‘You own that tag’: Tate McDermott embraces crucial Wallabies role

TOWNSVILLE: Wallabies scrum-half Tate McDermott has embraced the ‘finishing’ tag that comes with being a regular impact player off the bench, owning that role after heartbreaking defeats to Ireland and France in the Nations Championship.

From schoolkid First XV rugby to the sport’s highest honours in the Test arena, earning a place in the starting side is something every player strives for. McDermott even acknowledged that truth, saying “everyone wants a smaller number on their back.”

But rugby is a sport that continues to evolve. Former Wallabies and England coach Eddie Jones famously coined the term ‘finishers’ to describe the importance of impact players, with matches often coming down to the wire at Test level.

Springboks rake Malcolm Marx has come off the bench often, including an important shift in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final. Before taking out the 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year accolade, Marx remained a regular substitute as recently as the 2024 Autumn Nations Series.

McDermott has stared in two of 13 appearances for the Wallabies since the beginning of the 2025 international season, and will again come off the pine this weekend. The 27-year-old has been named on the bench in the team to face Japan, but understands how crucial that role can be.

“There’s been similar personnel on our bench for a while now so you own that tag,” McDermott told RugbyPass and AAP in Townsville.

“At the end of the day, everyone wants a smaller number on their back but the game’s changed so much since I debuted a couple of years back, that it comes down to a similar group performing the same role over and over again and hopefully getting a better result.

“The ‘finishing’ tag is kind our identity at the moment. We want to finish games off and we want to make sure we win them. Whether we have to claw our way back or continue to attack if we’ve got the lead, it’s definitely  a different identity to teams in the past.

“We’re trying to finish as well as we can in those games.”

The Wallabies have won back-to-back games for the first time in a year, when they overcame the British & Irish Lions in Sydney and the Springboks at Johannesburg’s Emirates Airline Park. They defeated Italy last month before starting their new era off in a three-point thriller in Osaka.

Les Kiss has taken over from former Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, and the new boss got off to a winning start last Saturday. The Wallabies held on for a nail-biting 35-32 triumph, before returning home to face the same opponent in Townsville.

But before those successes, the Wallabies fell agonisingly short against Six Nations juggernauts Ireland and Spain. The Wallabies led both Tests at half-time but Ireland still did enough to win by two, and France piled on the points to triumph 42-26 last month.

“Whether we start well or we don’t, it always ends up being about that 60-minute mark that decides the fixtures,” McDermott said.

“Ireland we were in the drivers seat early and we let that one slip. France was in around that time as well. It’s important minutes, particularly in Test footy, is kind of what I’ve learned.

“The forward pack do a huge job of deciding where the scales lie at that time, and that’ve been impressive so far. There’s obviously been a couple of changes this week but guys like Lukhan will be chomping at a bit to go.”

The Wallabies came away with the win last time out in Osaka, but they were still left with some key focuses in the lead-up to the second Flight Centre Series Test. McDermott said the men in gold gave Japan too much ball and too many opportunities.

Japan will again be led by Super Rugby Pacific-winning lock Warner Dearns, while there are a few Australians looking to help take down the Wallabies. Ben Gunter, Dylan Reilly and Jack Cornseln all went to school in Australia but will run out in a Brave Blossoms jersey this weekend.

“It should be a good Test because what we saw from Japan, they’re a quality side,” he added.

“We know boys there from Brisbane; your Harry Hockings, your Ben Gunters, Jack Cornelsen. Quality football players that ended up going to Japan and are now playing in Japan.

“We know the DNA of it but Eddie’s got them playing a different brand to what they have in the past and they’re impressive on the weekend.”

Wallabies team to play Japan in Townsville

1. Angus Bell (54 Tests) – #940; Hunters Hill Rugby Club
2. Josh Nasser (14 Tests) – #979; Easts Tigers
3. Taniela Tupou (71 Tests) – #917; Brothers Rugby
4. Lachlan Shaw (2 Tests) – #996; University of Queensland
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (45 Tests); Randwick
6. Charlie Cale (3 Tests) – #976; Beecroft Junior Rugby Club
7. Carlo Tizzano (15 Tests) – #982; University of Western Australia
8. Harry Wilson (c) (40 Tests) – #933; Gunnedah Red Devils
9. Ryan Lonergan (9 Tests) – #993; Tuggeranong Vikings
10. Carter Gordon (10 Tests) – #967; Sunshine Coast Grammar School
11. Harry Potter (13 Tests) – #989; Moorabbin Rams
12. Hunter Paisami (36 Tests) – #932; Harlequin Rugby Club
13. Isaac Henry (1 Test) – #999; Kenmore Bears
14. Max Jorgensen (24 Tests) – #984; Balmain Wolves
15. Tom Wright (47 Tests) – #939; Clovelly Eagles
Substitutes
16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (22 Tests) – #958; Lindfield Junior Rugby Club
17. Aidan Ross (4 Tests) – #994; Bond University
18. Massimo De Lutiis* – uncapped; Surfers Paradise Dolphins
19. Jeremy Williams (29 Tests) – #973; Wahroonga Tigers
20. Fraser McReight (43 Tests) – #937; Albany Creek Brumbies
21. Tate McDermott (54 Tests) – #936; Flinders Rugby Club
22. Ben Donaldson (22 Tests) – #962; Clovelly Eagles
23. Filipo Daugunu (22 Tests) – #931; Wests Bulldogs
*denotes potential Test debut