Wallabies predicted team v All Blacks: Joe Schmidt to recall ‘fit again regulars’ for Bledisloe Cup showdown
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt (inset) and backline duo Tom Lynagh and Len Ikitau.
Now that the Wallabies have named their squad for the final rounds of the Rugby Championship, we have decided to pick a predicted team that will face the All Blacks.
Australia and New Zealand are set to face off in their first Bledisloe Cup clash at Eden Park in Auckland on September 27 before the teams collide again at Optus Stadium in Perth the following Saturday.
Here’s our predicted Wallabies side for the Rugby Championship Round Five encounter.
15 Andrew Kellaway
The Waratahs stalwart has been solid since coming into the run-on side for the first Test against Argentina in Townsville as a replacement for first choice full-back Tom Wright, who is sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Kellaway has slotted in seamlessly as he is a threat on attack and solid on defence and under the high ball.
14 Max Jorgensen
He’s just 21 years old but plays with a maturity beyond his years and is firmly rooted in the Wallabies’ starting line-up as the first choice right wing. Jorgensen has caught the eye with several outstanding performances with ball in hand and is currently amongst the tournament’s leading players statistically in several attacking categories.
13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
The former rugby league star has made a smooth transition since returning to the 15-a-side game and has been one of the Wallabies’ best players in this year’s Rugby Championship. A genuine attacking threat, Suaalii comes into this weekend’s clash as the tournament’s leading try-scorer with four five-pointers and he will be determined to increase that tally.
12 Len Ikitau
The 26-year-old has played most of his international rugby in the number 13 shirt but was shifted to inside centre to accommodate Suaalii’s arrival in the backline. The midfield duo have formed a superb partnership although Ikitau missed the last Test against Argentina due to injury with Hunter Paisami replacing him. However, Ikitau is fit again and should return to the starting line-up.
11 Corey Toole
The Brumbies speedster has been on the fringes of the Wallabies set-up for some time prior to the Rugby Championship but eventually made a try-scoring debut against the Springboks in Cape Town. He followed that up with solid performances against Argentina and although Filipo Daugunu impressed when replacing him against Los Pumas in Sydney, we expect Toole to retain his starting berth.
10 Tom Lynagh
He has had some concussion and hamstring issues of late but is back to full fitness and we expect Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt to continue with his stance of backing the 22-year-old as his first choice fly-half. Lynagh has shown great potential in his previous Tests and although he’s not the finished article yet, he will have to hit the ground running against the All Blacks.
9 Jake Gordon
Another player who will return to action after some time on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury, the 32-year-old was last in action when he started the Wallabies’ first two Tests against the British & Irish Lions. However, he is fully fit now and although Tate McDermott is also in contention for this position, we expect Schmidt to opt for Gordon alongside Lynagh as the starting half-backs again.
8 Harry Wilson (c)
The Wallabies skipper has impressed with his leadership skills during this year’s tournament but he has also shone as a ball carrier and on defence while he is also a handy option at the back of the lineout. Wilson usually empties the tank as he leads by example and will be expected to do just that against the All Blacks, who will be a tough nut to crack at their spiritual home, Eden Park.
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7 Fraser McReight
The 26-year-old has been ever-present for the Wallabies this year and will, once again, be expected to be at the forefront of his side’s onslaught on attack and defence. McReight has been particularly effective in the latter category as has made the second most tackles in the competition (58) while his breakdown work is also of a high standard so expect him to be competitive in that department as well.
6 Tom Hooper
The Exeter Chiefs-bound utility forward is equally at home on the blindside flank or in the second-row and although he played in the latter position in both Tests against Argentina, he packed down on the side of the scrum in the two Tests against South Africa. Hooper gave a good account of himself on both those occasions and we expect him to continue in that vein against New Zealand with Rob Valetini ruled out through injury.
5 Jeremy Williams
The Western Force second-row has made four appearances off the Wallabies’ replacements bench in this year’s Rugby Championship but with Hooper set to make the switch back to the back-row Williams should be the man to come into the run-on side at lock, although Lukhan Salakai-Loto will also be an option. We expect Schmidt to go with Williams though as he is a solid lineout operator has a high work-rate on defence.
4 Nick Frost
The 25-year-old was not in action during the last Test against Argentina in Sydney due to a tight back but has made a full recovery and like fellow fit again regulars Ikitau, Lynagh and Gordon, should return to the starting XV for the All Blacks clash. An outstanding lineout operator, Frost has led the way for the Wallabies in that department as he is currently fourth highest in the competition for lineouts won (12) and will be keen to add to his tally this weekend.
3 Taniela Tupou
The man known as the Tongan Thor has been blowing hot and cold during this year’s Rugby Championship but will not be lacking in motivation when he takes on the All Blacks at Eden Park. When on song, Tupou is one of the world’s best players in his position who is superb in the execution of his core duties and on attack, and we expect him to retain his spot in the run-on side.
2 Billy Pollard
Although Australia struggled at hooker when Dave Porecki announced his retirement following the British & Irish Lions series and an injury to Matt Faessler, Pollard has stepped into the breach and come to the fore with some solid performances. The Brumbies stalwart has cemented himself in the Wallabies’ run-on side after starting all their Rugby Championship Tests and we expect him to retain his spot against the All Blacks.
1 James Slipper
Australia’s most capped Test player always gives his all to the Wallabies cause and should continue in that vein in this encounter at Eden Park. Slipper is a solid scrummager, who returned to action in the second Test against Argentina after recovering from concussion. He is expected to give his all for about 50 minutes before being replaced by Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Filipo Daugunu
We expect Schmidt to continue with a 5/3 split on his bench and he should continue with the same players who did duty as his replacements in their previous encounter against Argentina in Sydney.
Replacement loosehead prop Bell has made several telling contributions when he entered the fray with his most memorable being his late heroics against Los Pumas in Townsville when he crossed for the match-winning try in the game’s dying moments.
Meanwhile, fellow front-rowers Nasser and Nongorr have also give solid performances off the bench and the same can be said of Salakaia-Loto, who played his first match in the Round Four clash with Argentina in Sydney.
There’s plenty of experience amongst the backline reserves with half-back duo of McDermott and O’Connor as well as outside back Daugunu all capable of making big impacts off the bench.