A new key injury has plunged the Wallabies into chaos, as Joe Schmidt’s team, physically and psychologically affected, faces a possible dubious place in Australian sporting history.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa, from outside the team, has answered a distress call from Schmidt to join the bench in the third and final test of Australia against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney on Saturday.
Billy Pollard has been promoted to the starting team after first-line David Porecki was ruled out on Friday due to a leg injury, with Paenga-Amosa hastily joining the camp to join the team.
This late modification comes after star forwards Allan Alaalatoa and Rob Valetini were already ruled out of one of the Wallabies’ most significant tests.
A defeat at Accor Stadium would condemn the Wallabies to their first 3-0 series whitewash at home by the Lions since 1904, following the heartbreaking and controversial 29-26 last-gasp defeat last Saturday in Melbourne.
To compound their problems, Queensland Reds prop Matt Faessler, initially selected ahead of Pollard as reserve hooker, was also ruled out after a calf problem during the week.
But Captain Harry Wilson, defiant, has no doubt that the late replacement will deliver for the Wallabies and their country.
“Brendan joined us yesterday afternoon, obviously after a tough training session on Thursday”.
Harry Wilson
“I’m gutted to lose, I suppose, some big, big players in Porecki and ‘Fez’, but we’ve got a lot of faith in ‘BPA'”.
Harry Wilson
“So he’s very confident and is integrating into the group and fitting in very quickly.” The Wallabies also intend to give Nic White a grand farewell, and the team sported their own versions of the scrum-half’s mustache for Friday’s team photo.“He’s been in this group for quite a while, over the last year, year and a half, and he’s faced the Lions three times already, I think.”
Harry Wilson
“He’s the ultimate competitor, the ultimate team man, especially in the last two years,” Wilson said.
Harry Wilson
“But) once he crosses that white line, he’s a different man. He’s a competitor and he’s loved by the group.” The Lions are aiming to sweep a series in Australia for the first time since 1904, but Wilson insists that there has been no talk of being the first Wallabies team in more than a century to suffer such a fate.“He’s really been leading the group of those not in the 23, and in every training session he encourages the guys. He does whatever is necessary for the team, in every session, in every match”.
Harry Wilson
“We want to win every test match we play,” said Wilson.
Harry Wilson
“Obviously it’s quite unfortunate (this position). Last week we thought we played some pretty good football and put ourselves in a position to win that game”.
Harry Wilson
“But we want to go out and get a result for our country, and we have had a very good week of preparation.”“In the end we didn’t do it, and obviously they want to come out here and be street sweepers”.
Harry Wilson
“We’ve built the week slowly. Everyone was quite down at the start of the week, but we had a very good Tuesday and Thursday and a lot of energy in today’s training from the captain”.
Harry Wilson“The boys can’t wait”.
Harry Wilson
