This Wallabies selection mess just doesn’t pass the pub test

Comment: The Wallabies’ chances of snapping a horror losing streak against the All Blacks have taken a big hit with five-eighth Ben Donaldson ruled out of Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney.

Donaldson has been scratched due to a “minor upper leg injury” and Declan Meredith will start at No.10 instead.

Meredith has been unconvincing in his first year at Test level and threw a wayward pass to hand Will Jordan a late try in New Zealand’s 50-19 win at Eden Park last weekend.

The other playmaker in the squad - Harry McLaughlin-Phillips - is now in line for a Wallabies debut off the bench.

Wallabies coach Les Kiss hasn’t been dealt a great hand, with first pick No.10 Carter Gordon breaking his leg in Argentina.

Gordon’s Queensland Reds teammate Tom Lynagh is also unable to get on the park, and has been scratched from the Australia A squad touring the United States this month.

With all due respect to Meredith, that is the team he should be developing his game with, not the Wallabies.

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Kiss has vastly experienced options at his disposal, including Bernard Foley, Noah Lolesio, James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale.

Neither Meredith nor McLaughlin-Phillips have the runs on the board to justify selection ahead of any of the above.

This Wallabies selection mess just doesn’t pass the pub test and does a disservice to the fans hoping their team can snap a horror run against New Zealand.

“There is never a player that’s been perfect in any form for going into anything,” Kiss said when asked about Meredith’s confidence levels on Thursday.

“You know there’s learning and there’s growth, every player is learning and growing, and we’ve always said we’ve got work to do, and we just want to get better every week.

“Declan is serving the team in a big way, on and off the field and doing a good job for us. Great opportunity for him, you know, to grow again, and that’s how we’re seeing it.

“We believe that we have a game that can win this, on the weekend for sure, with the people we have, but we’re going to go out there and make sure we represent ourselves, in a way that people are proud of.”

The All Blacks have won a trans-Tasman record 12 straight games over the Wallabies.

The two teams will also meet at Accor Stadium in pool play at next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Kiss said the battle-hardened 10s remained in the selection frame.

“That experience is ready to pull on at any given time,” he argued.

“This is an opportunity for other guys to be feeling it, tasting what Test rugby’s about, not only the playing environment, but, training environment as well. And while we’ve got that opportunity we’ll use it, we’ll get back into that, without a doubt...

“I’ve spoken to Kurtley a couple of times this week, he knows the role that he’s got, and we’ve also got James O’Connor as well as sitting there. Foley, those boys have been through the mill. We know what we can expect from them.

“They know what to expect from this environment. The other boys get a great chance just to learn what it’s all about.”

That chat will not be music to the ears of Wallabies legend Tim Horan.

“I just don’t like hearing, ‘oh, we’re going to learn from this, we’re going to learn from this.’ I think Aussies are sick of learning from getting beaten by the All Blacks, and 24 years in a row now they’ve retained the Bledisloe Cup,” Horan told Nine’s Wide World of Sports.

The All Blacks, meanwhile, are in no mood for experimentation and have veterans Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett at No.10 and fullback respectively.

“Age is not a determinant there,” Kiss said of his selection policy.

“We’ve got a clear plan what we want to do at this stage, and we’ll stick to our plan. Where that comes to fruition in other ways for us, we’ll see, but I think we’re doing the right thing. I have a lot of faith in those boys that are there.

“They only grow if they get to feel it, and that’s the nature of what our challenge is. They’ve (New Zealand) got a different version of what they want to do, that’s fine. We’ve got our version of how we want to attack this and that.”

Kiss has opted to switch Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii from the left wing to outside centre.

Len Ikitau will miss the Test with concussion, with Isaac Henry shifting from No.13 to inside centre.

That allows Harry Potter a promotion to wear the No.11 jersey, where he will mark All Blacks ace Will Jordan.

Meanwhile, the Wallaroos have been boosted by the return of experienced trio Eva Karpani, Cecilia Smith and Maya Stewart for their WXV Global Series clash against Scotland.

Saturday’s Test is the second of three against Scotland this year, with the Wallaroos claiming a 30-10 victory in Edinburgh.

Australia vs New Zealand, 3.45pm kickoff AEDT

Wallabies (1-15): Aidan Ross, Josh Nasser, Allan Alaalatoa, Jeremy Williams, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c), Ryan Lonergan, Declan Meredith, Harry Potter, Isaac Henry, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright

Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Massimo De Lutiis, Josh Canham, Carlo Tizzano, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Filipo Daugunu

All Blacks (1-15): George Bower, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi, Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie, Josh Moorby, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett

Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Xavier Numia, Pasilio Tosi, Shannon Frizell, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Cortez Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane

Australia vs Scotland, 12pm kickoff AEDT

Wallaroos (1-15): Brianna Hoy, Brittany Merlo, Faliki Pohiva, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Siokapesi Palu Sekona (c), Piper Duck, Pia Tapsell, Samantha Wood, Waiaria Ellis, Amelia Whitaker, Faitala Moleka, Georgina Friedrichs, Maya Stewart, Desiree Miller

Reserves: Tania Naden, Allana Sikimeti, Eva Karpani, Jemma Bemrose, Emily Chancellor, Lily Bone, Piper Simons, Cecilia Smith

Scotland (TBC)

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