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CARDIFF – The Wallabies have just six Tests to play before next year’s World Cup, but Dave Rennie will cast the net further in their season finale against Wales at the Principality Stadium on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
Next off the cab rank is Waratahs young gun Ben Donaldson, who has been selected ahead of Noah Lolesio in the No.10 jersey.
It will be the 23-year-old’s starting debut, having missed a conversion attempt on debut against Italy that saw the Wallabies lose their first Test to the European nation.
Donaldson is one of seven changes to the starting side, and he will partner his NSW teammate Jake Gordon, who has been promoted in the absence of Nic White, in the halves.
Reece Hodge will wear the No.12 jersey for the first time since partnering Tevita Kuridrani against England on December 3, 2016.
While Tom Wright has returned to fullback in place of the injured Andrew Kellaway, with Jordan Petaia partnering Mark Nawaqanitawase on the wings.
Fraser McReight gets an opportunity in the No.7 jersey in the absence of the concussed Michael Hooper while Langi Gleeson starts at the back of the scrum.
The Wallabies’ bench has received a major makeover too, with returning Rebels prop Sam Talakai in line to make his debut. He is joined by fellow front-rower Tom Robertson and hooker Lachlan Lonergan on the bench.
Ned Hanigan and Pete Samu provide versatility off the bench while Tate McDermott, Lolesio and Jock Campbell are the last three fit and available backs on tour.
The Test represents a significant one for Rennie, who has won just four of 13 matches in 2022 and just one of four on their end of season Spring Tour.
While he will likely remain in the job no matter the result in Cardiff, the New Zealand coach had planned to roll out his best squad against Wales, but injuries have scuppered those plans in yet another blow to his hopes of taking some momentum into next season.
Ben Donaldson. (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)
“There weren’t a lot of calls we had to make,” Rennie said.
“The original plan was we knew Will (Skelton) was leaving, we knew Bernard (Foley) was leaving, and to put out as strong a team as possible, pretty similar to the Irish squad, but obviously there’s been a few changes and [that] creates opportunity.”
The decision to select Donaldson over Lolesio is the major talking point.
It’s yet another blow to Lolesio’s confidence, having been looked past on a number of occasions to more senior players like Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley in recent years.
Rennie admitted he didn’t initially plan on giving Donaldson the No.10 jersey but with just six Tests remaining before the Wallabies open their World Cup campaign in Paris next September, the third-year coach wanted to discover more about the Waratahs utility back.
“I wouldn’t say it’s been a plan, but we all want to learn a bit more about him,” Rennie said.
“He only got five minutes against Italy. Initially we were thinking to get him on the field earlier in that game but we scored late, Noah converts from the sideline and we’re down by three, and when we were down by six with five to go we decided to throw him out there and see what he could do.
“He’s trained really well. He’s got a good skill-set, big kicker off the ball, quick, so his ability to play flat, and he’s developing the voice and the ability to boss people around, so we’ll need to see plenty of that. He’s got familiarity with him on the inside with Jake playing and then a fair bit of experience with Hodgey on his outside, so that should help.”
Pressed whether Lolesio had slipped down the pecking order, Rennie revealed Cooper, who has played just one Test this season after suffering separate calf and Achilles injuries, was his preferred playmaking option but emphasised the need to discover more about his other options ahead of next year’s defining campaign.
“No, I would say, we want to find out [more] about Ben,” Rennie said.
“We’ve got to head into a World Cup year next year, the assumption is Quade will be fit and available hopefully, so we obviously know a lot about him, a lot about Bernard, we’re going to find out a bit more about Ben.
“His versatility helps too. He can play 15, certainly quick enough to play back there, and we’ve got Noah who’s got a fair bit of experience now to come into the game late.”
Despite the injury crisis Rennie said it was vital the Wallabies finish the year on a high, but the 59-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, is anticipating a response from the Welsh, who suffered a shock one-point defeat to Georgia last weekend.
“It’s big for us,” he said.
“It’s big from a tour point of view. We want to finish on a high note. We’ve lost three in a row. Even though a couple of those were pretty good performances, you’ve got to find a way to win, so it’s going to be similar on Saturday.
“We’re without a fair bit of cattle, but we’ve got a good side on the field and we need to perform well. If we do that, we’re in with a show.
“They’ll be hurting. We’ve reflected on that. We’re hitting as well because we put a lot into last week’s effort and come up short. But we’re aware how much they’ll be hurting after that loss. They’re probably getting it in the media here and they’ll want a response, so we fully understand the intensity required.”
Wallabies team
1. James Slipper (c) (126 Tests)
2. Folau Fainga’a (37 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (63 Tests)
4. Nick Frost (8 Tests)
5. Cadeyrn Neville (7 Tests)
6. Jed Holloway (9 Tests)
7. Fraser McReight (9 Tests)
8. Langi Gleeson (2 Tests)
9. Jake Gordon (19 Tests)
10. Ben Donaldson (1 Test)
11. Mark Nawaqanitawase (2 Tests)
12. Reece Hodge (61 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (25 Tests)
14. Jordan Petaia (24 Tests)
15. Tom Wright (22 Tests)
Replacements
16. Lachlan Lonergan (7 Tests)
17. Tom Robertson (30 Tests)
18. Sam Talakai*
19. Ned Hanigan (27 Tests)
20. Pete Samu (32 Tests)
21. Tate McDermott (20 Tests)
22. Noah Lolesio (16 Tests)
23. Jock Campbell (3 Tests)
*denotes uncapped
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