Wallabies coach Eddie Jones picks rookie Ben Donaldson at fullback

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said he wanted to bring change to Australian rugby and he’s been true to his word with his first World Cup team.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says his team is ready to ‘take off’. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones declared his new-look team was “ready to take off” as he confirmed extra goalkicking skill was the catalyst for his shock selection of Ben Donaldson at fullback for the opening World Cup clash with Georgia.

Donaldson, 24, has played just three Tests and only started once but replaces Andrew Kellaway as one of three changes to Jones’s side from the one that lost to France in the final lead-up match.

All three changes were in the backline, with Samu Kerevi overcoming his broken hand to return to inside centre, with superstar Marika Koroibete regaining his spot.

Donaldson’s selection has come out of the blue, included in the least experienced Wallabies team (343 caps) since Jones’s last time in charge, in 2003 when his team thrashed Romania in Adelaide in the home World Cup.

Ben Donaldson is a shock selection. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Jones revealed the plan around Donaldson had been a few weeks in the making and backed his young outfit to get the job done.

“It’s our best team,” Jones said on Thursday afternoon at the Stade de France.

“It’s 20 years since Australia’s picked a young team like this, and it shows a changing of the guard. This is a new team that wants to take Australian rugby forward.”

“(Donaldson) has been training with us for six to eight weeks mostly at fullback rather than 10.

“His goalkicking has been at a high standard, which obviously gives us two (options)for the game. With Nic White off the bench, it gives us three for the game. That’s an area we’ve needed to bolster, hence the selection.”

Jones said addressing the goalkicking issues, after Carter Gordon struggled badly against France, was a key area of improvement.

“We need to bolster the goalkicking, that’s evident, and that’s why (Donaldson) is in the team,” he said.

Bring it on 💪

Your first team of the #RWC2023 is locked in 🔒#Wallabiespic.twitter.com/qfR92GgFN6

— Wallabies (@wallabies) September 7, 2023

The Wallabies enter the match winless in five Tests this year but Jones has remained positive throughout, sticking to his plan to usher change throughout the team and Australian rugby.

Having compared the Wallabies to a Datsun 1200 in July, Jones was confident the improvements since had turned them into an “F1” car.

“Whatever car you like in F1. The fast one. We’re just about ready to take off, mate,” he said.

“It’s been a really good progression. We went through a period where we had to almost restructure the team to get ourselves in a position where we think we can win the World Cup.

“It would be unfair for me to say I knew where the team was going to end up because we’re just starting to understand our strengths as a team. We’re going to develop a reasonably unique style of play that suits us. We’re ready to go. We’re just ready for the lights.”

Wallabies team to play Georgia at Stade de France, Paris

Saturday, September 9, 6pm CET/2am Sunday AEST

1. Angus Bell (24 Tests)

2. David Porecki (15 Tests)

3. Taniela Tupou (49 Tests)

4. Richie Arnold (5 Tests)

5. Will Skelton (c) (29 Tests)

6. Tom Hooper (4 Tests)

7. Fraser McReight (13 Tests)

8. Rob Valetini (35 Tests)

9. Tate McDermott (vc) (26 Tests)

10. Carter Gordon (5 Tests)

11. Marika Koroibete (55 Tests)

12. Samu Kerevi (45 Tests)

13. Jordan Petaia (28 Tests)

14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (7 Tests)

15. Ben Donaldson (3 Tests)

Finishers

16. Matt Faessler (2 Tests)

17. Blake Schoupp (1 Test)

18. Zane Nonggorr (3 Tests)

19. Rob Leota (17 Tests)

20. Langi Gleeson (4 Tests)

21. Nic White (63 Tests)

22. Lalakai Foketi (6 Tests)

23. Suliasi Vunivalu (3 Tests)