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Eddie Jones makes bold call at flyhalf ahead of must-win Wales clash
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has made a sensationally bold move ahead of the Wallabies’ must-win clash with Wales that will leave the rugby world buzzing over the next couple of days.
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Coach Jones has dropped young playmaker Carter Gordon to the bench after his disappointing performance against Fiji last weekend, while Ben Donaldson will start at flyhalf.
The Sydney Morning Herald revealed the selection bombshell earlier this week, and the rest of the starting side is in line with the report as Andrew Kellaway returns to the starting side.
Australia’s Rugby World Cup campaign hangs in the balance after losing to Fiji in Saint-Etienne on Sunday. They need to beat Wales to keep their quarter-final dreams alive.
“Every team has matches like this during a Rugby World Cup and for this young team it is this week,” Jones said in a statement.
“We’ve prepared well, are focused on what we need to do, and we’ll be ready to fight on Sunday night.”
Hooker Davick Porecki will captain the Wallabies again this week in the absence of Will Skelton – the towering lock never appeared to be any chance of returning against the Welsh.
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Porecki will pack down in the front row alongside props Angus Bell and James Slipper, and locks Nick Frost and Richie Arnold complete the tight five.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
3
Draws
0
Wins
2
Average Points scored
27
21
First try wins
40%
Home team wins
40%
Coach Jones has made another interesting decision in the backrow with Fraser McReight falling out of the run-on side. Rob Leota comes into the team at blindside flanker while Tom Hooper shifts to openside.
Australia enforcer Rob Valetini is a mainstay of this Wallabies side, and it’s no surprise to see the No. 8 retain his place at the back of the scrum.
Wallabies vice-captain Tate McDermott also returns to the starting side after missing the Fiji clash due to concussion. McDermott will link up with Donaldson in an untested halves partnership.
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Donaldson has only played five Test matches in Wallaby gold, which includes just a single start in the No. 10 jersey – which was also against Wales during last year’s end-of-season tour.
The return of Andrew Kellaway at fullback is the only other change to the Australian backline which boasts plenty of potential.
Samu Kerevi and Jordan Petaia will combine in the midfield again this week, while Marika Koroibete and Mark Nawaqanitawase line up on the left and right wings respectively.
Wallabies team to take on Wales
- Angus Bell
- David Porecki (c)
- James Slipper
- Nick Frost
- Richie Arnold
- Rob Leota
- Tom Hooper
- Rob Valetini
- Tate McDermott
- Ben Donaldson
- Marika Koroibete
- Samu Kerevi
- Jordan Petaia
- Mark Nawaqanitawase
- Andrew Kellaway
Finishers
- Matt Faessler
- Blake Schoupp
- Pone Fa’amausili
- Matt Philip
- Fraser McReight
- Nic White
- Carter Gordon
- Suliasi Vunivalu
Comments on RugbyPass
A distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
1 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
3 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
6 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
3 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
6 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
5 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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