Joe Schmidt has left the door firmly ajar for players to be promoted into the Wallabies squad for next month’s grand slam tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

In fact, the New Zealand coach, who will take 34 players with him to London, says some players were demoted into the 30-man Australian XV squad so they could get some time on the playing paddock after “holding bags” throughout The Rugby Championship.

“Some of the guys who are with Seiby [Australian XV coach Rod Seib] for this next couple of weeks, they’re there because they didn’t get a lot of game time,” he said.

“We’re trying to balance, for some guys, an opportunity to get some game time because there were guys who were in our squad for the Bledisloe Cup games and never got game time, and the longer that goes, the more out of sync you can get because nothing prepares you for Test match footy than high-level games.”

As the Wallabies prepare for their November opener against England in London, Seib’s Australian XV will take on Bristol Bears before heading back east to take on an England A side in London.

It means that by the halfway point of the Wallabies’ tour, Seib’s Australian XV will be wrapped up.

Schmidt, who took Ireland to two World Cups and won three Six Nations crowns, including the grand slam in 2018, will be keeping a close eye on the Australian XV fixtures where 14 of the 30 players have already pulled on the Wallabies jersey.

“I think the Saxons (England A) game, you don’t get a much better game to prepare someone for the next step to Test level,” Schmidt said.

“Having watched plenty of Wolfhounds (Ireland A) games against England A, I’ve seen kids like [Maro] Itoje come through that pathway. I remember watching him at Cork as a young kid come through and thinking, ‘Wow, he’s got a bit of special talent,’ and I think he’s proven that over a number of years of top-level performance.”

But will be there any crossover in the opening couple of fixtures, where a Wallabies player could run out for the Australian XV if they’re not picked in Schmidt’s matchday side?

“We won’t really get the chance to train together but there may be (some crossover),” Schmidt said.

“If we pick up injury, for example, we will definitely be looking to Rod Seib of some of his players. We’ve talked about who and maybe how that might happen in terms of injury.”

Seib, the Brumbies’ attack coach, admitted there would likely be some players who find their way into the first team.

“We’re there to add depth,” Seib said.

“Obviously, with form and injury, there will be some players who will be targeting some good performances in those first two games. Then if the opportunity comes up, they bounce across.

“In the contact sport that we play, there’s always going to be movement.”

 

So who are the five players with the most to win and lose from the Australian XV fixtures?

Ryan Lonergan

Lonergan, without a shadow of doubt, is the unluckiest Australian player to not earn a Wallabies cap over the past five years.

Dave Rennie regularly included him in his Wallabies squad and would often talk about having four quality halfbacks to choose from, but the New Zealander never capped Lonergan.

Eddie Jones was encouraged by close confidants to pick Lonergan for three reasons – his pass, goal-kicking, and leadership – but the former Wallabies coach wanted to see the halfback run the ball more.

Lonergan has somewhat flown under the radar since then despite growing his leadership role with the Brumbies, while Jake Gordon, another one who initially rapidly fell out of favour with Jones, has gone from being in the shithouse to the penthouse almost overnight under Schmidt.

Nic White, 34, is likely the player Lonergan will need to dislodge to finally earn a place in an official Wallabies squad.

 

Many think Lonergan should have been given an opportunity ahead of the Wallabies veteran for the November Tests. But for an inexperienced side, Schmidt has already shown he values what White can bring to the squad by starting him against the All Blacks in Sydney last month.

Lonergan has his work cut for him if he’s to succeed in England, though.

With no minutes under his belt for weeks, and several new combinations around him, it won’t be easy for him to get his side humming, especially with a Queensland playmaker, Tom Lynagh, outside him who he’s never played alongside.

Darcy Swain

At 27 and with 17 Tests under his belt, Darcy Swain should be nearing the prime of his career.

Instead, his time with the Brumbies plateaued and he was swooped on by the Western Force.

At the same time, Swain hasn’t featured near a Wallabies squad since the end of 2022.

So what’s happened?

Swain, it would be appear, has lost what gave him a point of difference: physicality.

 

A series of cards, including a red card against England in July 2022 followed by a breakdown incident involving the All Blacks’ Quinn Tupaea, might have spooked Swain.

He’s gone from being a pest to a gentle giant and he needs to rediscover his presence.

If he does that, Swain, who is certainly behind Ryan Smith, who is nearing a Test call-up, and Wallabies rookie Josh Canham too, can be someone who can rocket back into the Test arena because he’s strong at the maul, can carry and is a competent lineout operator.

Corey Toole

One of the unluckier figures not to earn a Test cap this year, Toole has some in his corner but evidently not enough.

After missing selection against the All Blacks, Schmidt explained that the Brumbies flyer is quick, but not necessarily quicker than Darby Lancaster, and was still adjusting to the XV-person game after representing Australia during the Paris Olympics.

Nonetheless, given Toole’s ability to beat someone in a phone booth, many thought his X-factor alone would be enough to see Schmidt roll the dice and give the winger a chance. He didn’t.

Examining Schmidt’s earlier comments though and it would seem Toole is one who could benefit from some time on the field. After all, his last match in the 15-man game was way back in mid-June.

Should he return to his tryscoring ways, especially against an England A side at The Stoop, what more evidence will Schmidt need? After all, the respected coach said fixtures against the Saxons were as close as you come to the international game.

With only one specialist winger (Dylan Pietsch) in Schmidt’s squad, it’s more than likely that the first-year Wallabies coach will have to call up an outside back for the last couple of Tests, too.

Schmidt has instead opted for versatile back three players like Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway and Tom Wright, as well as uncapped duo Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Harry Potter.

Rory Scott

The Brumbies back-rower is starting a fair way behind others, but the versatile forward is someone who’s got all the tools to succeed at the top level.

Capable of playing on either side of the scrum, Scott, 24, is tall enough (189cm) and heavy enough (106kgs) to make an impact on the international scene.

He’s also got a strong s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁-set that’s barely touched the surface.

 

Who remembers his brilliant ball last year against the Crusaders where he cut out three defenders and put Toole away for a try across the ditch? It was superb.

There’s more recognisable Wallabies in the Australian XV squad like Tom Hooper and Luke Reimer, but Scott should get plenty of minutes to prove his worth.

Tom Lynagh

The 21-year-old featured on a few occasions off the bench for the Wallabies but has been replaced by Tane Edmed for the end of year Tests.

Is it a setback?

Possibly, but then again now he’s going to get some time in the saddle after receiving precious minutes over the past three months.

“Tom Lynagh, really, he’s one of the guys who didn’t get game time,” Schmidt admitted.

“He’s had that recurring hamstring niggle that we’re hoping is over now. So, we want to try to get him into some game time with the Australian 15.”

 

First of all though, Lynagh will play for Queensland over the coming days, before flying from Japan to link up with the Australian XV side.

Should he succeed, he will still be in the mix for the Lions next year.

Struggle, and it will have Schmidt thinking twice in the short-term, especially with another talented and physical fly-half alongside him in Harry McLaughlin-Phillips.

Lynagh should at least get some quick, reliable service from Lonergan who doesn’t muck around when arriving at the breakdown.

He also stands to benefit from being grouped in the squad alongside a heavy-Queensland contingent, including Josh Flook and Jock Campbell.