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Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt to snub Will Skelton, Darby Lancaster, for South African games
A new selection method adopted by coach Joe Schmidt will leave a former Wallabies captain on the outer, while a debutant will also be dropped for the upcoming games against South Africa.
Jamie Pandaram
July 31, 2024 - 6:41PM
Rugby: The Wallabies made a hot start against Wales, drawing first blood with an incredible 100-metre try.
Will Skelton is set to miss the opening Rugby Championship clashes against South Africa, as Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt adopts a patient selection model.
World Cup captain Skelton won’t be rushed back into the squad after finishing the French Top 14 season with La Rochelle just last month, but is set to be selected for the tour of Argentina following the back-to-back clashes against the Springboks.
La Rochelle's Australian lock Will Skelton will not be rushed back to face the Springboks. Picture: AFP
Rather than pick one squad for The Rugby Championship as has been traditionally the case, new coach Schmidt is set to name new squads for South Africa, then Argentina, and then the Bledisloe Cup games against the All Blacks in September as he learns more about his players, and more become available as they recover from injuries.
The same selection model was used previously years ago by Dave Rennie.
Among those also tipped to join Skelton for the Argentina trip are key forwards Angus Bell and Dave Porecki.
This is Schmidt’s first opportunity to pick Skelton, given he was still playing for La Rochelle when the Wallabies took on Wales and Georgia earlier this month, but it’s understood the coach wants him rested and firing for the tough trip to Argentina.
Former captain Will Skelton is expected to return to the side to face Argentina. Picture: Getty Images
Barnstorming winger Marika Koroibete has come into calculations, with Test debutant Darby Lancaster – who made his first international appearance in Australia’s previous win over Georgia – set to be dropped.
Japan-based Koroibete and young gun Max Jorgensen are considered the leading candidates to replace Lancaster.
Darby Lancaster made his Wallabies debut against Georgia, but won’t be retained for the South African games. Picture: Getty Images
Filipo Daugunu will be available after serving his two-game suspension for a red card offence through club rugby, while fellow wingers Andrew Kellaway and Dylan Pietsch are set to retain their spots.
Having signalled his retirement from Test rugby after last year’s World Cup disaster, Koroibete had a change of heart and has made himself available for Wallabies selection again under the guidance of Schmidt.
Marika Koroibete, pictured playing for Saitama Wild Knights, could be recalled. Picture: Getty Images
The former John Eales medallist has always been among Australia’s best performers on the international stage, and has enjoyed some of his best games against the Springboks.
The Wallabies have suffered injury blows, with star flanker Fraser McReight in danger of missing the entire TRC with a thumb injury.
Brumbies backrower Luke Reimer and the Waratahs’ Charlie Gamble are among the options Schmidt is considering, with Tom Hooper the strong contender to replace McReight in the No.7 jersey for the opening Test in Brisbane on August 10.
Fraser McReight is in danger of missing the entire TRC with a thumb injury. Picture: Getty Images
And Schmidt’s first pick as captain, Liam Wright, is still recovering from a shoulder injury and is set to miss the two games against the Boks in Brisbane and Perth. He is expected to be fit for the next two games in Argentina against Los Pumas.
New Waratahs signing Rob Leota, who missed the July series due to a hamstring injury, is a strong chance of being named in the squad having been able to return to running over the past five weeks.
Schmidt will announce his squad on Thursday afternoon, with the players to gather in Brisbane on Saturday.
https://archive.is/20240731113804/ht...3eb-1722425897
Headline forming in my brain right now
Failed Wallaby Darby Lancaster signs with the Tahs.
Yeah, I'm a bitch
Get over it
C'mon the![]()
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Tizzano's been picked in the Wallabies squad! Very well deserved after a couple of great seasons.
Williams, White, Donaldson and Stewart retained also.
Interestingly, Kuenzle is listed on the unavailable for selection list, so he must be in consderation also.
