Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has wound back the clock once more, turning to Bernard Foley at fly-half for the Bledisloe Cup opener at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
Foley, 33, will on Tuesday be named as Australia’s fourth different starting No. 10 for 2022, after Brumbies youngster Noah Lolesio was ruled out of the Melbourne Test following a head knock in the 24-8 loss to the Springboks in Sydney.
It will be a first Test for Foley since the Wallabies’ 2019 Rugby World Cup pool loss to Wales, with the Sydneysider having spent the last three seasons with Kubota Spears in Japanese rugby.
The former Waratahs fly-half has not played a match proper since May 28, when Kubota defeated Toshiba Brave Lupus in the playoff for third. But after joining the Wallabies ahead of their two Tests with the Springboks, Foley has won over the faith of Rennie and his fellow coaches, with Reece Hodge the only other real option available.
Australia will be hoping Foley enjoys a similarly triumphant return to the Test arena as Quade Cooper, who was brought back into the fold last year and subsequently spearheaded the Wallabies to five straight wins alongside Samu Kerevi.
Unfortunately, both Cooper and Kerevi are now sidelined with season-ending injuries in what has been a horror run for the Wallabies in 2022.
In an interview with ESPN earlier this year, Foley revealed he had not yet given up hope of a Wallabies recall and that he was open to playing at next year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
With a change in policy on overseas selection, the injuries to Lolesio and Cooper, and James O’Connor’s indifferent form, what was thought to be an outside prospect is now very much a genuine reality, particularly if the New South Welshman can recapture the kind of form that he showed at the 2015 tournament under Michael Cheika.
Rennie will confirm his matchday 23 later on Tuesday, with Hunter Paisami the other major injury concern after he too picked up a head knock in the loss to South Africa.
Given it was his second concussion in three weeks, Paisami may also be left out of the squad. His position could be taken by Lalakai Foketi, while a reshuffle that sees Len Ikitau move one spot closer in is also possible.
Angus Bell could well strengthen the front-row contingent, while Darcy Swain is likely to earn a promotion from the bench after Rory Arnold was left out of the extended squad to face the All Blacks due to personal reasons.
Veteran fullback Kurtley Beale could win a spot among the replacements, though he too is short on rugby having not played since late February.
The Wallabies have not held the Bledisloe since 2003 and were swept 3-0 by the All Blacks in 2021.
Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby have since agreed that the series revert to a two-game contest, meaning the Wallabies must win in Melbourne and again in Auckland on Saturday week to end 19 years of trans-Tasman pain.
The Test also represents the start of Round 5 of the Rugby Championship, which is led by the All Blacks on 10 points, with each of the Wallabies, Springboks and Pumas one point adrift.