Outgoing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is feeling a tad lost ahead of his final Test in charge, but he's backing the bold selection calls he's making on the way out.
The Wallabies will be aiming to snap a six-game losing streak when they face world No.10 Italy in Saturday night's Nations Championship clash in Perth.
Last week's debutant Declan Meredith has been retained at flyhalf despite Ben Donaldson recovering from a calf injury.
Fullback Jock Campbell, who was the reserve flyhalf in last Saturday's 42-26 loss to France after starring against Ireland in the No.15 jersey a week earlier, has missed out on a spot in the squad altogether.
In another selection surprise, powerhouse flanker Fraser McReight has been relegated to the bench despite scoring two first-half tries against France.
Schmidt said the fitness doubts surrounding McReight and Donaldson meant naming them on the bench was the best call.
"Fraser had a bit of a knock from the game," Schmidt said on Thursday.
"The flight didn't help. His knee was a bit immobile earlier in the week. He was pretty quiet at training on Tuesday, but he trained really well today.
"And Ben - we didn't know if he'd get through training. It was a fitness test for him on Tuesday.
"His volume was quite low on Tuesday, but he trained fully and hit good speeds today.
"And Declan, I thought he steered us around the field really well ... we were up 21-12 at halftime."
Schmidt has overseen nine losses from the past 10 matches, dropping his overall record at the Wallabies to 11 wins from 30 Tests.
A loss on Saturday night in his final match in charge would result in Schmidt ending his reign with the worst winning percentage of any Wallabies coach in the professional era.
"It's been incredibly frustrating, and it's been frustrating because I just keep feeling that we're not far off," Schmidt said of the recent losses.
"I know people will look at the stark results, and that's how you're judged.
"But the number of tries we're scoring, the improvements we've seen in some of our set-piece work, I do feel like the brand of rugby we play is part of what's bringing crowds back to the game."
Wallabies players have vowed this week to send off Schmidt and assistant coach Laurie Fisher on a high.
Fraser McReight has a first-half double ✌️
— Stan Sport Rugby (@StanSportRugby) July 11, 2026
↳ Nations Championship. Every Match. Live & On Demand. Wallabies available in 4K.#StanSportAU #NationsChampionship pic.twitter.com/9ujBDcqpez
The man himself has mixed emotions heading into his final game in charge.
"Outside of feeling nervous, I'm feeling a little bit lost," Schmidt said.
"I guess I'm partly looking forward to being able to get a little bit more sleep and spend a little bit more time with family.
"We head up to Dublin. I've got a grandson who's coming up eight months old that I haven't met yet, apart from on FaceTime regularly."
In other selection news, Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero is in line to make his Wallabies debut after being named on the bench.
Amatosero was suspended earlier this year after fracturing the face of his Waratahs teammate Angus Scott-Young during an ugly training ground fight.
Harry Potter has been named on the wing to replace the injured Dylan Pietsch (calf).
Italy are also winless in the Nations Championship, falling to Japan (27-10) and New Zealand (47-17).
They will be without star second rower Niccolo Cannone after he copped a four-match ban for headbutting.
WALLABIES: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, Declan Meredith, Ryan Lonergan, Harry Wilson (capt), Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Josh Canham, Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell. Reserves: Billy Pollard, James Slipper, Zane Nonggorr, Miles Amatosero, Fraser McReight, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu.