Wallabies squad (Wallaby number, first Australian Rugby club)
Forwards (19)
Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Angus Blyth (#974, Casuarina Beach Rugby Club)
Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints)
Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions)
Tom Hooper (#964, Bathurst Bulldogs)
Isaac Kailea (#975, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Josh Nasser (#979, Easts Rugby (Brisbane))
Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
Luke Reimer (uncapped, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick)
James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates)
Carlo Tizzano (uncapped, University of Western Australia)
Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby)
Seru Uru (uncapped, Wests Rugby Club)
Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils)
Backs (17)
Filipo Daugunu (#931, Wests Rugby Club)
Ben Donaldson (#962, Clovelly Eagles)
Josh Flook (#972, Brothers Rugby)
Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors)
Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Max Jorgensen (uncapped, Balmain Wolves)
Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Marika Koroibete (#913, Nasinu Secondary School, Fiji*)
Noah Lolesio (#934, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Tom Lynagh (#977, University of Queensland)
Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club)
Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Dylan Pietsch (#978, Leeton Phantoms)
Hamish Stewart (uncapped, Toowoomba Bears)
Corey Toole (uncapped, Wagga Waratahs)
Nic White (#875, Maitland Blacks)
Tom Wright (#939, Clovelly Eagles)
Unavailable for selection
Kurtley Beale
Langi Gleeson
Harry Johnson-Holmes
Bayley Kuenzle
Rob Leota
Lachlan Lonergan
Fraser McReight
David Porecki
Blake Schoupp
Liam Wright
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Oh man, that's really bad news in regards to Kuenzle. We're already short of outside backs, so really need to do some more recruiting in that area.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
A nice interview with Carlo here- https://westernforce.rugby/news/wall...elected-202481
How good seeing a WA born and bred, PSA & Club pathway player making the Squad!
If Capped, my understanding is Tizzano (Trinity/Hale and UWA) will be the third WA born Wallaby after PSA & Club pathway players John Welborn (Scotch and Nedlands) and Ollie Hoskins (Scotch and Cottesloe).
WA product Tizzano earns maiden Wallabies call-up for Springboks Tests
Thu, Aug 1, 2024, 12:01 PM
Western Force Media
Western Force back-rower & WA product Carlo Tizzano spoke to Force TV after his maiden Wallabies call-up for the upcoming Tests against the Springboks.
WA product Carlo Tizzano has earned his maiden Wallabies call-up alongside four other Western Force stars for the upcoming Rugby Championship Tests against South Africa in Brisbane and Perth.
Continues- https://westernforce.rugby/news/wall...elected-202481
Last edited by Burgs; 02-08-24 at 02:18.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Not the third WA born Wallaby, more like the 8th, although none of them have been through the WA pathway completely:
Harry Woods, Wallaby #226, prop, born in Boulder but moved to NSW, 8 caps 1925-28.
Jack Steggall, #274, fly-half/utility, born in Geraldton but moved to Toowoomba, 10 caps 1931-33. If his name sounds familiar, his grand-daughter is the Independent MP who beat Tony Abbott!
Mick Mathers, #613, lock, born in Perth but moved to Sydney, 2 caps in 1980.
John Welborn, #731, lock, born in Perth but moved to Sydney for a couple of years before his first cap, 6 caps in 1996-99.
Brett Sheehan, #815, scrum-half, born in Geraldton but moved to Sydney, 7 caps between 2006-13. People seem to forget that he was a WA boy.
Scott Higginbotham, #848, flanker, born in Perth but moved to the Gold Coast, 34 caps between 2010-17.
Ollie Hoskins, #949, prop, born in Perth but had to move to London Irish for 5 years before getting his solitary cap in 2021 as injury cover.
Carlo Tizzano, #???, flanker, born in Perth, but as the Eastern states commentors keep reminding us he played for the Waratahs (and Ealing in the UK) before coming back to Perth.
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
Details, details.
Had squad selections been done fairly we should have had a fourth, at least. K. Bomb.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
Especially as with Dane HP and Kyle Godwin we have another couple who have gone through the WA pathway (but weren't WA born, just moved here when young!)
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
Harry Woods went to Joeys, so don't think that counts as developed in WA.
Likewise Jack Steggall was educated at Toowoomba Grammar School.
I recall when Welborn was selected there was a big fuss around him being the first WA born and bred (developed) Wallaby, with a couple who had spent time in WA then being selected but "grass-rooting" over East prior to moving West.
Has that narrative been updated?
Having represented the highest levels available in WA of the day I think the Welborn "pathway" stands, as he would never have been selected from WARU.
Hoskins may be a rubbery one, but he did play Force prior to selection and moved to pursue opportunity.
To my knowledge, Sheehan and Higginbotham both had all of their development in the East, so yes "born" but not "bred" (ie developed).
Dane and Kyle are another good couple of PSA lads, but as you say, oversees born.
I was pretty specific (deliberately) about the criteria I was using![]()
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.