Despite overhauling their starting side for Saturday’s Test against Georgia, Joe Schmidt says he has “huge respect” for the rising European nation even if Richard Cockerill’s men have “something to say about that”.
As first reported by The Roar on Wednesday, the Wallabies unveiled ten changes for their afternoon fixture at Allianz Stadium against the 12th-ranked nation.
The sweeping changes are just one less than the number Dave Rennie made to his Wallabies side for their historic first loss to Italy in 2022.
The 28-27 defeat in Florence was the moment Rennie officially lost the support of the Rugby Australia board. He was sacked two months later despite finishing the 2022 season with a come-from-behind victory over Wales in Cardiff.
After consecutive victories over Warren Gatland’s Wales, a shell of the side that thumped the Wallabies 40-6 last year in Lyon to end Eddie Jones’ World Cup campaign, Schmidt ultimately decided that Saturday’s final Test of July – and last before The Rugby Championship – was critical for learning more about his wider squad.
“I think today we lacked a little bit of cohesion because when you do make those many changes, you do lose a bit of your rhythm and that’s a risk for us,” Schmidt said after a shaky Thursday morning session, which went well overtime after several clangers on the field at Concord Oval.
“But if we don’t do it, then we’re not quite sure where we sit with some of the guys in the squad and you don’t know, when you’re going to lose someone, if you’ve got someone in a particular position. So you’ve got to keep growing your depth.
“We’ve got a very short-term focus, long-term view, and I know that’s a paradox but it’s a paradox that you almost have to employ so that you best vaccinate against future injury or future changes or form.”
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says he’s “nervous” ahead of Saturday’s Test against Georgia but adds that he has “huge respect” for the rising European nation. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
For a nation battling trauma following last year’s disaster, it seems indulgent to make so many changes after a year of experimenting on the international stage which culminated in just two victories from nine matches.
One of those victories came against Georgia, with Jones’ men running out 35-15 winners at the Stade de France in Paris on the opening weekend of the World Cup.
Yet, the 20-point victory was only sewn up when Ben Donaldson crossed for his second try late in the match.
Indeed, early in the second half Georgia had all the running before a fortuitous try against the run of play to Donaldson saw the Wallabies breathe a massive sigh of relief.
Schmidt, who has admitted he’s “never been less prepared” heading into his first few matches in charge of a team and “nervous”, described the mass changes as a balancing act and was by no means a sign of arrogance heading into their clash.
“It’s an impossible balance to get dead right because you’re not sure until the team goes out there that you’ve done the right thing,” he said. “We have huge respect for Georgia.
“We’d predict that they won’t have as many changes, anything like as many changes, and they will see an opportunity, especially on the back of recent wins – Wales, Italy, last weekend against Japan – and even some of the other big teams where they’ve definitely been in the game for a long time.
“I guess people just have to have faith in the changes and we’ve got faith in the changes.
“We do believe that we’re putting a good side out and they’ll demonstrate that, but I’m sure the Georgians will have something to say about that.”
The Wallabies have made 10 changes to their starting side from the one that beat Wales in Melbourne. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Although Schmidt’s comments are reflective of a man in a no-win situation – win and it’s expected, lose and they will be crucified – the Wallabies have paid the price for experimenting in the past.
Indeed, Robbie Deans’ side stumbled against Samoa and Scotland in consecutive years in 2011 and 2012 after handing out several new caps.
Michael Cheika also paid the price of experimenting against Scotland at Allianz Stadium in 2017, while Rennie’s worst moment came after making 11 changes to the starting side against Italy at the midpoint of his taxing five-Test tour.
The Wallabies react following their loss to Italy at Stadio Artemio Franchi on November 12, 2022 in Florence. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Schmidt once again reiterated that he was “nervous” about the encounter but added that the combinations throughout the squad gave him confidence of coming through the banana skin clash.
“I said last week, I’m always worried,” Schmidt said. “I don’t think that changes for me at all.
“I’m nervous about how things will pan out and how the game will pan out.
“But we’ve got a lot of combinations in there. You’ve got Billy Pollard having his first start but [Brumbies teammate] Allan Alaalatoa is right alongside him.
“So, yeah, I’m nervous. But I don’t think there’s a real nervousness in the team. I think there’s a real… I detect there’s an excitement. They just want to go out and they want to get into the game and start playing.
“And when you’ve got a team like that, I’m a little bit excited as well. There’s always that… trying to find that equilibrium between a nervousness and an anticipation around what they hopefully will deliver.”
Meanwhile, Schmidt confirmed The Roar’s Wednesday report that it was unclear when first-match skipper Liam Wright, who was the biggest bolter to emerge under the new coach, would return after suffering a shoulder injury in the second half against Wales in Sydney.
“His shoulder’s just taken a bit longer than we would have liked,” Schmidt said.
“I don’t know if he’ll make it for the Reds-Tonga game, but he just wasn’t in time for us this week and we’ll just see how that pans out over the next few weeks.
“We obviously have to name another squad in maybe two and a half weeks’ time and that’ll give us time to just have a look at what this squad has achieved and then build on whatever we feel we need to have for the TRC.”
