Western Force star Nic White given Wallabies starting role against South Africa after retirement U-turn

Nic White’s dramatic late-career U-turn and retirement postponement has taken another twist, with the veteran scrum-half named to start for the Wallabies against South Africa. Just two weeks after announcing his retirement from the international arena, White’s decision to stay on in the wake of Jake Gordon’s hamstring injury will see him enter one of rugby’s most intimidating stadiums. In another twist, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has backed White to potentially play out of position after injury claimed one of the 73-Test veteran’s Western Force teammates. While White would have been content to hang up the boots after an impressive performance in his “farewell” game against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney, Gordon’s injury threw a spanner in the works. “When the call came, I’m not the type of guy that would say no,” White told The West Australian last week. “I said I’d stay fit should anything happen throughout the back end of the year, I just didn’t think it would eventuate. “If I’m in the 23, I’ll absolutely do my best. But if I’m out of the 23, I’ll equally prepare the boys and the team as best I possibly can.” Schmidt has opted for White to start in the nine jumper, with fellow scrum-half Tate McDermott favoured to continue as an fast-finishing impact player off the bench. But as Australia looks for just a second victory in their 12th Test at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park — their only win coming more than 60 years ago — White could find himself providing cover in an unconventional play-making role. White’s halves partner at the Force, Ben Donaldson, was expected to be in contention to start at fly-half with incumbent Tom Lynagh out through concussion. But Donaldson, who won the Force’s Nathan Sharpe Medal in 2024, was ruled out with injury late in training on Thursday. “In the second last play of training, Donno kicked the ball and pulled up short. We don’t know what the extent of the injury is,” Schmidt told reporters on Thursday. “He will get a scan, we’ll get a definitive picture, because we need to know for next week whether we need more cover.” Stepping into the breach is forgotten man and one-time Force superstar James O’Connor, the 35-year-old set to play his first Wallabies Test since 2022. But if something happens to O’Connor during the game, it will leave the Wallabies with no recognised fly-half in their team and while Schmidt admitted he may tinker with his bench, he also suggested White could do a job there if needed. “Nic White can cover 10 and is astute enough to do so, Andrew Kellaway has the skill-set to cover 10, but it does leave us a little bit light,” Schmidt said. White will be joined by fellow Force teammate Dylan Pietsch in the starting line-up after the winger’s strong showing against the Lions, while his club captain Jeremy Williams, hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and loose forward Nick Champion de Crespigny are the other Force players on the bench. Schmidt said Force star Carlo Tizzano could also come into consideration if he changed his substitutes, while hinting Brumbies-bound Tane Edmed could be drafted in for fly-half cover.