It might be the most important Test all year but Joe Schmidt has decided to continue to test his depth ahead of next year’s Lions series.
Despite being unbeaten halfway through their Grand Slam tour, the first-year Wallabies coach has made six changes for Monday’s (12:20am AEDT) Test against Scotland at Murrayfield.
As revealed by The Roar on Thursday, Schmidt has called up Carlo Tizzano in place of Fraser McReight at openside flanker while also handing Harry Potter a debut. The 26-year-old will make his first Test appearance on the wing, with Max Jorgensen returning to the bench.
As expected, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii returns to the midfield to accompany Len Ikitau after Samu Kerevi copped a three-match ban for his high shot on Welsh flanker Jac Morgan.
The other change in the backline sees Jake Gordon return at halfback, with Nic White dropping out of the matchday squad.
Carlo Tizzano will play his first Test in three months after being named to take on Scotland. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
There are two changes in the forward pack, with Jeremy Williams coming in for Nick Frost after a busy Test campaign in 2024.
Harry Wilson, meanwhile, not only returns to the back-row but once again takes on the captaincy duties. His return from concussion sees Rob Valetini shift to blindside flanker and Seru Uru drop out of the matchday squad despite a promising display in Cardiff during the Wallabies’ record 52-20 win over Wales.
On the bench, loose-head prop Isaac Kailea comes in for James Slipper, who was forced off in Cardiff.
It’s otherwise a settled bench, which will once again see the powerful figures of Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Lukhan Salakai-Loto come off the bench. Taniela Tupou remains sidelined.
“The week has been complicated, with the freezing conditions ruling out training fields but the group have adapted well to the situation,” Schmidt said in a press release.
“The core of the Scotland team has been together for a number of years. They’re cohesive and combative and we will need to be at our best on Sunday.”
Joe Schmidt has made six changes for the Wallabies’ clash against Scotland at Murrayfield. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Although a few changes to the backline were expected after Kerevi’s ban and Dylan Pietsch’s tour-ending injury suffered against England, the decision to bring in McReight is a big one.
McReight, 25, had arguably been the Wallabies’ best in 2024 and the perfect foil between the backs and forwards.
But in a match expected to go down to the wire, with a six-day turnaround to follow ahead of their clash against Ireland in Dublin, Schmidt has opted to give his regular openside a breather.
The ballsy decision sees Tizzano, who proved his worth during The Rugby Championship when the Wallabies rookie made 57 tackles without a miss during his opening three Tests, return to the back-row.
Schmidt is banking on the gritty back-rower to inject some fresh physicality to the contest in an encounter expected to be won and lost at the breakdown.
Potter, who won the English Premiership with Leicester under Steve Borthwick before moving to the Western Force, is the 18th Wallabies debutant in 2024 – the most in a single year since 1928 and 1920.
Should the Wallabies beat Scotland it will put Schmidt’s side on the precipice of writing themselves into Australian sporting folklore, as they attempt to become just the second Australian rugby side to win the Grand Slam by beating England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland on the one tour.
Wallabies vs Scotland at Murrayfield
1. Angus Bell (34 Tests)
2. Matt Faessler (14 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (78 Tests)
4. Jeremy Williams (9 Tests)
5. Will Skelton (31 Tests)
6. Rob Valetini (50 Tests)
7. Carlo Tizzano (4 Tests) –
8. Harry Wilson (c) (20 Tests)
9. Jake Gordon (27 Tests)
10. Noah Lolesio (27 Tests)
11. Harry Potter*
12. Len Ikitau (37 Tests)
13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (2 Tests)
14. Andrew Kellaway (37 Tests)
15. Tom Wright (35 Tests)
Substitutes
16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (18 Tests)
17. Isaac Kailea (6 Tests)
18. Zane Nonggorr (9 Tests)
19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (39 Tests)
20. Langi Gleeson (12 Tests)
21. Tate McDermott (39 Tests)
22. Ben Donaldson (15 Tests)
23. Max Jorgensen (5 Tests)
*denotes uncapped