Despite the multiple hurdles ahead of them, it was reassuring to hear Tane Edmed and Joseph Suaalii talk with a degree of measured confidence this week before the Wallabies’ end-of-year tour.
There have been signs of incremental progress with the Wallabies this year, but bigger steps might require personnel change and the Waratahs’ pair are the most obvious players Joe Schmidt could turn to when he reveals his grand slam squad next week.
Schmidt, who runs a tight ship with his communications, notably even asked if he “had the right group” in his immediate debrief of the Rugby Championship campaign after the second Bledisloe test.
That remark stood out, and while the clock is ticking rapidly before the British and Irish Lions arrive next year, Schmidt was indicating an open mind to some form of change for the Tests against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Edmed and Suaalii would both be in my 36-man Wallabies squad, as would Will Skelton, Samu Kerevi (fitness permitting) and the returning Liam Wright.
There is a bit of juggling between the Wallabies squad and the Australia XV side that will face Bristol and England, but I would be sorely tempted to play Edmed and Suaalii in one of those fixtures but otherwise immerse them in the full squad.
Tane Edmed is worthy of consideration for a Wallabies berth.Credit: Getty Images
This is a difficult balancing act. While it might appear easy to drop players in and out of the Australia XV squad, the fixtures don’t line up as you might imagine.
For example, the Australia XV game against England A doesn’t occur until the weekend after the Wallabies play England at Twickenham, and on the same day the Wallabies are playing Wales in Cardiff.
Splitting the squads, therefore, will be a necessity and the time that Suaalii spends with Australia A will invariably cut into the time he spends with the Wallabies.
The equation for Edmed is slightly different: he is already familiar with many of the players, and you could argue he could go straight into the Wallabies 23 for their opening tour fixture against England, but you also want to set him up to succeed.
He might actually benefit from starting for Australia A against Bristol the day before the England Test, just to get himself into the groove with the structures, before rejoining the Wallabies squad.
Edmed is starting behind the other No.10s in Wallabies contention after missing out on the Rugby Championship squad: that is a material consideration to factor in regardless of how you view his individual ability.
Suaalii’s starting point will surely be in the outside backs, and most likely on the wing, where Marika Koroibete’s form struggles have opened up a possible gap in the squad.
While Suaalii could end up in the midfield, it is often forgotten that Sonny Bill Williams had been in rugby for three or four years with Toulon, Canterbury, the Crusaders and the All Blacks before really finding his sweet spot in the Chiefs No.12 jersey in 2012.
Possible Wallabies squad
Forwards (20)
Hookers: Matt Faessler, Lachlan Lonergan, Brandon Paenga-Amosa
Props: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Isaac Kailea, Zane Nonggorr, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou
Second-rowers: Josh Canham, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Jeremy Williams
Back-rowers: Langi Gleeson, Fraser McReight, Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright
Backs (16)
Halfbacks: Jake Gordon, Tate McDermott, Ryan Lonergan
No 10s: Ben Donaldson, Noah Lolesio, Tane Edmed
Midfielders: Josh Flook, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Hamish Stewart, Samu Kerevi
Outside backs: Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph Suaalii, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Wright
Williams made his debut in 2010 – coincidentally against England in the first Test of a grand slam tour – but the All Blacks went back to Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith in 2011.
Further tweaks to the squad include the returns of the Lonergan brothers to replace Nic White and Josh Nasser.
At 34, White’s competitive fire still burns brightly but Lonergan was something of an unlucky exclusion from the Rugby Championship and the Brumbies always seemed to operate at their best when Lonergan and Lolesio were pulling the strings in tandem.
Ben Donaldson is retained ahead of Tom Lynagh on account of his greater versatility, with Lolesio and Edmed filling out the other spots at No 10.
Can the Wallabies spring a surprise on a grand slam tour in which they will be heavy underdogs? A 2-2 record would be enough to win back some respect.
