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Tuesday

10:00

Nations Championship

Uncapped Wallabies fly-half Declan Meredith named to start against France

Finn Morton

Published: 8 July 2026 20:33 PDT

Declan Meredith poses during an Australian Wallabies Portrait session on June 26, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)

Uncapped fly-half Declan Meredith won’t just get the chance to debut for the Wallabies against France on Saturday evening, but the 27-year-old will wear the No. 10 jersey after being propelled straight into the run-on side.

Meredith was rewarded for a breakout Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the ACT Brumbies by initially earning a spot in the Wallabies squad for the July Nations Championship, along with two other potential debutants.

Brumbies lock Lachlan Shaw became Wallaby number 996 after coming off the bench in the 33-31 defeat to Ireland in Sydney, and Meredith is now set to follow. The playmaker starts in the halves alongside club captain Ryan Lonergan.

VIDEO

Carter Gordon steered the team around the park as the starting fly-half against Ireland, but the Wallabies announced this week the Queenslander would miss the next two Tests with a calf strain. Ben Donaldson has not been named in the 23 to face the French either.

There is only one other change to the First XV, with Tom Wright linking up with Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen in the outside backs. Jock Campbell shifts to the bench, now expected to provide cover at fly-half and fullback.

Reigning John Eales Medal winner (Wallabies Player of the Year) Len Ikitau has been retained at inside centre, set to continue the midfield partnership with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, which has become a regular combination in the Wallabies team.

In the forwards, Reds hooker Josh Nasser has retained the starting role ahead of Western Force rake Brandon Paenga Amosa. Nasser joins loosehead prop Angus Bell and 89-Test tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa up front.

Josh Canham has held onto the starting role at No. 4 lock after a maiden Test start against the Irish. Joining Jeremy Williams in the second row. Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight are the two flankers, with captain Harry Wilson rounding out the pack at No. 8.

Nick Champion de Crespigny moves onto the bench after Tom Hooper was ruled out with a shoulder injury. There is one other change to the replacements, with Reds utility Filipo Daugunu getting the chance to wear gold for the 21^st time.

“The group has reset this week in Brisbane after what was a tough ending to the first game of the Nations Championship,” coach Joe Schmidt said.

“We have worked hard on continuing to improve after missing some vital opportunities last weekend. We know we can be better on Saturday, and we know that we will need to be against the back-to-back Six Nations Champions.”

Fixture

Nations Championship

Australia

26 - 42

Full-time

France

All Stats and Data

Wallabies team to take on France

Angus Bell (51 Tests) – #940
Josh Nasser (12 Tests) – #979
Allan Alaalatoa (89 Tests) – #896
Josh Canham (3 Tests) – #987
Jeremy Williams (26 Tests) – #973
Rob Valetini (63 Tests) – #929
Fraser McReight (40 Tests) – #937
Harry Wilson (c) (37 Tests) – #933
Ryan Lonergan (6 Tests) – #993
Declan Meredith* – uncapped
Dylan Pietsch (10 Tests) – #978
Len Ikitau (51 Tests) – #944
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (19 Tests) – #988
Max Jorgensen (21 Tests) – #984
Tom Wright (44 Tests) – #939

Replacements

Brandon Paenga-Amosa (26 Tests) – #918
James Slipper (152 Tests) – #843
Taniela Tupou (69 Tests) – #917
Lachlan Shaw (1 Test) – #996
Nick Champion de Crespigny (4 Tests) – #991
Tate McDermott (51 Tests) – #936
Jock Campbell (5 Tests) – #959
Filipo Daugunu (20 Tests) – #931

*denotes Test debut

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Comments

20 Comments

Mzilikazi 45 days ago

There is no way I would have Meredith start against France. His form at the end of the SRP season was poor. Over the full season Ben Donaldson was a far more impressive player. Very harsh, even foolhardy decision not to start him. And not name him in the 23 is another LSL type decision.

I would even personally rate Mc Laughlin Philips a superior 10 to Meredith.

PM 44 days ago

I agree Miz. I would probably have moved Jock into 10 and Tom Wright as moving there from 15 later if/as necessary. Maybe Tate even plays there. Agree re HMP ahead of him too.

Two Cents 45 days ago

Donno is out injured so there were no other options in the current squad. That's also why Jock is being given the role as cover.

It would have been smarter to have brought other 10s into the environment earlier in order to have covered for the likelihood that both starters would go down.

But they didn't do that and instead trusted to the fickle fitness of Australian players that has served the Wallabies so well over the last 10 years. Oh well.

As it stands, Meredith is the only actual 10 who is fit in the squad so that's the only reason he is starting. Otherwise he likely wouldn't have seen action until the visit to Tokyo.

Eric Elwood 45 days ago

The D against Ireland was good. This is a 50:50 and if Australia take their chances they can turn a corner here, results wise.

Conei 45 days ago

They still conceded 33 pionts but with the way the game has gone I rekon about 20 conceded is a good day out

Otterhotte 45 days ago

Aber s

Rugby 101 - Ed Pye 45 days ago

who will kick when lonergan comes off?

KwAussie 45 days ago

The Wallabies will struggle with Suaalii at 13. He is a great athlete but too inexperienced at this level and it shows with too many mistakes that cost the Wallabies. Yes if the Irish give him room he will be dangerous, but as every other nation has realised, if you don’t he gets lost, doesn’t know where to be on the field and is easily managed. I like that Meredith is given a chance, even if it is the “last man standing” chance. He was playing really well for the Brumbies and hopefully he will take that into the game.

NH 45 days ago

Yep, expect to see the french shred the wallaby D on the fringes to pieces.

Tah Man Too 45 days ago

I'm more worried about Jock at 10! We basically have two debutants at fly half for this test. One who's making his test debut, and another who's playing his FIRST EVER GAME AT 10. Wtf.

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