Australia team v England: Winners and losers as Joe Schmidt snubs ‘world-class powerhouse’ lock but rolls the dice with NRL convert
Wallabies lock Will Skelton and uncapped star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
Following the announcement of the Wallabies team to tackle England at Twickenham Stadium, we unpack Joe Schmidt’s selections to pick our winners and losers.
Schmidt has made the bold decision to throw Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii into the mixer to make his Test debut at the home of English rugby.
Otherwise, the experienced coach is backing continuity keeping changes to a minimum for the clash against Steve Borthwick’s charges.
Without further ado, here are our winners and losers from the Wallabies team named to take on England.
Winners
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
Schmidt has wasted no time in throwing Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii into the action as the former NRL superstar makes his rugby union debut at the highest level and at one of the most imposing stadiums in international rugby.
The 21-year-old has consistently impressed the Wallabies boss in training and although it seems like a massive gamble for a usually pragmatic coach, he is experienced enough and has a brilliant eye for talent that you best believe he is ready.
Let’s not forget that Schmidt handed James Ryan his Ireland debut before the now world-class lock had even made a competitive appearance for Leinster. Yes, it is a rather different scenario but it does show that Schmidt has an eye for talent and while he was not the one that pressed for the $5 million man to be lured to union, he is eager to get him firing in the Wallaby gold.
Suaalii is rather fortunate to have the backing of a veteran coach like Schmidt as he gets the nod in a massive fixture for the Wallabies ahead of some classy operators in the midfield.
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Starting locks
Schmidt chopped and changed his squad earlier this year as he became more familiar with the quality and depth of the Wallabies but the head coach has found some consistency in the second row with Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams starting together for the fourth consecutive Test match.
It’s quite telling that the pair have been favoured in the starting role despite the presence of more experienced campaigners in Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Will Skelton at Schmidt’s disposal.
However, Schmidt has enthused that he will give local players more of a chance during his tenure and he is sticking to his word. It is a signal to other players too that if you take your chance and remain consistent you will be rewarded and the two locks have certainly done just that.
Harry Wilson
2024 has really been a breakout year for Wallabies number Harry Wilson who has firmly cemented his place in the squad after missing out on Schmidt’s team to tackle Wales and Georgia in July.
The Wallabies boss casted doubt over who would lead the team this November but Wilson has retained the captaincy after a fine Rugby Championship campaign despite Australia’s poor results.
A powerhouse ball carrier and work-horse on defence, Wilson is thoroughly deserving of another start and the captaincy armband.
Noah Lolesio
Another player who clearly has the faith of the head coach as Noah Lolesio gets the number ten jumper for another crucial Wallabies fixture.
He and Jake Gordon are ticking the boxes for Schmidt and face a tough challenge this weekend against England’s in-form halfbacks Ben Spencer and Marcus Smith. Pass this Test and the Wallabies boss might erase their penciled-in names for the British and Irish Lions Series and use a pen instead.
Joe Schmidt
It’s quite evident that the Wallabies boss has a better understanding of his playing squad as he has made just one change to his starting XV and considering the plethora of injuries his team has endured this season, he must be smitten about that fact.
The results aren’t quite what he would have wanted in his first term but he is on the right track in turning the tide and consistency in selection is the first step in getting consistency in results.
Losers
Overlooked centres
Several midfielders will certainly feel hard done by this week as Suaalii leapfrogs them and shoots straight into the starting XV.
Josh Flook is certainly one of those players as he drops out of the matchday 23 and will feature for the Australia XV team while Samu Kerevi would have been raring to go against the English having shone against them in previous clashes.
Hamish Stewart is in the same boat as Flook and while they will understand Schmidt and Rugby Australia want to see how Suaalii fairs, it does not make their snubs any easier.
Nic White
The veteran halfback is seemingly slipping down the pecking order and won’t front up against so many of the players he will know so well from his time in the Premiership with Exeter Chiefs.
Nic White still has plenty to offer the Wallabies squad but right now Schdmit is eager to get a more athletic and running threat in the number nine role and the experienced halfback is just not that anymore.
Carlo Tizzano
A titanic force in the Wallabies back-row for much of the Rugby Championship, the return to fitness of Fraser McReight has relegated Carlo Tizzano out of the matchday 23.
Tizzano took his opportunity with both hands and some but ultimately McReight is just the more favoured option in the number seven jersey for Schmidt and that’s entirely his prerogative.
The Wallabies have always been blessed with quality options in the openside flanker position and Tizzano is just another in the long line of stars who deserves more caps than he has got but he will take little solace with that knowledge.
England replacement front-row
England head into the fixture as clear favourites but if Australia keep in touch on the scoreboard then their replacement front-rowers certainly give them a chance in the final quarter.
Steve Borthwick’s bench props Fin Baxter and Dan Cole were quickly put into reverse gear at Twickenham against the All Blacks and they face another mighty challenge this week with the experienced James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa primed to battle them off the bench.
Will Skelton
Most coaches would simply select Will Skelton when the world-class powerhouse lock is available for selection but Schmidt has resisted that urge all year and this week is no different despite the fact that the second-rower fronted the media in the build to the clash.
The England players will breathe a sigh of relief that Skelton will not be pulling on a Wallabies jersey this weekend while the non-selection will certainly leave many fans puzzled.
READ MORE: How to watch England v Australia at Twickenham: TV channel, live stream, kick-off time
