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The five players Joe Schmidt should bring into the Wallabies’ squad

Tane Edmed and Joseph Sua'ali'i. Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP /AFP via Getty Images and Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

The nucleus of Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies is firming-up and it must continue to do so as there’s only four more Wallaby games ahead of next year’s British and Irish Lions tour.

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Schmidt has put his trust in a core group of players who regularly fill most of the matchday 23 but he does not yet have a wider squad he can trust to get the job done over the long grand slam tour.

Nine games into his tenure, and Schmidt would’ve wanted to unearth more Test ready players from the 16 debutants he’s blooded in 2024.

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Debutants and some previously well-regarded veterans have failed to kick-on during this time and it’s opened the door for players outside the Wallaby eco system to come into the selection frame.

Schmidt needs impact, and although his players are yet to master his strategies, the squad’s baseline understanding is solid enough to accommodate new inclusions.

The Wallaby games and the two Australia A matches are all Schmidt has to find these reinforcements, who must adapt quickly to Test rugby and plug the gaps in Schmidt’s final squad of the year.

Ryan Lonergan, halfback

Halfback has seen the most chopping and changing of any position, and the position has escaped scrutiny.

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Halfback is a crucial, game-driving position with none of the halfbacks have been outstanding.

The two older players, Jake Gordon and Nic White, have failed to consistently deliver on their unique skillsets while Tate McDermott’s core skills aren’t as good as the others.

Gordon hasn’t been able to consistently deliver on his boxkicking and running game, whereas White has been unable to use his strong pass and experience to positively influence games.

Apart from some decent early performances it must be said neither of the older heads have particularly impressed in their starting roles while McDermott has injected speed and energy into the games from the bench.

This is where Lonergan’s opportunity arises, and it should come at the expense of Nic White’s selection.

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Lonergan’s all-round game is great and although his 2024 form was rocky, he’s experienced enough to kick-on from a patch of bad form.

He’s tried and tested at Australia A level with four games to his name as well as 78 games for the ACT Brumbies.

This is the type of player Schmidt can bring in late in the season, someone who could adapt to his game plan quickly.

White’s abrasive tactics with referees are now seemingly working against the Wallabies.

Perhaps it would serve all parties by shifting him to Australia A, to mentor a young gun like Teddy Wilson.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
3
Draws
0
Wins
2
Average Points scored
29
24
First try wins
40%
Home team wins
40%

Miles Amatosero, lock

Lock is a position where the Wallabies lack size and experience, Amatosero can provide size in spades.

At 125kgs and 203cm Amatosero is mad for the Test-match arena, however, Australia A is where he must earn his stripes.

Schmidt has blooded three locks and only Jeremy Williams, the smallest of Angus Blyth and Josh Canham, has prevailed.

Canham looked lost in his one appearance from the bench, while Blyth failed to use his towering frame of 204cm and 125kgs to intimidate opposition.

Amatosero knows a thing or two about intimidation and physicality, having played 31 games for French Top 14 side Clermont.

It’s an attritional, tough competition where being direct as a tight-five forward is a requisite, something which suits Schmidt’s narrow attack shape perfectly.

The raw size and potential of Amatosero, especially with the ambiguity surrounding Will Skelton’s Wallaby future, is too important an asset to go untapped.

Should he impress in the two Australia A games he should be on Schmidt’s radar as a development player for the rest of the spring tour.

He’s shown glimpses of power, manhandling players during the Super Rugby Pacific season, now he must show he can go to another level.

Tane Edmed, flyhalf

Five-eighth continues to be the most heavily scrutinised role in the Wallabies.

None of the current three playmakers have been standouts but it’s clear Schmidt has put his faith in Noah Lolesio, who has played the bulk of the minutes whilst Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh have shared the rest.

Donaldson’s running game is the best of the three, but he struggles to control the game whilst Lynagh has his own struggles with confidence and the rigours of the Test arena.

At this point, selecting Lynagh, who is evidently not physically ready for Test-level, is counterproductive for all parties because there’s little evidence he’ll be ready in eight months’ time.

Donaldson’s iffy form and Schmidt’s belief he doesn’t completely trust his own skillset, mean Edmed’s inclusion would be timely.

He’s proved himself at Australia A level and has had a successful NPC campaign in New Zealand with North Harbour.

Although the club competition is well below Test standard, Edmed is full of confidence and most importantly, he’s match fit.

