Billy Pollard is set for an incredible Wallabies debut after Folau Fainga’a became the latest Wallaby forced out of a game due to a head knock at training.
Pollard, who has played just eight Super Rugby games and was rushed over when Dave Porecki suffered a concussion before the first Test, comes onto the bench with Lachie Lonergan starting in the No.2.
The injury continued a wretched run of injuries and absences for Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
Fainga’a took a blow to the head in training and failed a concussion test on Saturday.
Rennie is also without regular captain Michael Hooper, flyhalf Quade Cooper, centre Hunter Paisami and prop Allan Ala’alatoa due to a mixture of injury and personal reasons.
“I have a lot of confidence in both of them,” captain James Slipper told reporters on Friday. “Lonners has been playing really well this year and it is another good opportunity for him.
“It’s his first start for the Wallabies, and one thing you know about ‘Noss’ is that he looks very calm, but when he’s out there he goes full throttle. I am really excited to see how he goes.
Billy Pollard. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
“Billy obviously came over late. He has been using my scrum boots all week so I am not even sure if he has his own boots.
“He is a talented young guy who is really excited and you can tell how pumped he is. What you get from youth is that enthusiasm and I reckon both of them will bring heaps.”
Lonergan, 22, has played all his Tests off the bench.
Both players were part of the Australian A team that contested the Pacific Nations Cup , where coach Jason Gilmore replicated the first team set up and structures, and as Brumbies they’ve played under Dan McKellar, the Wallabies assistant.
“For the players coming in, it’s not incredibly new to them,” Slipper said. “There is not much detail uptake to be done. They’re pretty comfortable with everything they need to know and having Dan [McKellar] here is a big help for them, having the same coach. They’re pretty comfortable. They don’t seem nervous at all. But let’s wait until tomorrow I guess.”
Earlier this week the Herald reported that Pollard spent 43 hours travelling from Canberra to Mendoza, in cattle class on six separate planes, and he had no clothes to wear when he arrived.
“I packed two shirts and two pairs of shorts and that was it. I thought I packed more,” Pollard told the Herald.
“I left home at 4am on Thursday morning and got there, in Aussie time, at Friday 11pm,” he said. “I hate planes and I can’t sleep on them, so I was struggling. But it was a good experience.”
A shortage of Wallabies kit meant players and staff have donate bits and pieces to Pollard.
“I am very excited. It is still surreal, being around guys like James O’Connor, growing up watching those guys play. I haven’t said much to them,” he said.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I’m officially not going to respond to you again.
FrancisF
Roar Pro
Fragility is not confined to concussion. Look at the 17 Wallabies placed in Rehab Ward.
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
Yep, I know the story behind Lynagh's try, that's why I described him as a "level head". He's an intelligent man and knew what needed to be done. It's all they could do, really. Like Larkham kicking long for touch in the dying minutes of the Bledisloe, trusting his forward pack to win ball, and Eales stepping up and slotting the ensuing penalty to win. He was instinctive and confident, but also had great judgement. So, yes, we could argue our respective points all night (at least until the ABs v Boks game kicks off, anyway). Again, I really don't think Lynagh compares to Larkham, but they were both Wallabies and both careers are to be celebrated.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
D10, my contacts tell me that the try against the Irish was all Lynagh. He gathered the team ingoal after the Slattery try and told them what they were to do to get into position to get Campese over the line. As for ‘99, you don’t think that the best forward pack in the world at that time had any influence in making sure that Larkham was always getting front foot ball? Or that the sublime guidance of Horan at 12, the world’s best at the time, had any say in the way Larkham was able to play the position? You’re a Larkham fan. I think he was a Wallaby great. Thanks for taking the time to explain your viewpoint. We will probably disagree on the degree of greatness until the cows come home. Just trying to show why some of us say great rather than greatest. Enjoy your evening.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I read it was at training.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
That’s the problem. They should not be giving Rugby players cognitive tests!!
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Paisami was an in-game knock I believe.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
The irony would be. With all these players dropping like flies, Petaia (the glassman) will go on to play 80 minutes every game for the rest of the year.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I can't believe they didn't pick Kaituu . I am just staggered.
Tony Harper
Editor
No, they have said they are not. Nobody will while it remains a guideline and not mandatory
Tony Harper
Editor
He failed his cognitive tests so they had no choice
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
100%. I'm so happy WBs have the policy they do. Who gives a rats if in 5-10 years we look back and think maybe our policy was too severe.
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
G'day BF, yep, I don't doubt that. Interesting isn't it? I personally don't think Lynagh rates a mention, to be honest. He was okay, great ball skills and a wonderful kicking game, but also quite slow and poor in defence. The '91 world cup was definitely his crowning glory but, let's be honest, the All Blacks of '91 were terrible. They had Kieran Crowley at 15, from memory. He was old, slow, and embarrassed by Campese. Kirwan was nowhere near his best and the Aussie forwards out-enthused the ABs forwards all over the park. The try to win against the Irish was also all Campese. Lynagh made the effort to be there, and he was a level head, but, well, just 'meh'. And Ella, well he really was a talent, but his game was all about running, short passing, and deception. He would have been figured out by opposing teams, I think, but he didn't play at the top level long enough for us to know, did he? I'm actually a big fan of his cousin, Steve Ella, the zip-zip man, former inside centre for Parramatta. Such a talent for Parra and the Kangaroos, often at fullback. Anyway, Larkham, took over from Knox/Howard/Bowen/Horan at 10 and immediately turned the Wallabies into world-beaters. Literally. He was switched from 15 to 10 in '98, they beat pretty much everyone (including the memorable 76-0 annihilation of the poms :) ), and won the world cup in '99. He went on to lead the Brumbies to two Super titles (and they should have had a third, bloody Mortlock missed every kick against the Crusaders in that terrible final to lose by 1 point, the Crusaders infringed all night and were never made to pay for it), Bledisloe and Tri-Nations titles. His rugby instinct was incredible; he sliced opposition defences to pieces and had the most sublime passing game I've ever seen. Anyway, others may think differently, and that's their prerogative. That's why the Roar is great :)
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Players aren’t fragile when being concussed. It has nothing to do with toughness
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
What a genius bit of commentary
FrancisF
Roar Pro
Dave Rennie is not laughing.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I’ve been saying this for two weeks
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Is that meant to be funny?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Or Uelese? He’s playing club rugby in Brisbane. Although my source there tells me his last match he threw crooked and was then carded for scuffling.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I don’t think that’s what Angelo Dundee did. Ali himself insisted on sparring some sessions with his hands down, trying to evade punches rather than block them. I’ve read a few books that confirm this version.