Morgan Turinui says Joe Schmidt should “turn the page” and pick Ryan Lonergan ahead of Nic White as rugby’s “Johnny Farnham” prepares for “one more tour” to South Africa.
Wallabies halfback White is set for one of the shortest retirements in Test history with the 35-year-old expected to be named in Australia’s Rugby Championship squad on Thursday afternoon.
Jake Gordon’s hamstring injury has opened the door for White to fly to Johannesburg for a date with the world champions at Ellis Park on August 17 (AEST).
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Nic White of the Wallabies walks out onto the field at Accor Stadium. Getty
Wallabies coach Schmidt pulled a selection masterstroke by picking White to start against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday as he sparked the hosts to a morale-boosting 22-12 win in the third Test.
“I think he’ll be toes unable to touch the floor in business class, on the way to Jo’burg,” Turinui quipped on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.
“I think they’ll take him. The Jake Gordon injury they’re very worried about… it’s significant, yeah, I think it’s soft tissue in the legs but it’s troublesome. Is it time to just go Lonergan, come in, let’s go? That’s what I would do.
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Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan of the British and Irish Lions clash with Nic White of the Wallabies. Getty
“But Whitey off the back of that, he was one inch off man of the match (in Sydney). Like the perfect controlled game, in the perfect conditions, with the right style of player. I think they’ll do it.”
It’s a bizarre situation after White spoke at length during a retirement press conference last week and Schmidt joined his players in wearing tribute fake moustaches to the captain’s run.
Tate McDermott continues to be favoured as a specialist bench weapon when games open up in the second half while the 27-year-old Lonergan continues to knock on the door as a consistent general for the ACT Brumbies.
NEW PODCAST! Matt Burke, Morgan Turinui and Sean Maloney wrap up a massive Lions tour that finished with a dramatic Wallabies win at a soldout Accor Stadium
All three halfbacks are expected to tour.
“I’d probably go Lonergan (in the 23),” Turinui said.
“There’s a reason why he’s (White) gone, ‘You know what, I’m done.’ Can you get emotionally up again like you did on the weekend?
Ryan Lonergan of the Brumbies scores a try. Getty
“But if we’re going to turn a page, we might as well turn it now, and we all rate Lonergan. It’s not like you’ve got nothing there. He’s a gun.”
Schmidt has already signposted that White is set to play on.
“Whitey will rival me, maybe in terms of being kind of like Johnny Farnham,” Schmidt quipped, referencing his own failed attempts to retire from coaching.
“There’s one more tour and Jake did pick up a little bit of a hamstring right at the end of training on Thursday and so we’re just tracking and seeing how that goes.
“We’re not going to take risks with people.”
Ben Donaldson is set to wear No.10 against South Africa after Tom Lynagh’s concussion against the Lions.
Tane Edmed is set to be recalled to the squad as playmaking cover while Will Skelton is also expected to be included.
Meanwhile, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus is vowing not to underestimate Australia despite being overwhelming favourites.
“We’ve got to be careful. We’re facing an Australian side that will have more rounded players, and who play with greater intensity,” Erasmus said.
Joe Schmidt wearing a fake moustache in honour of the last international match for Nic White. Getty
“After the British and Irish Lions series… they’ll be battle-ready. A really competitive Australian team will come here and we can’t underestimate them.”
SPRINGBOKS SQUAD TO PLAY WALLABIES
Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse.