'There's definitely a risk': Why Joe Schmidt felt pressure to tear up Wallabies teamsheet for Saturday's clash with Japan
Updated . First published at
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt freely admits he is taking a risk by changing nearly his entire starting lineup for Saturday's clash with Eddie Jones' Japan in Tokyo.
Halves Jake Gordon and Tane Edmed are the only survivors from the team that lost 28-14 to the All Blacks in Perth on October 4.
Schmidt argues the approach is necessary if the squad is to be fit and firing at the end of a gruelling five Test tour that ends against France in Paris on November 23 (AEDT).
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Joe Schmidt gives instruction during training in Urayasu. Getty
Australia won the first two games against England and Wales on last year's northern hemisphere tour before losing to Scotland and Ireland.
"We have already had 10 Test matches, three against a big team like the British and Irish Lions, the Rugby Championship, all big teams, and Fiji, who are very physical, so there is a degree of fatigue," Schmidt said on Thursday.
"I think it's just trying to get everyone to the finish line. I know last year, by the time we got to the second half of the Irish Test match, the players were willing, but energy levels were just starting to taper a little bit.
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"There's definitely a risk and I guess part of the job of the coaching staff is to manage the risk as best we can. Part of the job of the coaching staff is to manage risk as best we can. If we don't give opportunity to the squad, then I think we start to lose that energy toward the end of a five Test window.
"Particularly when you're traveling such long distances and jumping time zones, fatigue becomes pretty apparent within two or three weeks, let alone five consecutive weeks, let alone on the back of ten Test matches that we've had already."
Western Force flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny will captain Australia for the first time, surprisingly winning the job over Jake Gordon and Jeremy Williams, who captain their Super Rugby clubs and are also in the starting side.
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Regular skipper Harry Wilson is on the bench.
"Nick has been with us consistently week to week throughout. He's had recent leadership experience," Schmidt said.
"He's part of our leadership team, and he'll be well supported by Jeremy Williams and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who will be looking after the lineout.
Schmidt said he wanted halfback Gordon to focus on his performance as he works his way back into top form following a serious hamstring injury.
Before leaving Australia, Schmidt indicated that code-hopper Carter Gordon was likely to feature against Japan.
But he has stuck with Edmed as his No.10 with veteran utility Hamish Stewart providing playmaking cover from the bench.
Carter Gordon looks on during a Wallabies training session at GWS headquarters. Getty Images for ARU
"Carter's had three trainings with us, and in such a pivotal position in the team, it's very hard to go straight in and start leading," Schmidt said.
"There was a temptation to put him into the matchday squad, and at the same time, we're just kind of looking after him."
Japan coach Eddie Jones named Kiwi lock Warner Dearns as his captain.
Warner Dearns of Japan poses for a portrait. Getty
Dearns, 23, is the son of New Zealand netball great Tanya and will play for the Hurricanes next season.
Jones has also picked Australian products Jack Cornelsen, Ben Gunter, Dylan Riley and Sam Greene in his 23.
Australia are ranked seventh in the world and Japan 13th.
JAPAN (15-1): Yoshitaka Yazaki, Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Tomoki Osada, Lee Seung-sin, Shinobu Fujiwara, Michael Leitch, Kanji Shimokawa, Ben Gunter, Warner Dearns (c), Jack Cornelsen, Shuhei Takeuchi, Hayate Era, Kenta Kobayashi
Reserves: Kenji Sato, Ryosuke Iwaihara, Keijiro Tamefusa, Tyler Paul, Tiennan Costley, Kenta Fukuda, Charlie Lawrence, Sam Greene
WALLABIES (15-1): Andrew Kellaway, Corey Toole, Josh Flook, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Tane Edmed, Jake Gordon, Rob Valetini, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny (c), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Jeremy Williams, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Nasser, Angus Bell
Reserves: Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Tom Robertson, Josh Canham, Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Hamish Stewart, Filipo Daugunu
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
