Joe Schmidt explains surprise Nic White selection for Bledisloe Cup clash

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has explained the decision to promote Nic White to the starting side for this weekend’s Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney, while regular halfback Jake Gordon has dropped out of the matchday 23 altogether.

It was a bit of a surprise to see Gordon named in the No. 9 jersey for Australia’s first Test of the year against Warren Gatland’s Wales, but the New South Welshman quickly put any queries or concerns to rest with a standout performance.

Gordon was sensational during a 63-minute shift in that first Test, and the halfback has since backed that up with starts in the second clash with the Welsh, the first match against world champions South Africa, and both Tests away to Argentina.

Queenslander Tate McDermott has consistently been used as an impact player off the bench by coach Schmidt, while White appeared to be the third-choice scrumhalf. But, before Saturday’s crunch clash with the All Blacks, the 34-year-old is back in the nation’s First XV.

White has been named to start in the halves along with Noah Lolesio for the second time in 2024. The Test veteran’s first appearance in the No. 9 jersey this year was promising, with White performing reasonably well in the defeat to the Springboks at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

“Getting back from Santa Fe took its toll, there were a few boys who were a little bit ill and run down and Nic hadn’t played and he was the freshest so we felt that making an early decision in the week, Nic was best,” Schmidt told reporters.

“Nic has great leadership, all the nines do. They’ve at some (stage) been skippers of their Super Rugby sides so Nic was a pretty good fit and fit with Noah.

“They’re both originally from the Brumbies, they’ve played a fair bit of time together so we felt that combination would be a good one to start us off on Saturday.”

Outside of White and Lolesio, Marika Koroibete and Andrew Kellaway will man the wings while Tom Wright returns from injury at fullback. Brisbane Boys’ College graduate Len Ikitau will line up at outside centre, with Hunter Paisami joining him in the midfield.

While Paisami was named in the Wallabies’ squad for the Bledisloe Cup series, there was a sense of doubt that followed the Queensland Reds’ powerful ball-runner earlier this week. At a press conference, Paisami suggested he wasn’t quite over the line just yet.

If Paisami was to be ruled out of the Test, Western Force playmaker Hamish Stewart would’ve been an option to wear the No. 12 jumper after impressing over in Argentina. But, that’s a hypothetical situation, with Paisami included in the Wallabies’ team on Thursday.

“He got through training on Tuesday and he felt good to go. He’s a really punchy player for us,” Schmidt explained on Thursday.

“I think Hamish Stewart did a really good job, particularly in that first Test in Argentina but Hunter’s experience with Len Ikitau, so we think for cohesion that was a good pairing for us.”