack.
"The group has reset this week in Brisbane after what was a tough ending to the first game of the Nations Championship,"
Wallabies coach Schmidt remarked. "We have worked hard on continuing to improve after missing some vital opportunities last weekend. We know we can be better on Saturday, and we know that we will need to be against the back-to-back Six Nations Champions."
The replacements bench brings a blend of experience and fresh talent, with seasoned players like James Slipper and Paris-based Taniela Tupou joining forces with recent debutant Lachlan Shaw and forward cover Nick Champion de Crespigny. Tate McDermott is set to cover scrum-half, rounding out the matchday 23 alongside Campbell and Filipo Daugunu.
The Wallabies are set to face France on Saturday at the Suncorp Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 17:40 local time. The match will be officiated by referee Karl Dickson, with Christophe Ridley and Katsuki Furuse assisting, and Andrew Jackson serving as the TMO.
Teams for Australia vs France:
Wallabies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Josh Canham, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Jock Campbell, 23 Filipo Daugunu