July 16, 2026 — 3:32pmWallabies coach Joe Schmidt has kept faith with rookie playmaker Declan Meredith, who will start in the No.10 jumper against Italy on Saturday in Perth, with Force five-eighth Ben Donaldson named on the bench.Meredith endured a tough Test debut against France and will now be entrusted with helping send Schmidt off with a win on his final Test in charge of the Wallabies. Donaldson has recovered from a calf strain suffered against Ireland and is set to win his 22nd cap against Italy.Brumbies rookie Declan Meredith had a tough debut against France last Saturday but has been backed by Joe Schmidt.APAgainst France, Meredith was not a running threat. His opposite number, Romain Ntamack, made 74 metres from nine carries, including two line breaks and a try, while Meredith managed just six metres from three carries.Meredith is set to square off against Italy’s experienced 56-cap playmaker Paolo Garbisi, who plays his club rugby for French giants Toulon.Meredith will once again partner Brumbies halfback Ryan Lonergan to give continuity to a team that desperately needs a win after losing nine of their past 10 Tests.Force playmaker Donaldson has recovered from the calf strain that ruled him out of the France game and will provide cover for Meredith, finishing the ill-fated experiment of using fullback Jock Campbell as playmaker cover.The backline is unchanged, apart from winger Harry Potter, who is recalled with Force player Dylan Pietsch ruled out with a calf injury.The Force’s Carlo Tizzano will get an opportunity to start at breakaway in front of his home crowd in Perth with Fraser McReight named on the replacements bench after an outstanding performance against France last Saturday.McReight scored two tries, pilfered two turnovers and led his the Wallabies with 20 tackles. Tizzano last played for the Wallabies in their loss to France in November after missing out on facing Italy on the spring tour.Waratahs second-rower Miles Amatosero is set to become the 27th player to make his Test debut under Schmidt in his two years in charge of the Wallabies. Fellow Test rookie Lachie Shaw makes way for Amatosero after earning his first two Test caps in the defeats against Ireland and France.Taniela Tupou drops out of the match day squad to be replaced by Reds tight-head prop Zane Nonggorr on the bench. Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard joins Nonggorr on the bench to provide front row cover.The Wallabies have played Italy 20 times, with the Azzurri winning the past two contests, in 2022 and last November.Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said that the Italy team will pose a significant threat after a strong Six Nations campaign.“We’ve shown some encouraging signs, but we need to sustain our accuracy and effort throughout the match,” he said.“The challenge for us this week is to perform at a consistently high standard against a dangerous Italian side who were hugely competitive in the Six Nations, beating both Scotland and England as well as running other teams close.”More to comeFrom our partners