Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has made mass changes to his starting team for Saturday’s series-deciding third rugby union Test against France in Brisbane.
Livewire attacking halfback Tate McDermott, centre Len Ikitau and lock Darcy Swain get their first starting roles for Australia while hard-hitting backrower Lachie Swinton goes straight into the run-on team for his first Test of the year.
In all Rennie made seven personnel changes and one positional switch to the starting side amid another short turnaround – three Tests in 11 days – with the match coming just four days after France beat the Wallabies 28-26 in Melbourne to level the series.
Some Wallabies fans will be disappointed to see prop Taniela Tupou relegated to a bench role after another powerhouse performance when promoted to start at AAMI Park, with Allan Alaalatoa returning to the starting role.
However, Tupou did much to turn the first Test in Australia’s favour with his scrummaging and ball-running when introduced during the second half in Brisbane last week.
Swain will partner Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the second row while Isi Naisarani will start at No.8 for the first time since the 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, combining with skipper Michael Hooper and Swinton in a new-look backrow as Rob Valetini is benched.
McDermott partners sharp-shooting goalkicker Noah Lolesio in the halves, with Brumbies youngster Lolesio getting a third straight start as playmaker as veteran James O’Connor remains unavailable through injury.
Ikitau combines with Hunter Paisami in a hard-running midfield combination, with Paisami moving to inside centre as versatile veteran Matt To’omua drops to the bench.
Filipo Daugunu replaces an out-of-sorts Tom Wright on one wing with Tuesday night’s Man of the Match Marika Koroibete on the opposite edge and Tom Banks retaining the fullback role after a promising performance.
Rebels hooker Jordan Uelese gets a recall as the bench hooker, with Angus Bell and Tupou the other front-row finishers.
After back-to-back starts, hard-working lock Matt Philip goes to the bench to make way for Swain.
“We always knew with the scheduling of the series against a tough French side, that it would require a full squad effort and we’re going to see that on Saturday night,” said Rennie.
“We were disappointed with the result in Melbourne and we’ll be out to rectify that with more accuracy and composure in key moments at Suncorp Stadium.
“As always, we’ve picked a team that has earned the right to wear the gold jersey and we’re confident they’ll get the job done in Brisbane.”
Wallabies: Tom Banks, Filipo Daugunu, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Isi Naisarani, Michael Hooper (c), Lachlan Swinton, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Darcy Swain, Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper. Res: Jordan Uelese, Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Matt Philip, Rob Valetini, Jake Gordon, Matt To’omua, Reece Hodge.
Patricia Sharp
Roar Rookie
Would have been nice to have brought in a play maker amongst the backs
Ace
Guest
With a thug at 6 and a 7 who shys away from from the breakdown Collison. Wallabies will not win.
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
Can you imagine if the No9 passes a decent L to R pass? He may stay in contention for another reserves bench
Noodles
Roar Rookie
Au Contraire, Catchy's Leg! I'd expect that a few players will have improved and learned a bit. Ideally, in the forwards. Clearly they need to be alert to the support at breakdown. If we'd held possession a few more times in attacking spots we'd have scored in both games so far. Similarly, players need to be alert to the balance of driving play and wider space when on the attacking line. LSL is still arriving in contact with too much to hit. If he used his feet better and was lower he'd be looking like the player he could be. (He also looked tired last week.) If the forwards can improve the delivery of possession, I expect these backs to do well. Banks and TK went well last week and Wright needed to reflect, so I hope Dangunu has his head on. The 9-13 can do a lot of damage and really only lack experience at this level. Might well be a test of whose bodies are holding up.
Wigeye
Guest
France by a few unfortunately as clarence can't see the scoreboard some won't take the early penalties so looses yet another test for wallaby's and unfortunately Dave r will cop the blame by other short sighted people. Points at the end is what counts. Not how many times you fumble,fwd pass and drop it. In saying that go wallabys
James
Guest
If they are so fit, why can't players who make breaks be supported and the following break downs be dominated?
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
amosa has been a pretty useful hooker
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
bar a couple of handling errors..i think LSL has played quite well in the test series so far..carried and tackled hard..won good line outs and aggressive in the maul and maul counter..certainly the best of the locking stocks..the problem at the breakdown is that there are too many wallaby forwards standing around, waiting for the pass when they should have the head down and arse up and blown the french forwards off the ball..ie. lonergan..
