Fly-half Meredith to make Australia debut against France / Photo: © AFP
Fly-half Meredith to make Australia debut against France
Rookie Declan Meredith was named as the Australia starting fly-half Thursday to face France in Brisbane after Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson were both ruled out with injuries.
The 27-year-old ACT Brumbies playmaker was called into the Australia squad for the first time before the Nations Championship opener against Ireland last week.
He failed to make the Wallabies bench, but now finds himself as the leading No.10 for Saturday's encounter, with Gordon and Donaldson, who both played last week, sidelined by calf strains.
Gordon will also miss the July 18 clash with Italy. The long-term prognosis for Donaldson, who fluffed two crucial late penalties in their demoralising 33-31 defeat to the Irish in Sydney, remains unclear.
Meredith will have the familiar face of Brumbies teammate Ryan Lonergan at scrum-half against a French side smarting from losing 34-32 to New Zealand in Christchurch in their Nations Championship opener.
He is one of two changes to the XV with Jock Campbell, who started his first Test in four years last week, moving to the bench. Tom Wright takes his place at fullback.
"The group has reset this week in Brisbane after what was a tough ending to the first game of the Nations Championship," said Australia coach Joe Schmidt.
"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."
Max Jorgensen and Dylan Pietsch are again on the wings with Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii partnering in the centres.
Four Queensland Reds players start in the pack -– Josh Nasser at hooker, Josh Canham at lock, Fraser McReight at openside flanker and skipper Harry Wilson at No.8.
Nasser is joined by experienced props Angus Bell and Allan Alaalatoa in the front row, with Canham linking with Jeremy Williams as the locks.
Rob Valetini is the blindside flanker in what is a familiar back-row trio alongside McReight and Wilson.
Australia (15-1):
Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; Declan Meredith, Ryan Lonergan; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini; Jeremy Williams, Josh Canham; Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Nasser, Angus Bell
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Tate McDermott, Jock Campbell, Filipo Daugunu
A.M.Ruiz--ESF
