The Wallabies have added a playmaker to their bench after coach Joe Schmidt initially went for a 6-2 split between forwards and backs.

Flyhalf Tane Edmed replaces loose forward Nick Champion de Crespigny.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence in him, he’s been around the group now for a little while and what he’s put in on the training park has been first class,” said Wallabies captain Harry Wilson.

“We really enjoy having him around the group. He’s training consistently well, which should give him a lot of confidence to go out there and do the job.

Initially, Schmidt was relying on Nic White and Andrew Kellaway to cover flyhalf after Ben Donaldson’s last-minute injury left James O’Connor as the lone playmaker.

“Nic White can cover 10 and is astute enough to do so, Andrew Kellaway has the skill set as well if we go with what we’ve got at the moment,” he said on Thursday, hinting at the change.

“We know we’ve got some versatility in our group, but I think that’s something that we’re going to look at at the captain’s run and just see what best fits for us.”

Instead, Edmed slots into the side for his first appearance since the Wallabies’ final Test of 2024 against Ireland.

ALSO: Boks, Wallabies kick off TRC amid uncertainty

The Springboks also made a change to their bench on Friday, with prop Boan Venter replacing Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who picked up a “niggle” at training on Wednesday.

WALLABIES – 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Bench: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tane Edmed, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Andrew Kellaway.

Photo: Matt King/Getty Images