Joe Schmidt makes late playmaker call for Bok clash
TEAM UPDATE: Wallaby head coach Joe Schmidt has tweaked his bench for Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener against the Springboks in Johannesburg.
After initially unveiling a six-two split between forwards and backs for Saturday’s match, Schmidt has now backflipped on that decision.
On Friday, the Wallaby camp revealed that flyhalf Tane Edmed will replace Nick Champion de Crespigny on the bench.
Champion de Crespigny was originally included after utility back Ben Donaldon went down with a leg injury.
There will now be some flyhalf cover for James O’Connor, who is starting in the No.10 jersey at Ellis Park.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence in him [Edmed]; he’s been around the group now for a little while, and what he’s put in on the training park has been first class,” Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said.
“We really enjoy having him around the group. He’s training consistently well, which should give him a lot of confidence to go out there and do the job.”
Earlier on Friday, Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus was forced to make a late change to his bench with prop Boan Venter replacing Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who is out with a niggle.
Australia – revised: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andrew Kellaway.
Date: Saturday, August 16
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.10 (15.10 GMT; 01:10, AEST, Sunday, August 17)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
