Joe Schmidt was satisfied with the Wallabies’ scrappy 19-15 win over a “gritty” Japanese side, but the experienced coach says he’ll likely have to send an SOS home ahead of next weekend’s return to Twickenham.
The Wallabies not only lost versatile prop Tom Robertson (suspected concussion) late in the second half, but locks Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (suspected rib injury) and Josh Canham (concussion) inside 22 minutes of the Test.
The loss of two of the Wallabies’ three locks meant Western Force captain Jeremy Williams played 80 minutes, while he was joined serviceably in the second-row by his Super Rugby teammate and acting captain Nick Champion de Crespigny.
But with regular Nick Frost the only other lock in the squad, Schmidt said he would have to call up another second-rower to join the Wallabies in London.
“With England, they’re a strong pack and it just means that we’re light in the second row and we may need to get some reserves dug out from Australia,” Schmidt said.
“Josh Canham obviously won’t be available next week and, as yet, I don’t have the full feedback on Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, but with them being in the same position, I don’t think Nick [Champion de Crespigny] here is that keen to play another 60 minutes at lock, so we’re going to need to find someone else to do it.”
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will likely have to call up a lock from Australia following the double injury blow to locks Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Josh Canham. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Who Schmidt turns to remains to be seen, but it won’t be La Rochelle Will Skelton or Exeter recruit Tom Hooper, given the Test against England is bizarrely outside the international window.
Nor will Schmidt be able to call up former Reds lock Ryan Smith from over in Wales after suffering a fresh back injury recently at training ahead of his debut with Ospreys.
But Schmidt does have an experienced and in-form option in Darcy Swain to call up, who spent time with the Wallabies earlier in the year.
The 28-year-old not only had a strong campaign with the Force, but he was the best on ground for Australia A during their demolition of the Japan XV in Osaka last weekend.
The lock, who played the last of his 17 Tests in late 2022, stole a couple of lineouts and scored twice during their 71-7 win.
In-form lock Darcy Swain could be primed to re-join the Wallabies. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
He also has a readymade combination with Williams, having been the best defensive lock pairing in this year’s Super Rugby competition. He also spent years playing alongside Frost at the Brumbies.
Those combinations could prove telling, especially given England’s traditional strength at the set-piece and particularly under former captain and lock Steve Borthwick.
It’s not just in the second-row where Schmidt will make changes, with the experienced coach not risking tight-head props Allan Alaalatoa (back) and Taniela Tupou (foot).
Loose-forwards Fraser McReight and regular captain Harry Wilson, who came off the bench, will also likely return to the starting side.
Code-hopper Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will also likely return at outside centre, having made his spectacular debut against England at the venue 12 months ago.
Returning Wallaby Carter Gordon is also expected to return via the bench, having been given another week to familiarise himself after only leaving the Gold Coast Titans earlier this month.
But the sweeping changes of the past few days won’t quite occur next weekend, given the huge list of unavailable stars to overseas clubs and retirement following the Rugby Championship finale in Perth earlier this month.
Before departing Japan, Schmidt said he was pleased with his side’s fight in tough and trying conditions.
“Losing both our locks in the first 20 minutes also made it difficult,” Schmidt said.
“I thought Jeremy Williams did really well, just keeping the line out together and even getting a bit of pressure on theirs, even though he was the last lock standing.
“(Making 13 changes) was a risk, but one calculated around the quality of young men putting their hand up and trying to work their way into the mix for the big games coming up.
“So it was great to get those changes out there and to get guys a bit of game time and to build a bit of confidence at the same time. I really admired the grit.
“We actually had to really roll our sleeves up and keep fighting for that one. In those conditions, it’s just about what we managed to do.”
Christy Doranhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/10/26/reserves-dug-out-wallabies-set-for-sos-ahead-of-england-rematch-after-double-injury-blow/‘Reserves dug out’: Wallabies set for SOS ahead of England rematch after double injury blow
Post a Comment