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Back in April, Eddie Jones said the Wallabies might need “seven captains” throughout their World Cup campaign. Four matches into the season, Jones has named his fourth.
Tate McDermott, 24, will become the 86th person to lead the Wallabies after replacing the injured Allan Alaalatoa in the role to take on the All Blacks at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday afternoon (12:35pm AEST).
Jones said the Test was an opportunity to lead the Wallabies into a “new era”, one that has just 277 caps in the starting side and is the seventh least experienced team since the game turned professional, with James Slipper once again included as a “finisher”.
“Tate’s got all the attributes to be a great captain of his country and there’s no doubt it will be a proud moment for him and his family when he leads the team on Saturday night,” Jones said.
“We started a regeneration as a team last week and now it’s about building on that with a new captain and a new era in Australian Rugby.
“On Saturday in Dunedin we get an opportunity to continue our growth as a team.”
Tate McDermott of the Wallabies passes during the The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between the Australia Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Sunshine Coast Grammar School product has been selected alongside Carter Gordon in an unchanged backline from the one that went down 38-7 at the MCG last weekend to lose the Bledisloe Cup for the 21st straight year.
While the backline is settled, the forward back has changes right across it.
The first sees Pone Fa’amausili start for the first time in what will be the tight-head prop’s fifth Test.
It’s a huge opportunity for the Rebels giant, one that has presented itself for the powerful front-rower after Alaalatoa (Achilles) was ruled out for the remained of the season and Taniela Tupou (ribs) not risked.
Jones has been excited by Fa’amausili’s size ever since arriving on Australian shores, but the fact he’s been used predominantly off the bench by the Rebels is a reputation he will want to shed.
Richie Arnold has been preferred to start alongside Nick Frost in the second-row, with Will Skelton to be injected off the bench.
There are changes are in the back-row too, with Fraser McReight given a huge opportunity to cement a World Cup spot after being named at openside flanker.
Fraser McReight has been recalled to the Wallabies after being left out of the Bledisloe defeat in Melbourne. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
The move sees Tom Hooper shifted to his preferred spot at blindside flanker, while Rob Valetini remains at No.8.
On Monday, Hooper said he hadn’t quite nailed his role in his side’s defeat last Saturday and it took some feedback from Quade Cooper to change his approach.
“I probably wasn’t as physical as I would have liked, I probably would have liked to make a bit more stop tackles and probably went hunting a bit too much for the ball, if I’m being critical of myself,” the 22-year-old said.
“I probably changed my game a little bit too much.
“Quade had some really wise words at half time. He said, ‘We need you to play more like a lock than a seven,’ so I probably missed the mark on the tactics on that side of things but if I get the chance that seven jersey again, I’ll definitely rectify those.
“Likewise, if Fraser [McReight] is given the opportunity in the seven jersey, he’ll play his brand of rugby, which is absolutely outstanding. If I’m picked in a different position, I’ll do whatever my job is for the team.”
The replacements remain relatively settled, with the big change being the inclusion of Zane Nonggorr for the second time this season.
Zane Nonggorr is in line to make his second appearance for the Wallabies on Saturday. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Nonggorr struggled on debut off the bench after being given an almighty task early last month against the Springboks in Pretoria, but the rising Reds tight-head has been given a golden opportunity by being named against the All Blacks. He will likely get big minutes too given Fa’amausili’s inclusion.
He will benefit from the size and weight offered by Skelton behind him in the scrum.
Forwards coach Neal Hatley hinted earlier in the week that Tupou wouldn’t been risked if not fit and changes were afoot up front.
“He’s [Tupou] recovered reasonably well, but he’s come off a really big Achilles injury. We’re not going to just throw him back in – we’ll make sure that if he’s right and he’ll play it and if no someone else will get a go,” Hatley said.
“To go to South Africa and play in Pretoria and then come to New Zealand against a good New Zealand side, you find out a lot about some of these young men in this situation. So, if Taniela doesn’t go it’s a great opportunity for someone else.”
Meanwhile, Nic White, Quade Cooper and Izaia Perese are the three backs.
Wallabies team to play New Zealand at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin on Saturday 5 August, 12:35pm AEST
1. Angus Bell (22 Tests)
2. David Porecki (13 Tests)
3. Pone Fa’amausili (4 Tests)
4. Nick Frost (11 Tests)
5. Richie Arnold (3 Tests)
6. Tom Hooper (2 Tests)
7. Fraser McReight (11 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (33 Tests)
9. Tate McDermott (c) (24 Tests)
10. Carter Gordon (3 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (54 Tests)
12. Samu Kerevi (44 Tests)
13. Jordan Petaia (26 Tests)
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (5 Tests)
15. Andrew Kellaway (22 Tests)
Finishers
16. Jordan Uelese (18 Tests)
17. James Slipper (130 Tests)
18. Zane Nonggorr (1 Test)
19. Will Skelton (27 Tests)
20. Rob Leota (15 Tests)
21. Nic White (62 Tests)
22. Quade Cooper (79 Tests)
23. Izaia Perese (4 Tests)
2023 Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Fixtures
Wallabies 12 defeated by South Africa 43 on Saturday 8 July at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Wallabies 31 defeated by Argentina 34, Saturday 15 July at CommBankStadium, Sydney
Wallabies 7 defeated by New Zealand 38 on Saturday 29 July at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Wallabies v New Zealand, 2:35pm NZST/12:35pm AEST Saturday 5 August at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
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