The Wallabies have named debutant Declan Meredith in their starting XV to face France in the Nations Championship rugby Test in Brisbane on Saturday. The ACT Brumbies flyhalf will wear the No. 10 jersey against the back-to-back Six Nations champions at Suncorp Stadium.
Injury crisis forces changes
Meredith's selection comes after first-choice flyhalf Carter Gordon and second-choice Ben Donaldson both suffered calf injuries in the two-point loss to Ireland. Gordon has been ruled out of the next two Tests against France and Italy, while Donaldson was seen running laps at Ballymore with a compression sleeve on his injured leg.
Influential flanker Tom Hooper (shoulder) is also unavailable as the Wallabies attempt to avoid a sixth-straight Test loss for the first time in 10 years.
Campbell moves to bench
Queensland full-back Jock Campbell, who impressed in his first Test in nearly four years against Ireland, has been replaced in the starting XV by Tom Wright. Campbell is now a shock playmaking back-up option off the bench. Coach Joe Schmidt considers the in-form Campbell a potential No. 10 option, despite him never starting for the Reds in that position.
Campbell and Meredith were in deep discussions with Schmidt before training. Campbell will likely get the chance to show his playmaking potential on his home ground, with versatile Queensland back Filipo Daugunu called onto the bench alongside Nick Champion de Crespigny in the only other changes to the side.
Schmidt's assessment
“The group has reset this week in Brisbane after what was a tough ending to the first game of the Nations Championship,” 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.”
Wallabies squad for France Test
Wallabies XV: Angus Bell, Josh Nasser, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Declan Meredith, Dylan Pietsch, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright. Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Tate McDermott, Jock Campbell, Filipo Daugunu.
France, beaten by two points in Christchurch by the All Blacks last Saturday, will name their team later on Thursday.
