Wallabies coach reveals emergency No.10 options
Updated . First published at
Unbeaten Wallabies coach Les Kiss has taken a huge selection gamble against world champions South Africa by naming a team with no play-making cover.
As forecast by nine.com.au, Ben Donaldson has been retained at No.10 but fellow five-eighths Declan Meredith and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips have been left out the match-day 23 confirmed by Kiss in Perth on Thursday.
Les Kiss has had a dream start to his tenure as Wallabies coach. Getty Images
Halfback Tate McDermott and utility Harry Potter are the two backs on the bench.
Kiss told reporters that halfback Ryan Lonergan and centres Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau were the options to steer the ship if Donaldson was forced off.
None have played professional rugby in the crucial position.
“Obviously Lonners (Lonergan) can cover it. Hunter played 10 as a youngster. I have no doubt he could fit into there,” Kiss said.
“And I also think Lenny would have the calmness of mind to be able to just work that first receiver role. In general play, I encourage all our backs to be able to adapt to the first receiver.”
Proven playmakers Tom Lynagh, Noah Lolesio, Bernard Foley, James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale were all overlooked for the initial squad of 34 players.
“I stated that I can always lean back into that experience,” Kiss said.
"But these are the Test matches where we can just look at some other 10s to see how we grow and where they can stand in the space here."
Meanwhile, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will start on the wing for the Wallabies for the first time at Optus Stadium on Sunday (coverage on Stan Sport from 6.30pm AEST).
Suaalii’s move to the No.11 jersey sees John Eales Medallist Ikitau shift wider to outside centre with Queensland’s Paisami named at inside centre.
“The opportunity to look at this game came from probably three or four different angles,” ex-league winger Kiss said of the Suaalii switch, adding that the star was happy to make the move.
“The aerial battle, he’s going to be big, he’s probably one of the best in the business. I think Hunter has been playing unbelievable footy and his class is there so it gave us an opportunity to look at that centre partnership as well together again.
“Their defensive reads are very strong in that 13 channel, and 12, and now we’ve got two of them that can... take space and nail the men that they’re marking. I would imagine at different times they would be able to chop and change and make some difference.”
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Les Kiss chat at training ahead of Saturday’s match against Japan. Getty Images
Kiss felt playing Suaalii on the wing would give the Springboks some extra food for thought.
"They have to make a decision, don't they?" Kiss said.
"They will, I think, stick to what their strengths are, and that is putting that ball in the air and creating some havoc there.
“They had a fair bit of success in that world, that’s for sure, so we just have to be ready for it. We can use that weapon as well and put it back on them, and that’s something that they have to handle.”
Ex-Wallabies star Cameron Shepherd applauded the move.
“I think it’s a great idea, and I’m one of the people that have been hoping this day would come for quite a while,” Shepherd told Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.
“Just simplifying the game for Joe is going to be a good thing.
“He can just worry about finishing. It opens up a great opportunity for us to use some more tactical kick, the cross field kick, get him in the air and get him competing for some pill there.
“And also defensively, he just needs to stay in the system, make sure that he doesn’t get too disconnected from the rest of the backline.”
The Wallabies have four wins and one draw from their last five Tests.
“I’m pleased for the boys that they’ve put some things together. They’ve worked hard for a long time, and now they’re putting some wins together,” Kiss said.
“We’re now playing the best in the world. We know it’s going to be tough, hard yakka this weekend. It’s our backyard so let’s go and make sure we show up and see what happens.”
Prop Allan Alaalatoa and hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa return to the starting front row in place of Taniela Tupou and Billy Pollard.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes to his starting side when he named his line-up on Tuesday.
Rassie Erasmus has led the Springboks to two World Cup victories, but also helped transformed the support for the team. Getty Images
He has named a ridiculously stacked ‘bomb squad’ bench as security if things go - in his words - “pear shaped,” with Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, Jasper Wiese and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu among the reserves.
But Kiss backed his own finishers, including forwards Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Tom Hooper and Carlo Tizzano, to go toe-to-toe with the favourites.
“There is quite a strong awareness of who we’re playing, no doubt,” Kiss said.
“We talked about the capacity of our bench to be powerful, strong... and when you look at their squad, what a juicy last 20, 30 minutes it’s going to be.”
Italy’s Andrea Piardi is the referee.
Wallabies (15-1): Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Ben Donaldson, Ryan Lonergan, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Josh Canham, Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell
Reserves: Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Harry Potter
Springboks (15-1): Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen (c), Ethan Hooker, Handre Pollard, Herschel Jantjies, Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, Paul de Villiers, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Zachary Porthen, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, Jasper Wiese, Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Quan Horn
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