Debutant named at No.10 as Wallabies playmaker merry-go-round takes another spin

The Wallabies will use their sixth different five-eighth in a year when uncapped playmaker Declan Meredith runs on for his Test debut against France on Saturday.

An extraordinary injury crisis in the five-eighth ranks for the Wallabies, which saw Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson ruled out after suffering calf injuries last week against Ireland, has forced coach Joe Schmidt to turn to Meredith for a high-pressure debut at Suncorp Stadium.

The 26-year-old was confirmed in the Wallabies side when it was named on Thursday.

Meredith was one of only two changes to the starting side, with Tom Wright also recalled to the No.15 role in the place of Jock Campbell. As forecast, Campbell has dropped back to the bench and, in a risky selection, will be the back-up five-eighth for Meredith, despite having never started a professional game in the position during his long career.

Nick Champion De Crespigny has joined the bench, replacing the injured Tom Hooper, and Filipo Daugunu has also been added to the reserves.

Meredith’s selection as five-eighth continues the merry-go-round of players who have worn the Wallabies No.10 jersey over the last 12 months.

Since Noah Lolesio started against Fiji just over a year ago in Newcastle, there have been 11 changes made in the Wallabies No.10 spot in 16 Tests.

Some have come through injury, and others have come through form and selection calls from Schmidt.

After Lolesio was injured, Tom Lynagh, James O’Connor, Tane Edmed, Carter Gordon have all started in the role, and now Meredith. Donaldson has also served as back-up during many of those Tests.

But despite Edmed having played in 10 Tests last year, he was behind Meredith at the Brumbies this year and got limited game time. He was not selected in the wider Wallabies squad last month, and was not given an emergency call-up this week by Schmidt.

O’Connor is even back in Brisbane after moving back to Australia, following a season with the Leicester Tigers.

More to come…

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