Written by Lachlan Grey on Oct 23, 2024 01:00 PM, courtesy of rugby.com.au Source article.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has left the door open for another captaincy change during next month’s Spring Tour while shedding light on Marika Koroibete’s omission from Australia’s touring squads.
It follows the naming of Rugby World Cup captain Will Skelton and former Queensland skipper Samu Kerevi – both international club players – in Schmidt’s 34-man Wallaby unit to tackle England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland next month .
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With Schmidt’s inaugural Test captain Liam Wright (shoulder) ruled out, incumbent Harry Wilson was widely expected to extend his tenure and has drawn praise for his on-field performances since becoming Australia’s 90th Wallaby captain during The Rugby Championship.
During a wide-ranging press conference on Tuesday, Schmidt told reporters Wilson would remain a key leader but stopped short of guaranteeing his captaincy with a number of former skippers – Skelton, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa and Tate McDermott – all in contention.
“Liam (Wright) is still suffering with that shoulder – we’re not quite sure where it is at the moment but we know he’s not ready to tour and hopefully that is a temporary setback. It’s massively disappointing for Liam,” Schmidt said.
“We’ve got a few in the leadership group of which Harry is one now. It’s not something we’ve actually talked about yet but I think Harry would be one of the standout characters likely to be involved in leadership.”
Kerevi and Skelton will be available for the first three Spring Tour Tests against England, Wales and Scotland with the Ireland clash (December 1) falling outside the recognised international window.
Schmidt revealed he had been in discussion with both players “for a while” about their appetite to make a Test return.
“He’s keen as mustard,” Schmidt said of Skelton.
“He doesn’t take any convincing to play for the Wallabies. That’s been my impression from the very first time I spoke to him and the very first time he made contact.
“He’s a really positive character, he has a gravitas in the group. Obviously he was captain last year and got injured. I watched his game on Monday morning – La Rochelle versus Bordeaux – and sent him a few clips.”
“I’ve had a number of discussions with Samu – he’s pretty fit and ready to go,” Schmidt added.
“He didn’t feel like he was earlier in the year when Marika came in but I spoke to (Urayasa D-Rocks coach) Greig Laidlaw and he said he’s probably fitter than he was all last year.”
When pressed on whether Skelton and Kerevi were in consideration for Lions 2025, Schmidt conceded it would be “difficult” for the pair to earn selection without featuring in the upcoming Spring Tour.
“If we didn’t get Samu and Will involved in this window, I think it would be very difficult to have them involved for the Lions,” he told reporters.
“So this is part of an investment for that but it’s part of an investment right now in the squad we’ve got and the growth we think those two guys think we can bring to the other guys.”
Marika Koroibete’s absence from both the Wallabies and the 30-man Australia XV squad was also a point of discussion with Schmidt telling reporters the veteran winger was Japan-bound to fulfil club requirements with Saitama Wild Knight.
“He probably felt he wasn’t at the very top of his game and he was a little flat after the season he’d had,” Schmidt said of Koroibete.
“He’s required to be back and training with Panasonic (Saitama Wild Knights) reasonably soon. He’s not a player we own and that’s the flexibility you need to have with these guys.
“It’s also part of our policy to try and grow our local players, in the absence of Marika, I thought Dylan Pietsch was super in that last Test in Wellington.
“I watch (Koroibete)’s Panasonic games and I know Robbie Deans well enough to have a chatwith Robbie as well and see how he’s tracking.
“At the same time, we’ve got some young wingers coming through and put some pressure on and we’d love them to come through where Marika feels that pressure and it becomes a tough decision.”
