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He didn’t play a minute at Eden Park, but Tane Edmed has been promoted to the No.10 jersey to take on the All Blacks for Saturday’s Rugby Championship finale in Perth.
The Roar can reveal that the Brumbies-bound playmaker will earn his second Test start, with James O’Connor to come off the bench.
Tom Lynagh, who wore the No.10 jersey in all three Tests against the British and Irish Lions, has once again missed selection.
It’s believed Edmed will team up with Jake Gordon in the halves, with the Waratahs captain to play his first Test since the second Lions Test in late July.
Tane Edmed will start for the Wallabies for the second time this year. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The other change in the backline is the return of Filipo Daugunu on the left-wing, with Corey Toole left out after a couple of quieter matches since his spectacular debut in Cape Town against the world champions in August.
It’s believed Josh Flook will provide cover on the bench.
While the Bledisloe Cup will remain on New Zealand shores for a 23rd straight year, there’s plenty to still play for the Wallabies.
Indeed, The Rugby Championship is still up for grabs, with Australia and New Zealand needing South Africa to slip up against Argentina at Twickenham.
James Slipper, who followed Alun Wyn Jones and Sam Whitelock by reaching the 150 Test milestone during last weekend’s loss across the ditch, could also be the prop’s final international.
The 36-year-old told reporters last weekend at Eden Park that his involvement with the Wallabies beyond The Rugby Championship would come down to whether Joe Schmidt requires him for the spring tour.
“It comes down to what’s best for the team,” said Slipper, who is due to continue with the Brumbies next season. “That’s probably what’s going to make my decision.
“I’ve got a faint idea of what I want to do, but it’s more in terms of what the team needs going into the spring tour.
“At this stage, this will be the last year I’ll be playing. Whether that ends next week or on the spring tour will still be confirmed.”
Saturday’s Test against the All Blacks could be James Slipper’s 151st and final international. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
It’s understood the Wallabies have been preparing like it’s Slipper’s last Test this week, and a coffee with Schmidt this week could determine whether he boards the fight to Japan next month for the first of five end of year Tests.
Wallabies lock Will Skelton, who is expected to return to the 23 for the sold-out fixture at Perth’s Optus Stadium, reiterated the importance of their final domestic Test of the year.
“The Rugby Championship is still up for grabs,” he said. “There’s still a lot to play for.
“Also, playing in the jersey, we’ve got guys who have played 150 games [James Slipper] for this country.
“We want to make everyone in Australia proud of what we do and how we play footy.
“Yeah, the Bledisloe might be gone, but we’re definitely putting everything we can into winning this Rugby Championship.”
The decision to start Edmed means Schmidt has had a different No.10 in each of the past five Tests.
But is also comes after Schmidt decided to keep the 24-year-old on the bench for the entirety of last weekend’s nine-point loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park despite O’Connor’s up-and-down Test.
O’Connor, who was strong in general play and flawless from the kicking tee, struggled kicking from stoppage moments as he failed to find touch from penalties on two occasions and also kicked out on the full from a kick restart.
The missed opportunities ultimately hurt the Wallabies’ chances of keeping the Bledisloe Cup alive and ending the All Blacks’ 51 Test unbeaten streak at the Garden of Eden.
Edmed, who had an up and down starting debut against Argentina last month, wasn’t the first playmaker this season to keep the tracksuit on this international campaign after Ben Donaldson also wasn’t used during the heartbreaking loss at the MCG against the Lions.