Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt explains why Fraser McReight isn’t starting

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has explained that injury is behind the decision to shift star flanker Fraser McReight to the bench, with Perth-born Carlo Tizzano instead set to start at openside in a Nations Championship clash with Italy.

McReight was a standout for the Wallabies in a tough 42-26 defeat to France in Brisbane, with the backrower finishing with two tries and two turnovers won. The Queensland Reds captain also made 17 stops in defence and made a try-saving play deep in the first half.

But the 41-Test Wallaby will provide impact off a relatively experienced bench at HBF Park, while Tizzano gets the chance to wear the golden No. 7 jersey for the first time since the 19-15 win over Japan on October 25, 2025.

Tizzano finished equal fourth for tries scored in Super Rugby Pacific this year, drawing level with Chiefs winger Kren Taumoefolau in 10. That followed an impressive campaign with the Force the season before, named the 2025 Australian Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year.

“Fraser had a bit of a knock from the game. The flight didn’t help then. His knee was a bit immobile earlier in the week and he was pretty quiet at training on Tuesday,” Schmidt explained.

“We took it pretty quietly, but he trained really well today. That as the first part of it.

‘The second part of it is Carlo’s trained really well for us. He’s never let us down when he has played for us. Hometown, home track, against a team where he would have connections. Last yar when we were in Udine, his brother came in and visited us. There’s a real connection there for him.

“We’ve got lots of confidence in the way he plays.”

McReight is the third-most experienced Wallaby named in the replacements, with the team’s all-time caps record-holder James Slipper leading the way on 153. Scrum-half Tate McDermott has gone beyond the 50-Test marker, while another three have played at least 20 matches in gold.

The second half performance dropoff has been a talking point for the Wallabies in recent weeks, having led both Ireland and France at the break. But, in last weekend’s contest in Brisbane, Les Bleus piled on 30 unanswered to claim a drought-breaking result in the River City.

Ben Donaldson returns to the Test arena after missing the French match, providing cover for fly-half Declan Meredith. This will be Meredith’s second appearance in a Wallabies jersey, and the coach hopes to see the playmaker build on a promising debut.

“Having a guy like Slips and a guy like Fraser coming on I do think adds value in terms of experience for us for sure. The same with Ben Donaldson. Ben, we didn’t know if he’d get through training… he trained really well, trained fully, hit good speeds today,” Schmidt said.

“For Declan, I thought he steered us around the field really well in the first half. You’re up 21-12 at half-time against France with a guy making his Test debut up against the likes of [Romain] Ntamack and [Matthieu] Jalibert.

“It’s not going to get any easer for him with Paolo Garbisi I think playing his 57^th Test match and Declan playing his number two Test match.”

NSW Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero is in line to debut for the national team off the pine, set to become Wallaby number 998. Amatosero replaces Lachlan Shaw in the matchday 23, who debuted for the Wallabies against Ireland.

The second-rower, who spent time overseas with Top 14 outfit ASM Clermont Auvergne, started in 12 of 14 appearances for the Waratahs last season, which included mammoth 80-minute shifts against the Chiefs and Highlanders.

“He’s just trained so well these last two weeks. That’s part of what happens behind the scenes; if you can’t grow confidence in somebody because of the match minutes they’re getting that are visible to everyone, your way to best influence the coaching staff is to train really well, pick the information up really well, be really nailed on to what your role is,” the coach explained.

“Part of the advantage is being six foot eight and 125 kilos.

“For Miles, we’re excited about what we can see there.”