'Panic room' quip belying serious Wallabies issue as coach calls on support for 'burdened' playmaker

Joe Schmidt has called on the senior men in the Wallabies backline to relieve "burdened" playmaker Noah Lolesio of some stress against the Springboks.

It is far from the only problem position, but Australia are still searching for their long term quarterback.

No.10 Lolesio struggled behind a beaten pack in the 33-7 loss to the world champions in Brisbane and both he and Ben Donaldson also underwhelmed in July despite three wins over Wales and Georgia.

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Carter Gordon is now lighting it up for the Tweed Seagulls and Tom Lynagh's cool head and educated boot may well be the answer for next year's British and Irish Lions tour and beyond.

Schmidt has backed Lolesio with selection for the Rugby Championship rematch with South Africa in Perth on Saturday but didn't shy away from the issues.

"There's a lot of responsibility falling onto Noah's shoulders," Schmidt said.

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"When you're a game driver and you're in a new team and you're trying to drive the team around the field as well as play your own game really accurately, I think inevitably you sometimes struggle to see all the spaces in front of you because you can't see past the big South African boys that are coming your way."

Lolesio will have former Brumbies teammate Nic White firing him passes and barking orders at Optus Stadium, which may give the 24-year-old a degree of comfort amid the mayhem.

But Schmidt called for collective responsibility.

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"I'm hoping that it's not so much Nic that takes the pressure off him. I thought (centres) Hunter (Paisami) and Lenny (Ikitau) did a good job last week, and hopefully they can take a bit more pressure off him," he said.

"Andrew Kellaway, he's got good experience. Marika's (Koroibete) got 59 caps, and Tom Wright's got experience. I think they need to share the load a little bit, because I agree, Noah is… he looked a little bit burdened, and if we can unburden him a little bit, he's got a good game that he can bring to the table."

Former Wallabies outside back Cameron Shepherd said Lolesio - recalled by Schmidt after being axed by Eddie Jones last year - appeared "out of sorts" and "a bit in his shell" at Suncorp Stadium.

"Hopefully Whitey brings back out that confidence. Again, the communication in a lot of times on the weekend was not great," he said.

"You saw it when Tom Wright and Noah ran into each other, there was a couple of times when we were under the pump on our own line, we drifted across the field laterally, long distances, only to kick a box kick in the crowd. And Noah was standing there and watching. I think that communication needs to lift."

Ex-Wallabies lock Justin Harrison offered some dry humour while analysing Lolesio's plight against the powerful Springboks.

"I tell you what, if what happened on the weekend is happening again in Perth, I'm locking myself in the panic room," Harrison quipped on Rugby Heaven.

"Don't worry about putting myself in a shell. I'm putting myself behind some armour plate doors. But one thing that Nic White does for Noah Lolesio is he's going to challenge him...

"There's going to be all of that chat... a bit more of a taser gun out there from Nic White to lead Noah through a few of those doorways and find his way."

WALLABIES vs SPRINGBOKS in Perth, Saturday 7.45pm kick off AEST

WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Nic White, Harry Wilson, Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Blyth, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Josh Nasser, Angus Bell

Reserves: Billy Pollard, James Slipper, Zane Nonggorr, Tom Hooper, Seru Uru, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen

SPRINGBOKS (15-1): Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Elrigh Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Salmaan Moerat (c), Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels

Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard

Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)