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Nine-game rookie, former All Black to debut as Schmidt makes mass changes
By Iain Payten
Joe Schmidt has rolled the dice and made 17 changes to the Wallabies side to take on Georgia, including a third captain in as many weeks, a former All Black and a 21-year-old on debut with just nine matches of Super Rugby under his belt.
After two wins against Wales, Schmidt elected to use the Georgia clash as a chance to roll out a majorly overhauled team, with only six of the 23-man team from last week’s clash selected in the same spot.
Schmidt named an all-new tight five and a reshuffled back line, with a new halves pairing in Tate McDermott and Ben Donaldson.
Rookie winger Darby Lancaster will make his debut on the wing after finishing his first Super Rugby season for the Rebels, where a three-try haul against the Highlanders put him on the radar of Schmidt and national coaches. Lancaster played for the Aussie sevens team straight out of school in 2022.
On the bench, former All Black prop Alex Hodgman has been named for a likely debut, in which he had become just the fourth person in history to play Tests for both New Zealand and Australia.
Outside centre Len Ikitau and No.8 Harry Wilson, who both missed selection for the Rugby World Cup, are starting for the first time this year, after being injured for the Wales series. Wilson hasn’t played a Test since September 2022.
Up front, Allan Alaalatoa will start in place of the rested Taniela Tupou – and captain the side – and Isaac Kailea will get his first run-on Test start after impressive form off the bench against Wales. In his third Test, Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard will start at hooker.
Nick Frost will also get his first run at lock, with Angus Blyth, who has played the last two Tests off the bench.
Tom Hooper and Zane Nonggorr, who emerged last year under Eddie Jones, will also get their first chances of the year on the bench. Hodgman played four Tests for the All Blacks in 2020 before switching to the Queensland Reds this year.
Via his Fijian-Australian father and a three-year stand-down from Test rugby, Hodgman became eligible for the Wallabies and will join Ted Jessep, Des Connor and Owen Stephens as players who played Test rugby for New Zealand and Australia.
The decision to make major changes escalates the stakes in a banana-skin game for the Wallabies.
Georgia downed Japan last week, and almost beat Fiji the week before, and are ranked 12th in the world – just one spot below Wales.
They are a dangerous side who pushed the Wallabies in their Rugby World Cup clash last year, and Schmidt was at pains to remind his side of that fact earlier in the week.
It is unclear whether Donaldson’s shift into the No.10 jersey was a pre-planned move in the July series or if Noah Lolesio’s underwhelming form in Melbourne was a contributing factor. But a change either way continues the merry-go-round selections in the five-eighth role.
Ben Donaldson will return to the Wallabies No.10 jersey.Credit: Getty Images
“Georgia have proven to be a very tough team to play as demonstrated by their wins against Italy and Wales in recent years, as well as their victory last week in Japan,” Schmidt said in a statement. “They have added some very exciting backs to their traditional forward strength and challenge opponents across the park.”
More to come