Eddie Jones was widely panned for sending lambs to the slaughter with an inexperienced Wallabies squad at last year’s Rugby World Cup.
The now Japan coach would later admit he got that wrong and it appeared Australia was set for a more conservative era with new boss Joe Schmidt.
The New Zealander described himself as “boring” and “pragmatic” in his opening press conference but his first Test team to play Wales was anything but.
Watch Wallabies vs Wales, Wallaroos vs Fiji, All Blacks vs England and Springboks vs Ireland, exclusively ad free, live and on demand on Stan Sport
New Wallabies Josh Flook, Dylan Pietsch, Angus Blyth and Tom Lynagh. Getty/Nine
There are seven uncapped players in the matchday 23 and a new captain in Liam Wright who has played just five Tests – and none since 2020.
If all seven take the field at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday it will be the most Wallabies debutants in one Test since 1980.
“Experience is never going to be a solution in itself,” Schmidt said.
READ MORE: Joey can’t understand Roosters signing
READ MORE: Shattered Kokkinakis forced to retire mid match
READ MORE: Eels rookie ’embarrasses’ Eels teammates
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt during a Wallabies training session at David Phillips Sports Complex. Getty
“For me, they’re just seven players. The fact that they haven’t worn a Wallabies jersey before this is relevant. But it’s not going to be pivotal or tip the equilibrium in selection.
“I think they’ve (Wales) been looking for the balance of experience and opportunity. We’ve gone down a similar pathway.”
Here’s what to expect from Schmidt’s Generation Next.
Josh Flook passes the ball during a Wallabies training session at Ballymore Stadium. Getty
JOSH FLOOK
The composed Queensland centre benefited from Len Ikitau’s training injury and has been handed the No.13 jersey.
Brad Thorn compared him to All Blacks great Conrad Smith for his intelligence and accuracy and he has long appealed as a Test prospect.
The biggest concern is a lack of size at Test level – the 22-year-old is listed at just 88kg – but there is no lack of heart.
NEW PODCAST! Michael Atkinson and Tom Decent unpack a Wallabies team featuring a new captain in Liam Wright and a whopping seven debutants
“He’s just a quiet achiever,” Schmidt said.
“You don’t see or hear a huge amount from Josh. But you just see him do the right thing at the right time, a lot of the time. And if he can do that for us on Saturday that would be massive.
“We’ve been really impressed with the way that he’s slotted in very quickly. Good skillset with his passing and kicking skills as well. So it’s a good little package for us that hopefully he’s looking forward to delivering.”
Jeremy Williams handles the ball during a Wallabies training session at David Phillips Sports Complex. Getty
JEREMY WILLIAMS
The Sydney product moved west to get his professional rugby start and he was a surprise appointment as Force captain this season.
Williams can also play at blindside flanker but will form a mobile starting lock combination with the returning Lukhan Salakaia-Loto against Wales.
The 23-year-old stands 195cm, weighs 111kg and claims he would be a jackaroo if he wasn’t a rugby player.
“Professional players nowadays, they’re very good at starting to just close the focus around what’s immediately important,” Schmidt said.
“And that will be the ball in the air and Jeremy going up to catch it. Whatever that action is, I think they’ll be able to isolate the actions that are required rather than the emotion.
“I’ve been impressed with a number of players who are able just to stay focused on what needs to be done rather than getting ruffled or distracted by things that they can’t really control anyway.”
Tom Lynagh looks on during a Wallabies training session at David Phillips Sports Complex. Getty
TOM LYNAGH
The 21-year-old Queensland five-eighth left his family and life in England three years ago to embark on a journey that follows in the prodigious footsteps of his father.
Michael – a Rugby World Cup winner in 1991 – remains Australia’s all time leading points scorer in Tests with 911 from 72 appearances.
“He’s a cool customer, Tom,” Schmidt said after naming Lynagh on his bench.
Michael and Tom Lynagh at Ballymore. Queensland Rugby Union
“You talk to him, he just doesn’t get ruffled. I’ve tried to ruffle him to be fair and put him under a little bit of pressure. But he just doesn’t get ruffled. I love that. And I think the players around him love it. Because what you want is that calm. And that real hub, pivot position, you want someone who’s not going to be ruffled. Who’s going to stay nice and clean and clear in their thinking.
