Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Declan Meredith is set to debut against France as the reconfigured Wallabies paper the cracks created by more soft-tissue injury carnage in Brisbane.
The ACT Brumbies flyhalf is expected to be named in the team at No.10 later on Thursday to play the back-to-back Six Nations champions at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
And Queensland fullback Jock Campbell, one of the side’s best in his first Test in nearly four years against Ireland a week ago, appears set to be redeployed as a shock playmaking back-up option.
It comes with the first and second-choice No.10s against Ireland – Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson – both suffering calf injuries.
Gordon has been ruled out of the next two Tests against France and Italy, while Donaldson was running laps on the adjoining Ballymore field wearing a compression sleeve on his injured leg on Thursday.
Campbell and Meredith, the 25-year-old from Cairns who impressed in the nation’s capital this Super Rugby Pacific season, were in deep discussions with coach Joe Schmidt before training commenced.
Schmidt considers the in-form Campbell a potential No.10 option, despite him never starting for the Reds in that position.
He’ll likely get the chance to show his playmaking starch on his home ground, with Tom Wright expected to slot into the fullback position and versatile Queensland back Filipo Daugunu a chance to rejoin the team on the bench.
The eighth-ranked hosts will also be without influential flanker Tom Hooper (shoulder) as they attempt to avoid a sixth-straight Test defeat, something they have avoided for 10 years.
Schmidt has not yet replaced Gordon in the squad, however former Reds flyhalf Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, who will join the Western Force next season, has trained with the side this week without being in contention for selection.
