‘A good solution’: Wallabies coach explains bold selections for Ireland
Jock Campbell’s four-year Wallabies exile is over.
As revealed by nine.com.au on Wednesday, the 31-year-old Queensland Reds star will play his first Test in 1316 days against Ireland in Sydney on Saturday night.
Jock Campbell poses during a Wallabies portrait session. Getty
Despite many expecting Max Jorgensen to wear the No.15 jersey, Campbell has won the first crack in the crucial position for the sold-out Nations Championship opener at Allianz Stadium.
Jorgensen will start on the right wing while Tom Wright - who returned from a ruptured ACL in April - will make his Wallabies comeback from the bench.
Ryan Lonergan will make his first Test start at halfback and is expected to kick goals, with Carter Gordon his partner at No.10.
The versatile Ben Donaldson will provide playmaking cover off the bench.
Harry Wilson continues as captain while Reds lock Josh Canham is the big inclusion in the pack and will make his first Test start, with ACT Brumbies second-rower Lachlan Shaw, 23, poised to make his debut from the bench.
“He’s a high-volume player. He’s lean and athletic, so his ability to get up and contest is first-rate and at the same time, his ability to play close to the ground is very good for such a big man,” Schmidt said of Shaw.
“Across the board, I thought he had a really good Super season and there’s a good investment for us going forward. He’s a young man that’s really driven to be where he is and to go even further.”
Lachlan Shaw poses. Getty
Angus Bell starts after returning from Ulster and will share loosehead propping duties with James Slipper, who has come out of retirement to add to his Wallabies record 151 Tests.
Campbell is a great story in perseverance. He played the last of his four Tests under Dave Rennie in the win over Wales in Cardiff in 2022.
Despite consistently strong form, he never got a look in under Eddie Jones or Schmidt until now.
“I think Max has not had a huge amount of time at 15; not through Super Rugby as well. He’s played a lot more for us on the wing, so he’s pretty comfortable there,” Schmidt said of the call to pick Campbell over Jorgensen in the No.15.
“Tom has come back from that long-term injury. Nine months out of the game. He’s still getting his rhythm back, but I know he’ll fast-track himself back into that rhythm.
“I think Jock has had a really good season for the Reds. And he’s a player that we’ve had discussions over the last two years about him not being far away.
Joe Schmidt speaks to the media. Getty Images
“I think he’s been fast. I think he’s been very good under the high ball. The fact that he took some of the kicking responsibility for the Reds at kick-off time and even kicking for touch – his kicking game is strong.
“He’s a good solution for us at fullback.”
Campbell’s return comes after his best Super Rugby season, where he was included in the competition’s official team of the tournament.
Campbell had several match-winning performances, notably against Moana Pasifika and the Brumbies.
“It’s definitely a sort of first-day-of-school type of vibe,” Campbell said in June after being picked in the Wallabies squad.
“Just excited to rip in. My focus this year was just to play well for the Reds and go better as a team, and now I’m just happy to be here.”
Schmidt also had plenty of praise for Lonergan.
“I think he’s passing really well. His kicking game is strong. Again, he goal-kicks, so it’s nice to have that security of another kicker in the team,” Schmidt said.
Asked if he wanted to continue as a head coach, Schmidt - who will work as an assistant with Australia A later this year - was unequivocal.
“No. I didn’t really plan to be here still. It was really just the fact that Les Kiss was contracted to the Reds and the continuation just was easier rather than putting an interim coach in. That would have been a little bit unsettling,” he said.
“The team were unsettled enough post the 2023 World Cup. I think we’ve certainly made progress since then, and that’s been evident in some of the results and in some of the performances.
“But we need to marry those two things up and start getting some performances that are consistent enough to provide results. We know that these next three games are a pressure point for us.”
Campbell will square off against Ireland’s British and Irish Lions fullback Hugo Keenan, who has a similar style of game.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell named brothers Sam and Cian Prendgerast in his starting team, at No.10 and blindside flanker respectively.
“Cian has come a long way in the past 12 months. The learnings he took from the autumn into the start of the Six Nations and how that progressed, I think he’s been outstanding for Connacht,” Farrell said.
“Sam, the way he’s handled the last month is a credit to him in regards to taking responsibility for the shirt and his chance to build through the last few games and finish with a big performance in the final (for Leinster), so he’s earned the right.”
WALLABIES (15-1): Jock Campbell, Max Jorgensen, Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Carter Gordon, Ryan Lonergan, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Nasser, Angus Bell
Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Tom Wright
IRELAND (15-1): Hugo Keenan, Rob Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Tom O’Toole
Reserves: Rónan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Bundee Aki
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