“And then in their delivery or whatever they’re required to do, either side of the ball. I’ve spoken about his courage before. And I don’t have any doubts about him stepping up there. They (Wales) will bring a big direct midfield carry at us. They’ll get Aaron Wainwright running off things and running down channels.
“And Tom is the sort of guy who won’t say anything. He’ll just get on and do it. And if that’s his tackle, then he’ll make that tackle.”
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Blyth and Hamish Stewart during a Wallabies training session. Getty
ANGUS BLYTH
The Reds giant, who weighs 123kg, is a surprise second row selection on the bench ahead of 2023 regular Nick Frost.
Now 26, Blyth was seen by most observers as a solid Super Rugby toiler rather than true Test quality but Schmidt is taking a punt on his massive frame offering value at the next level.
“Angus, he’s just been so enthusiastic,” Schmidt said.
“And he’s 2.05m (tall) but he can play really low to the ground. And a lot of big men struggle to play low to the ground.
“And just with the game the way it is, defensively, particularly in the tackle, just having a guy of his size who can get down and chop nice and low. And be nice and big in the moments we need him to be at lineout time.
“And then be able to get that clean out nice and low. And get that tackle nice and low.”
Charlie Cale poses during an Wallabies portrait session. Getty
CHARLIE CALE
Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa had picked Cale as his breakout player for 2024 and the athletic No.8 didn’t disappoint in Super Rugby.
The 23-year-old Dubbo product turned heads with his speed and athleticism and offers a package similar to that of Stephen Hoiles.
Wallabies legend Tim Horan felt that Cale – 194cm and 105kg – needed to bulk up a bit to handle the demands of Test rugby but Schmidt feels he is ready now.
Charlie Cale of the Brumbies makes a line break at GIO Stadium. Getty
“A young guy like Charlie Cale, he had a little bit of an injury coming out of the end of Super Rugby,” Schmidt said.
“So it was good for us to build him in and slot him in behind someone like Rob Valetini and Liam (Wright) and Fraser (McReight) with his good experience.
“He’ll slot in there somewhere in the second half and bring that athleticism that he’s got to it.”
Dylan Pietsch poses during a Wallabies headshots session at Sanctuary Cove. Getty
DYLAN PIETSCH
The Waratahs winger, a proud Wiradjuri man, is hoping to become just the 15th Indigenous Wallabies player in history.
A former Australian sevens star, Pietsch represented his country at the last Olympics in Tokyo.
The 26-year-old is powerfully built and played No.8 at school before joining Randwick.
Dylan Pietsch of Australia is tackled at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Getty
Morgan Turinui laughs about a call he now accepts he got badly wrong during his time as Randwick club coach.
“I went to sit down with him and say ‘look mate, I don’t think you’re ever going to make it as an outside back – maybe you should go back into the back row’,” Turinui said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.
“It was the year the sevens players all came back to Randwick so we had Lachie Miller, (Henry) Hutchison, (Maurice) Longbottom, Triston Reilly, so we were trying to jigsaw puzzle it. But ‘yeah mate, you might not have a future in the outside backs’.”
Isaac Kailea during a Wallabies training session at Ballymore Stadium. Getty
ISAAC KAILEA
The previously unheralded Rebels prop was perhaps the biggest mover in Australian rugby in 2024.
Kailea, 23, is half Tongan, half Chilean and boasts a 190cm, 129kg frame.
The Victorian only started playing in the front row six years ago when he was convinced to shift from the back row by former Wallabies prop Nic Henderson.
Isaac Kailea and Rob Valetini man the BBQ at Boronia Park. Getty
“He must have seen me running a hill or something and said ‘for you to make that next level, I think a move to prop would be a good idea’,” Kailea told The Saturday Telegraph.
“At the time I was like ‘what the heck is this guy talking about? There’s no way I’m moving to prop, no way.’
“I had talks with my dad, he had a lot of trust in the academy system. He was a bit thrown as well, he wanted me to be a big ball running No.8 for the Wallabies and Melbourne, that’s what he envisioned.”