The curse continues as injury forces Wallabies into playmaker change
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Declan Meredith will be tasked with running the Wallabies’ show against a rampant New Zealand after the side’s No.10 injury curse continued.
Ben Donaldson, who had started the last three Tests at flyhalf, has been ruled out of Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash at Allianz Stadium with a “minor upper leg injury”.
His absence has set the scene for Meredith’s third career start, fresh off a shaky cameo off the bench in the All Blacks’ Cup-retaining 50-19 win in Auckland last week.
With Carter Gordon and Tom Lynagh both sidelined by injury, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is poised for a Test debut off the bench as the replacement playmaker.
In some good news, form lock Josh Canham will return from injury to bolster the bench, while Carlo Tizzano has also been recalled.
Angus Bell’s shift from the starting front row to the pine – in a straight swap with Aidan Ross – will also provide late-game punch.
Kalani Thomas has replaced Queensland Reds teammate Tate McDermott as the back-up scrumhalf, with Billy Pollard also on the bench and Josh Nasser the starting hooker.
Isaac Henry and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii will start in the centres as expected, with midfielders Hunter Paisami (suspended) and Len Ikitau (concussed) unavailable.
The Wallabies scored first and trailed 14-17 at half-time before the hosts piled on the points to cement their 24-year grip on the Bledisloe Cup and make it 12-straight wins over Australia.
“We got a clear picture last weekend of where we need to be better,” coach Les Kiss said.
“We’ve said all along we’ll continue to work hard and grow our game and the squad has been impressive in the way they have prepared this week.”
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Isaac Henry, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Massimo De Lutiis, 19 Josh Canham, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Filipo Daugunu.
Date: Saturday, October 17:
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 16.00 AEDT (18.00 NZST; 05.00 GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
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