No Taniela Tupou and no Marike Koroibete, but Noah Lolesio at flyhalf and a player “with a few screws loose” in Carlo Tizzano is what the Wallabies have dished up to face the Springboks in their opening Castle Lager Rugby championship match in Brisbane on Saturday.
Tupou was ruled out on Wednesday with an injury while Koroibete’s absence raises eyebrows as he is the only overseas-based player included in the squad and traditionally has excelled against the Springboks.
While there was no official word as to why he was excluded, local media have speculated that he arrived out of shape and hence his exclusion.
A livewire flanker in Carlo Tizzano was the talk of the team announcement as the Western Force backrow - who will be rather unfamiliar to South African audiences - will make a starting debut against the Boks on Saturday.
The team includes seven changes from the side that beat Georgia in the last test with Lolesio returning to 10 after Force playmaker Ben Donaldson was dropped after his performance against Georgia. Tom Lynagh is the flyhalf back-up on the bench.
Tizzano, though, has replaced equally impressive Fraser McReight at seven as the Wallabies made it clear they are going to target the breakdown, with another jackler - Luke Reimer - named on the bench.
There is also no Nic White - a player that riled up the Boks so much in the Adelaide test two years ago with his Oscar performance when Faf de Klerk clipped him, while James Slipper is on the bench to counter the Boks bomb squad.
Schmidt said that Tizzano was the perfect player to face the Springboks.
“We just felt that Carlo would suit the combination that we picked in the back row and in the second row and what best complement that really,” Schmidt told reporters.
“He’s such a good young man and we're really excited about watching him get underway in 48 hours.
“His energy is relatively positive, more than abrasive but he fights for everything Carlo and that's what first caught our eye.
"He's quite a dynamic competitor around the breakdown and I think in the context of losing Fraser, we needed someone who could bring elements of Fraser's game but probably not all of them. That's why we were picking Fraser before but it's a great opportunity for Carlo.”
Tizzano was Super Rugby’s leading tackler this year, operating with a 90 per cent success rate and rated among the best turnover specialists in the Australian teams in Super Rugby.
Hooker Josh Nasser, who was in the Junior Wallabies with Tizzano, said that the flanker was perfect to face the Boks because he had “a few screws loose.”
“A few screws loose there with old Carlo. He’s 100 per cent at training and he’s 100 per cent on the field so he’ll be a big asset for us,” Nasser said..
“He was a pest that day (in the Force’s win) and got the better of us so it’ll be good to have him on our side.
“Carlo backs himself to the hills. He’ll be confident, excited and ready to rip in so I don’t think he’ll be too flustered with nerves.”
Reimer, who excelled for the Brumbies as a “closer” late in games, is looking to do the same for the Wallabies off the bench.
“We brought him into camp during the Georgia week when we had a few injury concerns and he trained really well and allowed him to springboard into continuing with the squad,’ Schmidt said.
“He’s such a good competitor over the ball with a good low tackle who doesn’t give up the fight easily.
“We’re hopeful that he’ll bring really good abrasive energy off the bench.”
The Wallabies named a five-three bench for the clash, which will take place at the stadium that has been the most favourable for their positive results, with the Boks last winning there in 2013.
Australia: Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson, Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nick Frost, Allan Alaalatoa (captain), Matt Faessler, Isaac Kailea.
Replacements: Josh Nasser, James Slipper, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Luke Reimer, Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Dylan Pietsch.