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
Phil
Roar Rookie
Sorry for slow response Peter! Been away. I feel like it was a mistake letting Laurie Fisher go. Agree on defence and on league defence coach. Defensive technique was an issue under Rennie too though with some backs knocking themselves out with poor technique. I thought there was some poor tackling/ defence esp second half on Sat. Players tackling too high and getting bumped/palmed off and giving up metres. Agree also on kicking issues. Again something that is not new. But also if Eddie’s plan is low possession with a strong focus on kicking and defence, I’m not sure we have the right players selected especially in the backs. I’ll have to watch again to see how many phases we stuck to. A big part of our success in the first half I think was Kerevi passing. His decision making was very good. The commentary credited his line bending ability but to me it had very little to do with that and much more to do with the fact he passed well at the right times and it lead to tries. To me that’s a huge factor in the team being successful. Moving the ball when we need to, especially the physical guys, mixing their power and passing well.
Jez North
Roar Rookie
He’s not international standard yet but I haven’t given up hope he could be. He has some silky skills but the high performance environment here right now is not going to accelerate his development as quickly or as well as one of the top European clubs. Why not take that punt now four years before a home World Cup?
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: It’s an interesting question though isn’t it. Just how many of selectable can be stood down before it’s a B team. If we win or loose I’ll take it on the chin because it still a very good side. But oh boy just wait to next week posts. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Guess
Roar Rookie
More like they were smashing him
John
I find it extraordinary that Tate McD. is our new captain given he is yet to prove hinself at test level.
mused6
Roar Rookie
Samu is probably the only unlucky one. The rest of them you mention are not in the same class as Bobby V, ikitau, AAA and Frost. They don’t have their head coach in the setup anymore giving them free entry.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
They are the dominant U20 group for five years and then the players are obviously being far better developed than we are managing to do here. A big gap between the 2018/2019 French U20 players in the French team visiting in 2021, and their Australian counterparts.
Stu
Roar Rookie
Slips is cooked. Racking up the appearance records and looking desperate for retirement to arrive.
Gary
Roar Rookie
Uluese - Another one whose struggled to put a full season together in the last three or four without a major injury/ setback and long lay off , and again another one who needs time to develop which we currently don’t have.
Gary
Roar Rookie
Hooper has only had a handful of game back from a major injury and long lay off, he was much stronger and robust prior to injury I’ve noticed he needs a bit of time ( Which unfortunately we don’t have)
Gary
Roar Rookie
The Wallabies have so many players on the return from major injuries , it’s unreal , so he could be just another one to add to the list of Cooper Kerevi Topou Bell Kellaway Philp Leota T Hooper etc . All these players have had so little game time going in to WC most of them could be in starting teams – surely this is some sort of unique situation and definitely a handicap.
Rocky's Rules
Roar Rookie
@Jez Uelese should never be picked in the WB squad anytime imo. His lineout throwing is way too poor for Test rugby. How many times does he have to prove it. I would have picked White and Lonergan over Tate also. He's another with a glaring weakness - passing. And a very poor bench it is also. Leota, Nonggor, Leota all duds. ABs will win by 50+ in Dunedin
Ozrugbynut
Roar Rookie
Jed's contribution not always that clear to me. Will be interesting to see a full 80 from Hooper at 6 and with McReight on board, hopefully it is a sign they are finally recognising there is nowhere to hide from a breakdown battle. Even if we might be outgunned by a very powerful but above all precise and accurate AB pack, we must try to take them on. We have not fired a shot at the breakdown in any of the TRC games thus far and if we continue in this manner we cannot reasonably expect to go too far in RWC or beyond IMO.
Ozrugbynut
Roar Rookie
As always, will be won and lost at the breakdown. Defence has been reasonable considering our lack of posession but pressure at the breakdown is needed or either AB backs will cut us up again or our own backs won't be able to fire. Selection not the only issue - a more aggressive 'compete everywhere' mindset needed.
Andrew Nichols
Roar Rookie
Thor? Yeth. Tupou alwayth theemth to be injured in thome way. Oppothithion prethure ith my gueth.
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
Wasn’t really commenting on Kellaway, just the double standards people have. But without Wright we are now just a backline of runners. Except for the 10 no one else creates for others, they all run for themselves.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Definitely not full strength. No argument there.
WEST
Roar Guru
The ABs still have Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga in the reserves. I have no doubt DMac will have a solid game, Braydon Ennor, Anton Lienert-Brown in the midfield.. wasn’t long ago ALB was one of our best. but expect to see Aaron Smith & Mo’unga take charge early in the second half.
Don M
Roar Rookie
Holloway is a talent that Eddie has misused. V aside, our back 5 for the Dunedin test look vulnerable to me. In for a tough afternoon.
Don M
Roar Rookie
Gordon had not emerges last year. Hooper likewise with Brums. So who are the talented younger players he is blooding that weren’t already being blooded by Rennie?