Written by Lachlan Grey on Oct 22, 2024 12:29 PM, courtesy of qld.rugby Source article.
Wallabies lock Will Skelton and prop Taniela Tupou have spoken to media from Edinburgh.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has called on overseas duo Will Skelton and Samu Kerevi alongside Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to bolster his 34-man Spring Tour squad.
Towering lock Skelton and boom centre Kerevi are two of five new faces under Schmidt this year with high-profile recruit Suaalii forming an uncapped trio with NSW playmaker Tane Edmed and Western Force outside back Harry Potter in the Wallaby squad.
Watch every game of the Wallabies Spring Tour live and exclusive on Stan Sport.
Reds utility forward Seru Uru and Brumbies rake Billy Pollard also earned recalls to the Test unit after missing the initial Bledisloe squad selection.
“We have a relatively consistent group but will integrate a few new players on tour,” Schmidt said in a statement.
“Trying to balance opportunities for players, some recent squad members will get much needed game time with Australia XV, which also enables us to broaden our cohort of players in what will be highly competitive fixtures.”
Meanwhile, Australia XV coach Rod Seib will draw upon 14 Wallabies in his 30-man squad to tackle Bristol and England A next month.
Angus Blyth, Josh Canham, Tom Hooper, Lachlan Lonergan, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Luke Reimer and Darcy Swain all boast Test caps in the pack while Jock Campbell, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Josh Flook, Darby Lancaster, Tom Lynagh and Hamish Stewart have donned Wallaby gold.
Uncapped Reds quartet Massimo De Lutiis, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, John Bryant and Joe Brial will also travel with the Australia XV with De Lutiis still yet to taste Super Rugby while centre duo Joey Walton (Waratahs) and Ollie Sapsford (Brumbies) are notable inclusions alongside Corey Toole
“To have 14 Wallabies as part of the group illustrates the depth that’s currently being created in Australian Rugby,” Seib said in a statement.
“This tour represents a great opportunity for this group of players and staff to test themselves against two high-quality Northern Hemisphere opponents and is a challenge we’re all looking forward to.”
An additional 13 players were also named as unavailable for selection, including recent Wallaby captains Liam Wright and David Porecki:
- Kurtley Beale (Achilles)
- Charlie Cale (Shoulder)
- Filipo Daugunu (Leg)
- David Feliuai (Family reasons)
- Lalakai Foketi (Suspension)
- Alex Hodgman (Family reasons)
- Harry Johnson-Holmes (Achilles)
- Bayley Kuenzle (Knee)
- Rob Leota (Calf)
- David Porecki (Family reasons)
- Tim Ryan (Ankle)
- Blake Schoupp (Shoulder)
- Liam Wright (Shoulder)
Wallabies squad for Grand Slam Tour Forwards (19)
Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints)
Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions)
Langi Gleeson (#960, Harbord Harlequins)
Isaac Kailea (#975, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick)
Will Skelton (#883, Wentworthville Magpies)
James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates)
Carlo Tizzano (#982,University of Western Australia)
Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby)
Seru Uru (#985, Wests Bulldogs)
Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils)
Backs (15)
Ben Donaldson (#962, Clovelly Eagles)
Tane Edmed (uncapped, West Harbour Juniors)
Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors)
Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves)
Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Samu Kerevi (#892, Souths Magpies)
Noah Lolesio (#934, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club)
Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Dylan Pietsch (#978, Leeton Phantoms)
Harry Potter (uncapped, Moorabbin Rams)
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (uncapped, The Kings School)
Nic White (#875, Maitland Blacks)
Tom Wright (#939, Clovelly Eagles)
Australia XV Squad for UK Tour Forwards (17)
Angus Blyth (Queensland Reds)
Joe Brial (Queensland Reds)
John Bryant (Queensland Reds)
Josh Canham (Queensland Reds)
Massimo de Lutiis (Queensland Reds)
Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies)
Harry Hoopert (Western Force)
Tom Horton (Western Force)
Tom Lambert (NSW Waratahs)
Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies)
Josh Nasser (Queensland Reds)
Zane Nonggorr (Queensland Reds)
Luke Reimer (ACT Brumbies)
Rory Scott (ACT Brumbies)
Ryan Smith (Queensland Reds)
Darcy Swain (Western Force)
Rhys Van Nek (ACT Brumbies)
Backs (13)
Lachie Anderson (Queensland Reds)
Jock Campbell (Queensland Reds)
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (Western Force)
Josh Flook (Queensland Reds)
Darby Lancaster (NSW Waratahs)
Ryan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies)
Tom Lynagh (Queensland Reds)
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Queensland Reds)
Andy Muirhead (ACT Brumbies)
Ollie Sapsford (ACT Brumbies)
Hamish Stewart (Western Force)
Corey Toole (ACT Brumbies)
Joey Walton (NSW Waratahs)
Tour Fixtures 2024 Spring Tour (Grand Slam)
Wallabies v England, 2:10am AEDT, Sunday November 10, Twickenham, London
Wallabies v Wales, 3:10am AEDT, Monday November 18, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Wallabies v Scotland, 12:40am AEDT, Monday November 25, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Wallabies v Ireland, 2:10am AEDT, Sunday December 1, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
2024 Australia XV Tour
Australia XV v Bristol Bears, 7:45pm GMT, Friday November 8, Ashton Gate, Bristol
Australia XV v England A, 2:00pm GMT, Sunday November 17, Twickenham Stoop, London
