No Skelton but Wallabies recall Koroibete for Bok tests

There was no Will Skelton, but Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt chose a squad with six uncapped players and returned veteran winger Marika Koroibete to the side to face the Springboks in their opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches over the next fortnight.

Schmidt, who is no stranger to the Boks and Rassie Erasmus in particular, decided against including Toulouse’s giant lock Skelton in the side after a mammoth season, but left the door open to bring him back later in the Rugby Championship.

But Koroibete, who is also well-known to the Bok players, returns months after telling teammates that he was set to retire. Apparently, according to reports in Australian media, the prospect of facing the Boks convinced him to postpone his retirement and while he is based in Japan, he has been welcomed back into the Wallabies side with open arms.

Koroibete was the subject of a lot of media attention after a no-arms tackle on winger Makazole Mapimpi in the 2022 test between the two sides was not punished, and cost the Springboks a clear try-scoring opportunity and in turn the match result.

Paris Olympic Sevens winger Corey Toole has also been called up as one of the uncapped players, while junior prospect Carlo Tizzano is another.

Wallabies Angus Bell and 19-year old Max Jorgensen have both been recalled for the first time in 2024 and were last in action at the World Cup while Queensland’s Seru Uru and Brumbies’ Luke Reimer join Tizzano and Bell as additions to the forwards from the July tests, with Reds teammates Fraser McReight and Liam Wright ruled out with injury.

Schmidt dropped several players who made debuts against Wales, including Alex Hodgman, Charlie Cale and Darby Lancaster, Ryan Smith and David Feliuai

In Skelton’s case, the mammoth season that Toulouse have had and his workload impacted the selection decision, and could have been impacted by his decision to re-sign for the French giants on a new four-year deal.

But at the same time, veteran foreign-based Wallabies like Samu Kerevi and Richie Arnold - who faced the Boks last year under Eddie Jones - were not considered for selection. The same policy meant that Quade Cooper’s name was not under discussion either.

This points to the fact that Schmidt is looking to use the Rugby Championship to spread the depth and give younger talent an opportunity against the Boks, especially as they have a massive 2025 British and Irish Lions tour waiting for them next season.

Schmidt said: “There was plenty of discussion among the coaches but we’re hopeful that the squad selected will embrace the challenge of playing South Africa over the next fortnight or so.”

“We know there’s a lot of hard work to do ahead of those test matches and we’re looking forward to getting back together as a group on Saturday and rolling up our sleeves.

“The players enjoyed the vocal support we received during the July tests, and they will be looking to earn continued public support over the coming weeks.”

The squad will assemble in Brisbane on Saturday ahead of their tests against back-to-back Rugby World Cup winners South Africa at Suncorp Stadium on August 10, before crossing the Nullarbor for a second clash at Optus Stadium in Perth on August 17.

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)