New captain and Indigenous debutant to mark Joe Schmidt’s first Wallabies team

Joe Schmidt’s first Wallabies team is set to feature a surprise choice as captain, and a landmark Indigenous selection.

Liam Wright has been named as the Wallavies’ new captain. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

A shock new captain and a new Indigenous Wallaby are set to mark Joe Schmidt’s first Test squad.

Queensland’s Liam Wright is tipped to become Australia’s 89th Test rugby captain this Saturday, beating out candidates Allan Alaalatoa and Reds teammates Fraser McReight and Tate McDermott.

Wright, 26, has not started a game for the Wallabies, playing five Tests off the bench in 2019 and 2020, but his sterling leadership and form for the Reds this year is set to see him elevated to the No.6 jersey for Australia and the title of captain.

Schmidt is due to announce his team on Thursday, but this masthead understands the Rugby Australia board has already been asked to approve Wright as captain, as is the practice.

This masthead understands the Rugby Australia board has already been asked to approve Liam Wright as captain. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images for ARU

Wright and McDermott have been co-captains of Queensland for the past three seasons, and the backrower’s immense work ethic, accuracy at the ruck and smart lineout capabilities have impressed club coach Les Kiss, whose input is valued by Schmidt after the pair worked together in Ireland.

Schmidt had said he would wait until this week to determine who should captain his first Wallabies team, wanting to see how players interacted with each other, who stood out as natural leaders, while also taking input from assistant coaches Laurie Fisher, Mike Cron and Geoff Parling.

Will Skelton of Australia looks on as he leads players of Australia to tunnel prior to the Rugby World Cup in France. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Wright was not an obvious choice considering a raft of players in the squad had previously captained the Wallabies including McDermott, Alaalatoa and James Slipper.

Slipper started last year as co-captain alongside Michael Hooper – who announced his rugby retirement last Sunday after failing to make Australia’s sevens squad for the Paris Olympics.

However, then coach Eddie Jones sprung a major shock by then given McDermott the captaincy during The Rugby Championship, then handing it to Will Skelton for the World Cup.

NSW Waratahs and Wallabies player Dave Porecki became Wallabies captain No.88. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

After Skelton was injured during the tournament, Dave Porecki became Wallabies captain No.88. Skelton was not considered for the July series against Wales and Georgia because he’s based overseas, while Porecki is injured.

Meanwhile, it’s also understood that Dylan Pietsch is in line to become Australia’s 15th Indigenous Wallaby, securing a spot on the bench for the match at Allianz Stadium.

The NSW Waratahs winger, a proud Wiradjuri man, recently spoke about how he wants to inspire a new generation of Indigenous athletes to aspire to wear the gold jersey as rugby union falls well behind rugby league and AFL in participation.

The last Indigenous Wallaby debutant was Anthony Fainga’a, who played his first Test in 2010.

This week, Aboriginal star Kurtley Beale ruptured his Achilles, likely ruling him out for the season after being named in Schmidt’s 38-man squad.

Australia rugby union player Dylan Pietsch is poised to become Australia’s 15th Indigenous Wallaby.

But Pietsch is set to carry the torch and follow in the footsteps of the 14 Indigenous men who have played for Australia: Cec Ramalli, Lloyd McDermott, Mark Ella, Glen Ella, Gary Ella, Lloyd Walker, Jim Williams, Andrew Walker, Wendell Sailor, Timana Tahu, Saia Fainga’a, Anthony Fainga’a, Matt Hodgson and Beale.

“There’s only been 14 [so] being the 15th would be really cool,” Pietsch said a fortnight ago when he was named in the 38-man squad.

“Not only just for me but hopefully what it can create for other people and other Indigenous players within rugby.

“It’s probably the main drive, I really want to create change within the sport in that area and I feel like myself, KB (Beale) and (NSW winger) Tristan Riley coming through as well, we’ve got a strong connection to culture.

“We can really drive that and hopefully change a fair bit of what’s gone on in the past and create more than just 15 Wallabies ... create 30, whatever it is. It drives us.”

Pietsch owns his own Indigenous art business, Wulwaay, and has his people’s totem, the goanna, tattooed on his arm along with a kookaburra, representing his grandfather who passed away last year.

Originally published as New captain and Indigenous debutant to mark Joe Schmidt’s first Wallabies team