Joe Schmidt insisted there is no room for sentiment as his Wallabies look for revenge in Sydney.
The Australia coach claims his team are fired up to avoid a straight-sets defeat in the three-match Test series and he insists the only priority is to ensure The British & Irish Lions do not leave Down Under unbeaten.
It is more than a century since the tourists last won a three-match Test series 3–0, and pride is the motivating factor as the hosts prepare for Saturday’s showdown at Accor Stadium.
Nic White starts as scrum-half after announcing this match would be his final international appearance, the 35-year-old preferred to Jake Gordon and Tate McDermott.
READ MORE: Australia make four changed for final Test
White has made 72 international appearances since making his debut against Argentina in 2013.
He and Schmidt, still smarting over the narrow 26–29 loss in an MCG thriller last week, have always been close, but the coach insists this pick is solely about winning and not about giving a final hurrah to a fine servant to the cause.
“I’m not a sentimentalist,” insisted Schmidt.
“Nic has such respect inside this squad that it seemed a fitting way for him to finish his career.
“This is a Test match and you pick the people you think give you the best chance of winning, and we believe Nic does that.
“We’re blessed with a fine group of nines and those players are really tight amongst themselves. They had their own discussions and it was a decision we made, believing Nic can do the job.
READ MORE: Lions leaving lasting legacy Down Under with Great Barrier Reef Foundation
“The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week’s Test in Melbourne, but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again.
“The support in Brisbane and Melbourne helped to lift the squad, and I know the support this weekend will again help to lift the players in the high-pressure moments that we know are coming.”
However, White insists he was surprised to get the nod having last played when he came off the bench in the Wallabies’ 21–18 Test win over Fiji in Newcastle.
“I didn’t see it coming but I really appreciate it and I won’t let the boys down,” he said. “Jake and Tate did an unbelievable job in the first two games.
“Pulling on the gold jersey was a dream of mine when I was a young boy and to say I’ve done it 72 times, with one last crack on Saturday, is something I’m incredibly proud of and I’ve never taken for granted.
“Rugby has given me so much to be grateful for. I’ve made some incredible memories, some lifelong friendships and had the opportunity to see the world.
“There’s been great competition for the nine jersey here in the Wallabies for a number of years, and it feels like the right time to pass on the baton with some more good young players coming through.
“They will need time in the saddle leading into what’s going to be an unbelievable experience of a home Rugby World Cup in 2027.”
Tighthead prop Taniela Tupou, who impressed for the First Nations–Pasifika XV in their Lions match last week, makes his debut in green and gold as he replaces the injured Allan Alaalatoa in the front row.
Rob Valetini, who made such a first-half impact in Melbourne, is being managed as he continues to recover from a calf injury, with Tom Hooper replacing him at blindside flanker.
Dylan Pietsch is recalled to cover the injured Harry Potter on the wing, playing in the special edition Wallabies jersey he designed for this year’s Qatar Airways Lions Men’s Series.
The Wallabies will have a bench consisting of five forwards and three backs, a change to last week’s gamble when Potter was injured early and there were just two backs to cover.