Melbourne – Charlie Cale will make his Wallabies starting debut against Wales as one of five changes by Joe Schmidt for Saturday’s rematch at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
After making an eye-catching debut during last week’s 25-16 win over Wales in Sydney, Cale has come in for Liam Wright, whose dramatic fortnight took another turn in recent days.
The Queensland back-rower became the least experienced Wallaby to captain his nation since Ken Catchpole in 1961 when Schmidt turned to him for his maiden Test.
But, as The Roar first revealed on Wednesday, it’s believed a shoulder injury has forced the 26-year-old to miss the second Test in Schmidt’s new-look Wallabies side. The New Zealand coach is expected to confirm the injury in his Thursday afternoon press conference.
There are four changes on the bench, with hooker Josh Nasser to debut, back-rower Langi Gleeson to fill the vacancy left by Cale and a new-look halves combination with Nic White and Ben Donaldson offering cover for Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio.
As touted, James Slipper will once again lead the Wallabies 12 months after Eddie Jones named him co-captain alongside Michael Hooper for the start of The Rugby Championship.
Despite the captaincy merry-go-round, which has seen seven Wallaby captains in 11 Tests, Schmidt wasn’t prepared to let the cat out of the bag on the radio on Wednesday, saying he was keen to find out more about the leadership inside the Wallabies group.
“To be determined because… we’re looking under the hood,” he said on SEN.
“We’re just seeing how we best put a team together and what the leadership looks like of that team and how we play. And I guess we’ll find out a lot in this three-match series.
“So one down, two to go. And Melbourne on Saturday night will give us another indication of some of the leadership that we’ve noticed in the first Test, flowing through into the second Test and beyond.”
Charlie Cale came off the bench in Sydney to make his Wallabies debut. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images for ARU)
Cale, the dynamic back-rower who made his debut for the Brumbies early last year, will wear the No.8 jersey, with his Super Rugby teammate Rob Valetini shifting to the blindside flanker in the only changes to the starting XV.
The 23-year-old was the breakout forward in Australian rugby in 2024, featuring prominently in the lineout, at the breakdown and on the fringes for the Brumbies under Stephen Larkham.
Indeed, the loose-forward’s ability to finish tries turned many heads, with one solo try against the Rebels in Melbourne, where he outsprinted former Australian Sevens flyer Lachie Anderson, a standout.
Waratahs back-rower Gleeson was a surprise inclusion, with Schmidt opting against Hooper, who featured heavily under Jones last year, despite no openside flanker cover.
Ten months after wearing the No.10 jersey against Wales during their dreaded 40-6 loss in Lyon, Donaldson has returned via the bench after a hamstring injury to playmaker Tom Lynagh, who had a fine showing on debut last week.
Nasser, meanwhile, is poised to become Wallaby 979 should he come off the bench in Melbourne.
It will continue the 25-year-old’s inspiring journey, having been plagued by several injuries in recent years including a devastating ankle setback.
“There were moments there [when I thought the Wallabies dream was over],” Nasser told reporters in Brisbane last month.
“I had a pretty nasty injury sort of a couple of years ago now. It was tough to come back from those points last year.
“I didn’t play much footy, but there were points where I thought, is this ever going to sort of come good? Thankfully, [with] the [help of the] medical staff at the Reds, it did.
“I played all 15 games this year, so that was a big goal of mine at the start of the year to look after my body, and I think I’m still standing here now, so I’m feeling pretty good.”
Josh Nasser (2nd left) is expected to be named in the Wallabies’ team to take on Wales in Melbourne. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Nasser was a nervous young man last month when he received the good news that he had been selected in Schmidt’s maiden extended Wallabies squad.
He was sitting with his mother when the email came through.
It wasn’t long before his father, who played alongside Lynagh, told him to get on the blower.
“When he found out the news, he was actually on the blower [with Michael Lynagh], so they were all pretty fired up,” Nasser said.
“He’s been pretty excited for me … and just keen for me to get into it.”
He added: “It’s been a goal of mine for my whole life, ever since I started playing rugby as a young kid to make a Wallabies squad but then get the opportunity to play [would be something else].
“The work begins now, but, yeah, very thrilled.”
Wallabies team to play Wales at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Saturday 13 July, 7:45pm AEST
1. James Slipper (c) (135 Tests) – Bond Pirates
2. Matt Faessler (6 Tests) – USQ Saints
3. Taniela Tupou (51 Tests) – Brothers Rugby
4. Jeremy Williams (1 Test) – Wahroonga Tigers
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (31 Tests) – Randwick
6. Rob Valetini (40 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
7. Fraser McReight (18 Tests) – Albany Creek Brumbies
8. Charlie Cale (1 Test) – Beecroft Junior Rugby Club
9. Jake Gordon (21 Tests) – Canterbury Berries
10. Noah Lolesio (18 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
11. Filipo Daugunu (8 Tests) – Wests Bulldogs
12. Hunter Paisami (25 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
13. Josh Flook (1 Test) – Brothers Rugby
14. Andrew Kellaway (27 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
15. Tom Wright (26 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles
Substitutes
16. Josh Nasser** – Easts Tigers
17. Isaac Kailea (1 Test) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
18. Allan Alaalatoa (68 Tests) – West Harbour Juniors
19. Angus Blyth (1 Test) – Casuarina Beach Rugby Club
20. Langi Gleeson (5 Tests) – Harbord Harlequins
21. Nic White (66 Tests) – Maitland Blacks
22. Ben Donaldson (7 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles
23. Dylan Pietsch (1 Test) – Leeton Phantoms
**denotes potential debut