Declan Meredith is set to make his Test debut at flyhalf for the Wallabies against France in Brisbane, with the hosts forced to reshape their backline amid a fresh wave of soft-tissue injuries.
The 25-year-old Brumbies playmaker will don the No. 10 jersey against the back-to-back Six Nations champions at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
Queensland full-back Jock Campbell, one of Australia’s standout performers in last week’s narrow loss to Ireland – his first Test in nearly four years – has been shifted to the bench as a surprise playmaking cover, with Tom Wright promoted to the starting XV.
The selection follows calf injuries to first- and second-choice flyhalves Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson, both of whom were forced from the field in the two-point defeat to Ireland.
Gordon is unavailable for the upcoming Tests against France and Italy, while Donaldson was seen running rehabilitation laps at Ballymore on Thursday sporting a compression sleeve on his calf.
Additionally, influential flanker Tom Hooper will miss the match with a shoulder complaint, as the eighth-ranked Wallabies strive to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat for the first time in a decade.
Ahead of training, coach Joe Schmidt held extended conversations with both Campbell and Meredith, the Cairns-born distributor who earned plaudits for the Brumbies throughout the Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Campbell is expected to showcase his distributing skills in front of his home crowd, after versatile Queensland back Filipo Daugunu and forward Nick Champion de Crespigny were named among the replacements – the sole additional alterations to the matchday squad.
Schmidt indicated that the in-form Campbell could be deployed at flyhalf if required, notwithstanding his lack of starting experience in the position for the Reds.
Meanwhile, replacement lock Lachlan Shaw, who received a yellow card on his debut in Sydney, retains his position in the matchday 23 ahead of what could be a second appearance.
“The squad has recalibrated in Brisbane this week following a disappointing finish to our opening Nations Championship fixture,” Schmidt commented.
“We have focused intensely on addressing the key moments that slipped from our grasp against Ireland.”
“We are under no illusions about the challenge France will pose; our standards must rise significantly this Saturday.”
France, who fell just short against the All Blacks in Christchurch last weekend, are scheduled to announce their lineup later on Thursday.
Wallabies XV: Angus Bell, Josh Nasser, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Declan Meredith, Dylan Pietsch, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright. Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Tate McDermott, Jock Campbell, Filipo Daugunu.
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