‘Rugby World Cup and beyond’: Wallabies great backs potential debutant

Wallabies great Tim Horan has explained the importance of Lachlan Shaw’s selection in the team to play world number three Ireland, believing Joe Schmidt is giving the potential debutant a run with Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in mind.

Shaw will likely become Wallaby number 996 on Saturday evening in Sydney, selected on the bench as second-row cover. The 23-year-old has been rewarded for a breakout Super Rugby Pacific season, having made 14 appearances for the ACT Brumbies.

The Wallabies named a relatively inexperienced quartet of second-row specialists in the 37-man squad for the July Nations Championship Tests, with NSW Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero another uncapped prospect selected.

Western Force captain Jeremy Williams is the most experienced of the four with 25 Test caps, set to start against the Irish alongside Josh Canham from the Queensland Reds. But Horan can see Shaw getting a run in the starting side in the coming weeks, should he perform on debut.

“I think this is a look towards Rugby World Cup and beyond. When you look at Miles Amatosero that’s in the squad, Lachie Shaw and Miles Amatosero, that’s potentially get 10 to 15 Test matches under your belt before you go into a Rugby World Cup,” Horan said on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.

“I think it’s a good call. He’s going to get some game time and if he does really well he might get a chance to start the next couple of Test matches, Lachie Shaw.”

Horan noted during the Stan Sport show that Schmidt has rewarded players for their form during Super Rugby Pacific, but would’ve expected the coach to go in another direction if the Wallabies were versing the All Blacks instead.

The selection of Shaw is one of the big talking points out of the first Wallabies team of 2026, while the inclusions of Canham and fullback Jock Campbell were notable inclusions in the starting side for the Nations Championship opener.

Campbell was rewarded for a stellar season with the Queensland Reds, with the 31-year-old now set to end a wait of over 1,300 days to play for the Wallabies again. The fullback last suited up in Spring Tour Tests under coach Dave Rennie, which included a start away to France.

Josh Canham has only made two appearances for the national team before, but will add to that tally after being named in the second row alongside Western Force captain Jeremy Williams. In the backs, Ryan Lonergan forms a new-look halves pairing with Carter Gordon.

“The good thing about this Wallaby team… it’s reward for Super Rugby form. Lonergan at nine, Shaw off the bench, Canham starts, Josh Nasser at two,” Horan explained.

“If you’re playing the All Blacks on Saturday night, I think it’s a different team, but I think Joe Schmidt’s giving these players opportunities, rewarding them from Super Rugby form.

“I think there will be some chopping and changing for the next Test match against France as well.”