Jim
Guest
Sometimes wholesale change is needed to refresh and renew. It isn't always logical and it frequently doesn't make sense. However, it might just work and I reckon Rennie might just have won the decider.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
The thing I like about Naisarani is he quite often gets tackled around the legs. His footwork is really good so there is quite often opportunity for others to run off his shoulder. But he can be lazy at the breakdown and in defence. Swinton doesn't carry as well but is a better defender and works harder at the bvreakdown.
jeznez
Roar Guru
France changed 5 for the second test and another 8 for this one. Even with the 15 that are backing up on Saturday only 8 of those guys are wearing the same shirt in this test.
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
But the problem with changing multiple things at once is you don’t know what fixed the problem or what caused the positive outcome. If the problem was personnel, and they run out exactly the same game plan with different personnel and improve, brilliant. If it was the game plan, and they run out a new game plan with exactly the same personnel and improve, brilliant. If they change both at once and improve how do you identify the problem? To me and almost every supporter, all of the Monday Morning 10s, we identified the breakdown as an issue after game 1. The Wallabies were too slow to the breakdown and lost too much ball. In game 2 we didn’t see any change in game plan, no extra personnel hitting rucks, no extra support at depth. We lost the game in the end because of this. So if they change multiple things at once it’s a false positive. Everyone goes “he was right to change players, they looked better, secured the ball, they should start the first test against NZ”, very few people will notice change in structure and game plan, so when he goes back to the guys resting this week to play against NZ people will complain that player x is obviously better than player y because they won by 25 against France in the 3rd test. The opposite is also true, they stick with the same players that were not firsts choice (for a reason), and get flogged by the All Blacks and we are back to square 1. A team that lost after winning convincingly, was it the game plan or the players? The coaches know more about rugby than I do, all of the players do as well. But do they understand the principles of problem solving?
James584
Roar Rookie
The good: Mcdermott starting. The bad: LSL is not Test standard.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
It’s a below average Wallabies team with not many strike weapons or guys who are world class. The coaches have struggled to put any type of attack strategy together to worry defences last year and this year. The side were poorly prepared for the first game. There was no shortage of effort in the last game and I think the changes this week will bring in some fresh legs that are raring to go. I think we might pip it. Hopefully with injured players back, young players with more experience, a few of the overseas players and a big improvement from the coaches we might be competitive at the next World Cup. Fingers crossed.
Woodsman
Roar Rookie
He's one of the few players we have that seems to relish contact. If he keeps his head and stays on the ref's good side, he'll be a valuable asset.
FrancisF
Roar Pro
David, First thing to resolve is whether we can agree that there is a need for change from the last 2 Tests on how we are going to go about to win the Third Test against France? If we can agree, then we have to leave it to Dave Rennie and his team to work out what that change would look like, whether it is team combination, or chsnge of game plan, or both. This is because, we, ie the spectators. don’t have the inner details on the circumstances surrounding Rennie’s mostly young charges in the gold jersey. So, I for one, would hesitate to try to second-guess Rennie and his coaches on what type of changes that need to take place before the game to beat France this Saturday. Easier to know after the end of the game whether those changes work. We, after all, as the Americans like to say, are expert Monday morning quarterbacks ( in our case, Sunday morning rugby captains).
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Bodger, I am not confident about this game, for reasons amply expressed here since Tuesday. But on the hopeful side of the ledger, there may be a kick tactic, seen in the first game, an intent to compete in defending lineouts using Swain, and some green shoots of surprise in the young backs. Not expecting miracles, but I can sense Rennie building a culture. Win or lose, I think we will count this series as a positive development phase.
Guess
Roar Rookie
France did 6 changes it worked
Guess
Roar Rookie
More inexperienced playmakers just what they need.. Maybe Rennie has no choice and Toomua can’t play 3 full games.
Faith
Roar Rookie
With France some players like Gros have completely fallen off but this week they notably have a new 10 plus Teddy Thomas (on form one of the most dangerous finishers in the world). Some of the bench from last Test are starting. But they have more or less gone with the same group with quite a few players on the tour not featuring at all. Unless WBs play out of their skins I can't see them winning this unless France gets quite a number of cards ...