Edmed is a direct operator and has almost 50 Super caps to his name.

Again, this is the kind of player Schmidt can afford to bring in so late in the piece, especially as his reserve options at no.10 are not aiding the side.

Edmed should be brought directly into the Wallabies set-up with Lynagh shifting to the Australia A campaign.

Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, centres

It’s a question of when, not if, Sua’ali’i becomes a Wallaby.

Considering he’s had several years out of the game; he needs match time to see how much learning he has to do.

The Australia A games will give the coaches a good read of his tactical awareness because he is definitely physically ready for Test-match rugby.

It appears Schmidt is strongly considering him at outside centre or fullback but a player of 100kgs and 196cm is exactly what the Wallabies need at inside centre.

Schmidt has options at no.12 and considering how unstable things have been in the halves and how unstable it could continue to be as Schmidt tinkers over the tour, a rookie no.12 doesn’t appear to be the right course of action.

Having Sua’ali’i as part of the wider Wallabies training squad after the Australia A tour is a perfect learning opportunity, similar to what Michael Cheika afford league covert Marika Koroibete.

Samu Kerevi, inside centre

Another player who could potentially bolster the inside centre stocks.

Kerevi is an enigma, he’s got all the tools to dominate at Test level but a lack of fitness, a run of injuries resulting in a lack of game time, mean his current form at Test level is an unknown quantity.

It’s also relevant to note that Kerevi is playing in Japan’s 2nd division competition.

It’s less physical than Super and far less demanding than Test-match rugby.

Schmidt can’t afford to take a punt on Kerevi and nor should it be believed that Kerevi could just turn up to Twickenham on November 9th and bend the English line.

At 108kgs and 187cm Kerevi would add much-needed bulk to the Wallabies undersized backline, but if he can bend the line, the question will be, can he do it for a full 80-minutes?

Having Kerevi play the two Australia A matches should give Schmidt a good indication of his fitness levels and whether he can bowl over the bigger bodies of English rugby.

The test for Kerevi like all these players, is not whether they can play at Test level, it’s whether they add impact and excel, for Schmidt cannot afford passengers with such precious little game time before the Lions come down under.

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Comments

11 Comments
A
AM 176 days ago

Agree with those apart from half back. Hard to play well at 9 if you don’t have forward dominance, which they haven’t.


You miss several others that are needed as well:


- Sio and Ainsley at props. The scrum is poor with Thor and Bell off and both are playing well in Europe. These are the two most important ones as we have seen scrum penalties destroy a team’s chances of winning.

- Latu is Australia’s best jackler together with Tizanno. McReight has struggled in that area at test level and we need more competition at breakdown time.

- Skelton is Australias best player

- Philip or Arnold, both are dominant lineout jumpers.

- Hodge. The kicking game in general play from 10 and 15 has been poor and his giant boot is needed to settle things down. Play him at 12 or 15.


I’d also bring in Izaia Perese for his defence in place of Paisami who has been woeful for the wallabies.

J
John 175 days ago

I think the Wallabies improved ability to retain the ball for several phases is more than enough opportunity for the halfbacks to prove their worth.


In regards to Sio and Ainsley, Sio I could agree with, he played very well last night against Bristol but I have no idea about who Ainsley is or what his form is like.


The Latu ship has sailed and hooker is not a position we currently have issues with.


I have written a seperate column just on Skelton which will come out in the comings days, so I agree with you there.


If Skelton is playing then I think for this tour it is enough and it is worth to continue to get game time and minutes into the current lock stocks.


Hodge doesn't fit in this side.


I wish Perese had been used at 12 consistenly by Wallabies and Tahs alike. But I don't think he is the right player to come in and add for now. Perhaps after the Lions, he wasn't a regular starter before he left under any coach, why would we draft him in now?

H
Hugh Briss 176 days ago

Edmed - no decision making skill

Suaallii - potential, but not tested at international level

Kerevi - unfit and lazy, even when he is fit

M
MA 176 days ago

Hi Hugh

Have you watched Tane's progress in the NPC..he's a much improved player from his Waratahs rime..and he's playing with CONFIDENCE.


Admittedly I only watched 5of his 9 game highlights in NPC, but playing with Shaun Stevenson and behind a decent pack has helped.


Whether he can now transfer that to Australia A level remains to be seen

O
OJohn 176 days ago

Fines Leilawasa is much better and bigger and robust halfback for international rugby than Lonegran. Much more upside potential.


