Joe Schmidt defends shock decision: 'He's got such massive respect'

Joe Schmidt has rejected the notion he is handing out ceremonial Test caps after recalling retiring scrumhalf Nic White for the Wallabies’ series finale against the touring British and Irish Lions.

Two hours after White announced he was hanging up the boots at the end of 2025, White was named to start in Saturday night’s third Test in Sydney.

The 35-year-old has leapfrogged one-time captaincy candidate and Sydney fan favourite Jake Gordon and replacement half Tate McDermott in the pecking order as the Wallabies try to avoid becoming the first team in more than a century to suffer a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of the Lions in Australia.

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Coach Schmidt admits he hatched “a plan” with White as early as last Wednesday after the pair agreed it was time for the 72-Test veteran to retire from international rugby at season’s end.

Schmidt, though, insists White thoroughly deserves his elevation.

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“He’s got such massive respect inside the squad that it seemed a fitting way for him to finish – and I’m not a sentimentalist,” Schmidt said on Thursday.

“It’s a Test match and you pick people who are capable of playing that Test match and we believe that Nick is.”

Crediting White for turning the game Australia’s way after replacing McDermott in a 21-18 comeback win over Fiji three weeks ago, Schmidt says he consulted Gordon and McDermott about the shock decision.

“Those players are really tight amongst themselves. Jake knows Nic well,” Schmidt said.

“(With) Tate, they’re a fine group of nines but a fine group of men and they had their own discussions and it was a decision we made believing Nic can do the job.”

Asked, if he felt the halves needed a shake-up, why wasn’t McDermott given a start, Schmidt said: “Well, Tate’s not retiring …”

A father of three young boys, White conceded he was surprised to get the call-up, saying he was happy enough to run water at Accor Stadium.

“Jake and Tate did an unbelievable job in the first two games,” White said.

“I didn’t see it coming, but I really appreciate it and, yeah, I won’t let the boys down.”

White’s inclusion is one of several changes from the Wallabies side that lost last the second Test 29-26 on the bell.

Dylan Pietsch replaces the injured Harry Potter on the left wing, with the Wiradjuri man set to play for the first time in the special edition Wallabies jersey he designed for this year’s Lions series.

Tighthead prop Taniela Tupou will make his first appearance in a gold jersey this year, replacing the injured Allan Alaalatoa.

Tom Hooper comes into the starting side at blindside flanker, for Rob Valetini, who is being managed.

Billy Pollard has been named as replacement hooker, with Zane Nonggorr taking over from Tom Robertson as reserve prop.

“The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week’s Test in Melbourne,” Schmidt said.

“But they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday.”