Tate McDermott makes his return at scrum-half and full-back Ben Donaldson starts at fly-half for Australia’s decisive match against Wales on Sunday in Lyon (9:00 p.m.), in Group C of the 2023 World Cup, according to the Wallabies composition revealed on Friday.
McDermott, victim of a concussion during Australia’s opening match against Georgia, won 35-15, takes his place which he had to leave to Nic White during the historic defeat suffered against Fiji (22-15). Ben Donaldson, starting at full-back during the first two matches, replaces Gordon Carter, who struggled at the opening last Sunday in Saint-Étienne against the Fijians.
“Ben brings composure to the position,” Dan Palmer, one of coach Eddie Jones’ assistants, said at a press conference this week. When Donaldson was repositioned as No.10 during the game against Fiji, Australia, fairly harmless until then, appeared much more dangerous, close to snatching an unexpected draw.
“Against Wales, we need a 10 who attacks the line,” said Eddie Jones on Friday, who also had to justify the dismissal of Gordon, the only professional fly-half in his group. “Carter had an opportunity, he struggled a bit against Fiji,” he admitted. “Young players, sometimes you have to support them and sometimes you have to preserve them, and at the moment we think that ‘it’s better to preserve it a little’.
“Obviously (he’s) disappointed, all the players are disappointed, they all want to start but he knows he has an important role in the team,” Jones stressed.
The experienced Andrew Kellaway, 24 caps, not selected in the group during the first two matches, takes the full-back place in the Wallabies starting XV. Third row Rob Leota, also a substitute at the start of the tournament, started in place of Fraser McReight as flanker. Hooker David Porecki remains captain of the team in the absence of Will Skelton, who is still unavailable with a calf injury.
The rest of the team defeated by the Pacific players remains unchanged. Third in its group, Australia must win on Sunday in Lyon against the Welsh leader, if it wants to qualify for the final stages of the World Cup, always reached during the first nine editions.
Line-up of the Australian XV against Wales:
Kellaway – Nawaqanitawase, Petaia, Kerevi, Koroibete – Donaldson (o), McDermott (m) – T. Hooper, Valetini, Leota – Arnold, Frost – Slipper, Porecki (cap.), Bell
Subs: Faessler, Schoupp, Fa’amausili, Philip, McReight, White, Gordon, Vunivalu
