Key events
The two sides are now lined up in the tunnel. The Wallabies in gold jerseys and green shorts, Georgia all in white.
The teams are just making the final touches to their uniforms in the sheds. Our advertised start time of 3:45pm looks to be out by at least 10 minutes.
It is blowing a mighty gale in Sydney this afternoon, which will make for treacherous kicking and handling conditions. It is dry though, and the temperature is comparatively mild considering how frigid it is further south along Australia’s eastern seaboard.
Georgia are coached by former England hooker Richard Cockerill. He’s no mug either, with Premiership success in his homeland with Leicester, and plenty of experience on the international scene.
“We’re happy where we are at,” he told the host broadcaster. “We’ll see how good we are today.
“We want to make sure we get our game right. We knew Australia were going to make lots of changes. We are focused on our game. We know we have to be physical, very good defensively, but we have come here to put our best game on the field and we have come here to win.”
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has made wholesale changes to his team for the rugby Test against Georgia in Sydney on Saturday. Veteran prop Allan Alaalatoa will become the third captain in three weeks, starting in the front-row alongside rookies Isaac Kailea and Billy Pollard.
The trio are among 10 changes to the starting side as Schmidt rotates his squad after the tough 2-0 series sweep over Wales. Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu and Tom Wright are the only remaining faces in the starting 15 from last week’s second Test win against Wales.
Georgia XV
There’s a big late change for the visitors with Georgian skipper Beka Gorgadze failing to pull up after collecting a knock against Japan. Giorgi Tsutskiridze comes off the bench and Beka Saginadze takes over the captaincy.
15. Davit Niniashvili, 14. Aka Tabutsandze, 13. Demur Tapladze, 12. Giorgi Kveseladze, 11. Alexander Todua, 10. Luka Matkava, 9. Milkheil Alania, 8. Tornike Jalagonia, 7. Beka Saghinadze (c), 6. Giorgi Tsutskiridze , 5. Mikheil Babunashvili, 4. Lado Chachanidze, 3. Alexsandre Kuntelia, 2. Vano Karkadze, 1. Giorgi Mamaiashvili
Replacements: 16. Luka Petriashvili, 17. Luka Goginava, 18. Irakli Aptsiauri, 19. Lasha Jaiani, 20. Luka Ivanishvili, 21. Tornike Kakhoidze , 22. Vasil Lobzhanidze, 23. Tedo Abzhandaze
Australia XV
1. Isaac Kailea, 2. Billy Pollard, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Nick Frost, 5. Angus Blyth, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. Ben Donaldson, 11. Darby Lancaster, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Filipo Daugunu, 15. Tom Wright.
Replacements: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. Alex Hodgman, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Tom Hooper, 20. Jeremy Williams, 21. Nic White, 22. Noah Lolesio, 23 Andrew Kellaway.
Joe Schmidt took on the Wallabies job aware of the monumental challenge that awaited him but back-to-back victories over Wales ensured a case of so far so good. A back-to-basics approach, focusing on the fundamentals, is in keeping with Schmidt’s style and while there is a long way to go before the Wallabies are anywhere near to dining at the top table again, there are grounds for optimism with the New Zealander at the helm. At the very least he gives the impression of the Wallabies having a grown up in charge after endless Eddie Jones tantrums and, in Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Schmidt has a second-row around whom he can build a formidable pack. Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu and Tom Wright all performed impressively in the backs, too.
Pragmatic, accurate, efficient. Those aren’t necessarily traits that compel youngsters to turn their backs on other football codes, but they are traits that win Test matches. And, for so long, these are traits that have been absent from the Wallabies as they sunk to previously unimaginable lows. Two wins on the bounce for the first time in three years and a series victory against a team that spanked them 40-6 at the World Cup 10 months ago points to progress.
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v Georgia. Kick-off at Allianz Stadium in Sydney is 3.45pm (AEST).
This afternoon marks the latest step in the evolution of the Wallabies under Joe Schmidt, and after back-to-back wins over Wales there is some rare optimism in rugby circles.
Today is an opportunity for Schmidt to take a look at the wider pool of talent at his disposal, against an opponent Australia are expected to beat comfortably. The real measure of any progress comes next month when the Springboks roll into town.
But while Georgia are not yet a top tier rugby nation, they will be no pushover. Ranked 12th in the world (Australia are not far off in ninth) they upset Eddie Jones’ Japan last week, and before that lost narrowly to Fiji.
If you’d like to get in touch while I’m on, please fire all communication to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.
