“At the same time, Jake has done really well, but then Tate has done really well as well. There are three nines who are all in contention every week, and this week we’ve decided to go with Nic White.”
Asked if he felt players would be motivated to send White out on a high, Schmidt said: “I know it’s part of the motivation. It is.
“He’s so well respected in the group. He’s been at the top of the game for a dozen years. So when you make that contribution over 12 years, as I said, it’s not sentimentality, but it is a reality when someone is important to the group, the group want to support them.”
After coming to a decision to retire last week, White said he had been considering asking Schmidt if he could run water at Accor Stadium so he’d finish in his boots. So he was surprised when he got the nod to start.
“Jake and Tate did an unbelievable job the first two games,” he said. “I didn’t see it coming, but really appreciate it. And yeah, I won’t let the boys down.”
White said he had made the decision to retire over the last two weeks, after some “honest conversations” with Schmidt, Force coach Simon Cron “and mostly myself”. With lingering injury issues and the 2027 Rugby World Cup a bridge too far, White called time. The decision will likely clear a path for Ryan Lonergan to finally move up the pecking order in the upcoming Rugby Championships.
Taniela Tupou replaces Allan Alaalatoa in the Wallabies’ line-up.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s very rare to be able to be in a position to kind of go out on your own terms, I guess,” White said. “But the body’s just given me a lot of signs that now’s the right time. And I think it’s time I start listening. And I’ve got three young boys at home. My wife’s been the absolute rock for a long time. It’s time I put family first.”
Schmidt said the insertion of several new faces was tactical, to lift the energy of Wallabies side who were “incredibly deflated” early in the week.
“Tuesday was tough, actually, to get them up off the canvas, and today there was a little bit of an upswing,” he said. “We’ve just got to keep that momentum.
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“It is a challenge, because all that emotional energy, psychological energy that was expended, the way things finished, the sense of frustration, and it’s almost like a grieving process by the time they’ve gone through those first few days.”
Schmidt said leaving Valetini out was “precautionary” to ensure he didn’t sustain a serious, long-term injury to a strained calf ahead of the Rugby Championship, and there is hope Allan Alaalatoa (shoulder) will also avoid surgery and return in the tournament.
Tupou’s form in the First Nations and Pasifika clash with the Lions was enough to convince Schmidt the big prop was ready to return to the Wallabies No.3.
“He was right back to the irrepressible character that he is,” he said. “So we’re hopeful that Taniela can continue that upswing and bring us a real boost of energy.”
All nine matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.
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