Schmidt hands Lonergan first Wallabies start as untested halves pairing faces Ireland

Joe Schmidt has selected an untested halves combination for Australia’s Nations Championship opener against Ireland, handing Ryan Lonergan his first Wallabies start alongside Carter Gordon at fly-half — a pairing that has never shared a pitch at any level of rugby.

Schmidt acknowledged the unusual circumstances surrounding the selection at his Thursday press conference, revealing the squad has managed only four training sessions together over the past two weeks. “It doesn’t sound like a lot because it’s not a lot, but it’s all we’ve got and you take what you’ve got and you make the most of it,” the coach said. “I think those two guys have made the most of it.”

Tate McDermott, who has played alongside Gordon at the Queensland Reds, was passed over for a starting berth and will instead provide impact off the bench. Schmidt was clear that the Reds connection carried little weight in the selection process, noting that McDermott had only returned to club rugby late in the season and the pair rarely featured together. “It wasn’t a differential for us as far as the combination they have at the Reds, just because it wasn’t very often that they played together,” he said.

Lonergan, 28, captained the ACT Brumbies against the British and Irish Lions last July and made his Test debut during last year’s Rugby Championship after McDermott was injured in a Bledisloe Cup match in Auckland. He went on to make four further appearances during Australia’s Spring Tour. Schmidt cited the halfback’s form and rhythm coming off a solid Super Rugby Pacific season as the deciding factor. “He’s passing really well. His kicking game is strong. He goal kicks so it’s nice to have that security of another kicker in the team,” the coach said.

The absence of Jake Gordon through injury has narrowed Schmidt’s options at nine, while McDermott continues to work his way back from a long-term injury. “Tate is coming back from a long-term injury so he’s still finding his feet, but we know the value that Tate brought to us last year,” Schmidt added.

Lonergan’s opposite number will be Jamison Gibson-Park, who has been named in Ireland’s starting side. The two halfbacks have been linked in comparison before, and the matchup will be one of the more closely watched duels when the world’s third-ranked side host Australia in the Nations Championship opener.