The Wallabies are facing a playmaking crisis as they prepare for their penultimate Test under Joe Schmidt's leadership. With Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson both ruled out due to calf injuries, the team is in a precarious situation. This sudden injury crisis has led to a shock debut for Declan Meredith, a 27-year-old rookie, who will take on the No.10 jersey. Meredith's story is an intriguing one; born in Cairns, he moved to Canberra in 2019 and almost gave up his professional dream before being encouraged by his family to persist. The team's situation is further complicated by the injury to Tom Hooper, which means Schmidt has limited options up front. Despite this, the Wallabies have some continuity with experienced players like Ryan Lonergan and Tom Wright, who will be recalled to the fullback position. The French side, led by Fabien Galthié, also has selection headaches, but they are a welcome challenge. The Wallabies will need to rely on their depth and resilience to overcome this injury crisis and perform well against France.
