The day after announcing the squad for the match against France on Saturday, Australia coach Joe Schmidt had to make two changes to his starting XV due to injuries.
Australia could possibly end their Northern Hemisphere Tour without a win for the first time since 1958 if they lose this Saturday against France at the Stade de France. Beaten in England (25-7), Italy (26-19) and Ireland (46-19), the Wallabies are not doing well, and they have suffered another hard blow, with the injuries to Carter Gordon and Billy Pollard. Although they had been announced as starters against the Blues on Thursday, the fly-half and the hooker were forced to withdraw, due to quadriceps and hip pain respectively.
Carter Gordon, the Gold Coast player, who was to be lined up alongside his namesake Jake Gordon, played against Italy on his return from injury two weeks ago, but aggravated his injury on this occasion. The last training session was inconclusive. Ditto for Pollard, the Brambies player who played for La Rochelle in 2003. Having entered the game last week in Ireland, he continues to suffer from hip pain.
Edmed and Faessler will start
“I thought Carter trained very well, managed the team well and kicked the ball well in practice. So yes, he is a promising player and we have Tane to support him,” the coach confided during his press conference on Thursday. To replace them, he called on Tane Edmed (9th selection) and Matt Faessler (18th), while Hamish Stewart (1 selection) and Josh Nasser (10 selections) will take their place on the bench. Remember that in the event of a defeat, draw or victory by less than 16 points, Australia will not be seeded at its World Cup in 2027.
Australia’s starting XV: Jorgensen – Potter, Suaalii, Ikitau, Pietsch – Edmed, J.Gordon – Wilson (cap), McReight, Hooper – Frost, Williams – Tupou, Faessler, Bell
The replacements: Nasser, Ross, Alaalatoa, Valetini, Tizzano, Thomas, Daugunu, Stewart
