by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt appointed his team of 36 men to face the Fiji and the British and Irish lions, recalling the enigmatic Will Skelton of La Rochelle, rewarding the excessive form of the Crespigny Crespigny Nick champion, and bringing to the giant Laguse of Darcy Swain.
The former star Taniela Tupou had wondered publicly if he had forgotten how to play the game, but Schmidt thinks he can rekindle his glory days. Carlo Tizzano, born in Perth, directed the counting of scores and super rugby tackles all year round. And Sevens Bolter Corey Tole, who marked twice in the loss of the Brumbie semi-finals, seems to make his debut in the test with Tim Ryan du Queensland.
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With half a million fans who are expected to attend nine closed-looking games during this ninth lions tour, Schmidt knows that 2025 must be a GameChanger for Rugby Australia. The tour, a 12 -year -old circus, has to finance the “golden era” of the 2027 male World Cup, the 2029 Women’s World Cup and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
France reported an injection of $ 2.5 billion in their economy after welcoming the RWC 2023, and the Australian tournament in 2027, with an increase in the 24 teams, could be even greater. However, the only currency that counts for fans is success in the field and extended its reign until July 2026 Schmidt adopted a “victory at all costs” creed.
Previously, the 59 -year -old preferred to choose local loyalists rather than foreign players. However, yesterday’s team was remarkable for having presented the Flanker Langi Gleeson (who Schmidt once invited to the camp after having signed to play in France), Flyhalf Noah Golesio (heading to Japan in 2026), the Len Ikitau center and the Tom Hooper (both at the Exeter) and Prop Angus Bell (taking a Sabbatique).
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It is a sign that Schmidt will forgive these double agents if that means maintaining depth. A powerful Lions team lands on Saturday for three tests, four games touring against the state of Australia, as well as two games on invitation featuring a hybrid team in Australia and New Zealand and a Pasifika XV of the First Nations. A high attrition rate is expected along the way, so Schmidt has softened its position on its team tests or its tour games, not both.
Last month, he told the media that he intended to “safeguard” a nucleus of 25 wallabies and release the rest of the team to represent their states or the invitation side to be led by the national coach entering the Kiss. “We do not want to deprive someone the opportunity to play against the lions if they are not going to get the test jersey,” said Schmidt.
By appointing a multitude of injured players-Hooker Matt Faessler (ischio-legs), the winger Max Jorgensen (ankle), Les Mouche de Loesio (HIA) and Tom Lynagh (finger) and the signature of Joseph-Aaukuso Suaalii (Jaw), Schmidt heard Joseph-Aaukuso suaaalii. “To get a match to their credit before coming to the Wallaby camp, maybe the most advantageous situation,” he said.
Wallabies and flying faithful have met 23 times over 73, dividing their first two series in 1952 and 1954 before 69 years and 83 days of Australian supremacy. The banana skin for Schmidt is that this sequence ended at the last team’s meeting, the 39-21 cataclysm in France which sent Australia to the early world of the 2023 World Cup. Despite the retirement of Captain Waisea Nayacalevu, the Fiji has improved since then, beating the country of Wales and almost overwhelming England. Under the new coach Mick Byrne – a former Wallabia assistant from Michael Cheika – they will be ready to punish their hosts again when they face them in Newcastle on July 6.
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Bad omens do not stop there. When Australia played its first test in Newcastle, another calamity ensued. The 2012 Wallabies trained by Robbie Deans and now led Senator David Pocock Braved Rain and 120 km / h of scabies in a ugly defeat of 9-6 against Scotland. The only silver lining that Dark Night was a start of one Michael Hooper.
Hopefully Ghost Story does not appear at the camp, or that of Arthur Seddon, the first captain of the Lions, who drowned in the Hunter River in Newcastle during the 1888 tour. Instead, Schmidt must be busy building combinations and penetrating the brain of his players with a game plan to cancel the United Kingdom’s stars Farrell.
He chose to do it without the “three Amigos”. Active veterans James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale, who almost stolen the 2013 series in Lions, missed the selection, something that the third Amigo, Quade Cooper, warns could come back to bite a team of slim Wallabies on game leaders and need a creative director at 10 years old.
Schmidt has 36 pieces and less than a month to assemble the Wallabies puzzle. There are hungry lions at the door and a lot of Australian pride on the line.
