Joe Schmidt’s hopes of turning across the Wallabies’ equal largest loss to the Springboks on residence soil in time for subsequent Saturday’s rematch have suffered a large blow, with a trio of gamers, together with winger Filipo Daugunu, to overlook The Rugby Championship conflict in Perth.
Following their 26-point loss in entrance of 52,019 followers at Suncorp Stadium, Schmidt has misplaced winger Daugunu (fractured fibula) and locks Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams (each concussion).
Whereas Frost and Williams will seemingly be match for the upcoming two-Check tour of Argentina, Daugunu’s damage will seemingly see him miss the remainder of the Rugby Championship.
The accidents are one other hit to the Wallabies’ depth shares, with Reds recruit Josh Canham known as up.
Power-based Check forwards Tom Robertson and Sam Carter may even be part of the Wallabies so as to add some additional assets following a bodily battle the place Schmidt’s younger facet was second-best in each space towards the back-to-back world champions.
Nor will the Wallabies seemingly have the ability to name on large prop Taniela Tupou, whose father handed away lately.
The absence of Tupou, specifically, is a mega blow given the Wallabies’ struggles up entrance on the scrum.
Allan Alaalatoa struggled up entrance towards the Springboks whereas the Wallabies aren’t seemingly to have the ability to name on Taniela Tupou. (Photograph by Matt Roberts/Getty Photos)
With out Tupou, the Wallabies’ scrum was recurrently on roller-skates.
The shortage of ahead impetus and penetration on the set-piece and on the whole play meant the Wallabies have been decreased to being a battering ram.
Whereas Schmidt has few choices to show to up entrance, at the very least the Wallabies have a readymade substitute for Daugunu with Marika Koroibete set to return to the left-wing.
Koroibete – the one overseas-based Wallaby included in Schmidt’s 36-man squad – controversially wasn’t chosen after it was deemed that the two-time John Eales Medallist wasn’t in prime bodily form.
However given the bodily shellacking, Schmidt will all however actually flip to the 32-year-old to offer some punch and defensive prowess on the flanks.
Elsewhere, Schmidt will seemingly flip to Tom Hooper so as to add some starch and flexibility within the ahead pack.
Simply who replaces Frost, one of many Wallabies’ greatest throughout their 33-7 loss, stays to be seen with Angus Blyth used all through the July Exams earlier than lacking choice towards the Boks.
Blyth and his new teammate Canham, who confirmed some uncooked physicality and talent to play up a stage throughout their quarter-final loss to the Hurricanes, will seemingly vie for one place within the 23-man squad.
Nick Frost will miss the Wallabies’ return fixture towards the Springboks after copping a head knock at Suncorp Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Brisbane. (Photograph by Matt Roberts/Getty Photos)
Whether or not loose-head prop Angus Bell is match to return stays to be seen, with the star 23-year-old solely lately getting back from a foot damage.
In the meantime, Noah Lolesio will come beneath strain to carry onto his place after one other patchy efficiency the place the Wallabies fly-half struggled to work his method into the match after his ahead pack have been effectively overwhelmed.
However the Wallabies weren’t helped by their wastefulness within the opening 20 minutes the place each Jake Gordon and Lolesio kicked away possession contained in the Springboks’ half.
Schmidt indicated he wouldn’t throw the toys out of the cot and all of the sudden look abroad for solutions, saying he was assured the lads he initially picked might make some enhancements.
“I feel there’s guys who will enhance what they’re delivering,” Schmidt stated.
“Possibly it received’t be improved in time for subsequent Saturday however we do need to have a little bit of a long-term plan.
“Now we have received a a lot youthful facet than the South Africans. We’ve received rather a lot much less caps, we’ve received rather a lot much less expertise and, subsequently, my perception is that if we chop and alter an excessive amount of then it’s very exhausting to develop the cohesion as a result of once you exit in a recreation like that you’re very interdependent and also you’re going to need to guarantee that everybody is aware of their function.
“I’m a realist and I do know that you simply don’t all of the sudden match up, entrance up and higher these guys however you’ve received to raised your self for subsequent week.”
Regardless of the heavy first-up loss, Wallabies rookie Luke Reimer stated there was nonetheless a perception within the facet that they might hit again towards the Springboks.
“There’s moments in that recreation the place you take a look at it and go it’s potential to beat them,” Reimer stated.
“On the finish of the day, it’s whoever turns up. You noticed Eire do it a few weeks in the past. Like I stated, on the finish of the day it’s who turns up.
“There’s undoubtedly alternative round a few of their weaknesses, you’d say. We’ve simply received to have a very good take a look at how we will assault that and implement that into this week shifting ahead.”
