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Wallabies regain juggernaut, O'Connor relegated for Bledisloe II
Justin Chadwick, AAP • October 3rd, 2025 7:58 am
The big man is back: Taniela Tupou (l) accompanies Will Skelton (r), who returns for the Wallabies | Photo: James Ross/AAP
Wallabies enforcer Will Skelton and scrumhalf Jake Gordon have been handed starts for Saturday night's sold-out Bledisloe Cup clash with New Zealand in Perth, but James O'Connor has been dropped to the bench.
Skelton has flown in from France to bolster the Wallabies as they attempt to bounce back from last week's 33-24 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Also among the five changes to the starting line-up was the inclusion of playmaker Tane Edmed, resulting in O'Connor shifting to the bench.
The inclusion of Tane Edmed (pic) means James O'Conner will start on the bench | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
O'Connor missed two touchline kicks from penalties against the All Blacks last week, but Schmidt still thinks the 35-year-old will add huge value to the side, albeit from the bench this week.
"With the experience that James brings, we still see that as being important," Schmidt said.
Halfback Tate McDermott was among the outs after tearing his hamstring so badly last week it requires surgery.
Gordon has recovered from his own hamstring injury to replace McDermott in the starting side, with last week's debutant Ryan Lonergan named on the bench.
It means Nic White, who came out of retirement this week for a second time in order to link up with the Wallabies at training, won't be needed for Saturday's match.
Filipo Daugunu earns his first start of the year on the left wing, while Allan Alaalatoa starts at tighthead prop in front of an expected crowd of more than 55,000 fans.
The return of back-to-back John Eales Medallist Rob 'Bobby' Valetini (calf) on the bench means there was no room for hometown hero Carlo Tizzano.
"To be fair to Carlo, he shrugged his shoulders and said, 'Oh well, yeah, Bobby's Bobby'," Schmidt said.
"Carlo's been going really well for us, and that meant that it's hard to leave him out.
"But at the same time, you earn the right to get back into the gold jersey and with what Bobby has done for us in recent years, it's hard to argue that he's not a guy who demands a place in the 23, if not the 15 when he's fully fit."
Saturday's match will mark James Slipper's 151st and final Test match, with the 36-year-old Wallabies prop announcing on Wednesday he will be retiring from international rugby after that.
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Australia must defeat NZ and rely on Argentina upsetting South Africa in order to have a chance at winning the Rugby Championship.
With just one round to play, South Africa top the standings on 15 points, with NZ (14) and Australia (11) also in the running.
Given South Africa's superior points differential, the Wallabies will likely need a bonus-point win to have a chance at claiming the silverware.
The Wallabies can't win the Bledisloe Cup after losing the series opener last week on the back of some controversial refereeing decisions.
The All Blacks have made six changes to their run-on side, with veteran flyhalf Beauden Barett (shoulder) and prop Ethan de Groot (concussion) among the outs.
Prop Tyrel Lomax (broken thumb) and winger Caleb Clarke (ankle) will also miss through injury.
Damian McKenzie has been handed the No.10 jersey, while winger Leicester Fainga'anuku will play his first Test since the 2023 World Cup.
Wallabies team to play All Blacks
15. Max Jorgensen, 14. Harry Potter, 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12. Len Ikitau, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 10. Tane Edmed, 9. Jake Gordon, 8. Harry Wilson, 7. Fraser McReight, 6. Tom Hooper, 5. Will Skelton, 4. Nick Frost, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Billy Pollard, 1. James Slipper.
Bench: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. Tom Robertson, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Jeremy Williams, 20. Rob Valetini, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Josh Flook.