Agree that Amastero is worth bringing on, as is Canham. William's work rate could be handy on the bench at 6, primarily. His kiwi coach at the Force won't let him play at 6 tho, for obvious reasons.


Edmed is playing well in a second rate mickey mouse competition in NZ. He has a lot of potential although maybe less than Jack Bowen. He couldn't run a Wallaby side with confidence at the moment.


Kerevi definitely should be in, which is why Schmidt will refuse to select him. Kerevi at 50% is better than any other Australian 12 at 100%. Pure and simple.

J
John 176 days ago

Hey OJohn, cheers for the comment.


In regard to IFL, I agree he is a bigger body and his exiting box kick is great, but having watched him for the Force in their tour of South Africa; he has not been particularly impressive around the field and has been unable to bring his speed (which it looks like he's lost a metre or two) into the game.


Please watch those two games or the minis and let me know what you think. Because he was my favourite no.9 under Eddie, so I like him but not convinced this year.


I am not yet convinced of Bowen, he was shaky at U20s last year.


We shall see about Kerevi. I am hoping he proves me wrong and impresses.

C
ClintP 177 days ago

I would add Tim Ryan, apparently Schmidt is waiting for him to bulk up… he’s already bigger than Cheslin Kolbe, plus this could to detrimental to his speed that he showed so well tearing through The Blues at Suncorp.

J
John 176 days ago

Being bigger than Kolbe is not difficult, I would back Kolbe in a collision between the two. Ryan for 2026 Wallabies and perhaps Australia A in 2025.

O
OJohn 176 days ago

He showed up All Black winger Talea, badly. Which is why Schmidt will not select him

M
Mzilikazi 176 days ago

He seems not to be on the radar of Schmidt currently. Would agree he should be. He has elements of Mac Hansen's game in his armoury.

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JW 50 minutes ago
'I feel for the players': Jamie Joseph's reflection on falling short again

Some great leadership quality from Big Jim, he facilitated for large parts then put the responsibility on himself at the end drive the team forward in the last desperate minutes. He also filled in for Withy extremely well, adding real strength to the maul.


The Force have been playing very well this year indeed, and their stars did make a couple of key players, the main factor though is definitely what I reported in the previous article “

Gotta say I’m really enjoying the Highlanders desperation in the last 10 minutes of games, maybe it’s just because theyre having to throw the kitchen sink at it again. Another massive effort to hold the opposition out just like in the Blues game. I’m sure the coach’s will be wanting a little more composure though as the play seems to far more hap hazard (really just the type of footy I like watching) than the picture they bring at the beggining of games.

Again though they don’t have the refs to thank for anything, being down a man twenty more minutes than they should have been. Most importantly they were without one of they best attackers (not counting Tangitau’s early change) for the final push, with Nareki’s bin.

Again, I can see where this team is trying to go, I hope they can get their this year as they certainly have the game to be a top four team if they click. They are munch of misfits when you look at it objectively though, they probably have the worst cohesion score of any SRP team. A few more wins, maybe a come from behind upset may be the best theey can hope to acheive this year.

“. Like Jim I thought the defence stood up strongly for large parts, but they may just have some structural issues, where it’s just not paying off. They had Lawaqa on the wing all day, allowed the Force to make a dozen linebreaks, why? Both there attack and defence look a bit too fancy for me, why? Common Joseph, the youngest team with the least cohesion/most new guys, it look overly complicated.


I hope it clicks. Manson in particular looked to be trying far too hard when he came on, what’s been said in his ear? Stick to you lane son and don’t make any mistakes, don’t lose the game for your team. Should be a comfortable win next week against Drua if they keep there heads up and come back stronger. Lasaqa might be best to come off the bench, would keep Jim at 12 but I’d like Tele’a to come back to the side, though TUJ hasn’t been bad and style might suit Drua more. Hopefully Renton or someone with some size is at 8 or 6, Lasaqa appears to be more an 8 actually, similar to Sititi and I wouldn’t mind if he was groomed behind him and Sotutu. Lennox I thought could make a good halfback but isn’t ready, I’d hope Arscott, Fakatava, or Pledger could return to the side. Other than Drua theyve got Cheifs twice, though the home game is the last of the round/season so potentially a gimme if the Chiefs repeat previous years tactics. The Crusaders and Moana at home are also very doable. Those four wins could see them crash into the top 6 still.

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