Wallabies have their say on ‘across the ditch’ recruit and return of ‘liquid diet’ winger
Newcomer Aidan Ross is set to feature for the Wallabies in Japan along with the fit-again Dylan Pietsch (inset)
Ex-All Blacks prop Aidan Ross is poised to join an exclusive Test rugby club this weekend, becoming only the fifth player ever to play for both New Zealand and the Wallabies.
Selected by Joe Schmidt as a replacement for Australia on Saturday, the inclusion of Ross versus Japan in Tokyo on the same day as his 30th birthday comes more than three years after he made his only All Blacks appearance.
The loosehead was named as a sub for the mid-series match versus Ireland in Dunedin in 2022, coming on for the last 20 minutes of that defeat, but that was the only time he was included by Ian Foster in the lead-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
It was last year when the Chiefs front-rower made the Super Rugby Pacific switch across the Tasman, joining Les Kiss at the Reds, and he has now been chosen to help share the burden following the exit of James Slipper, who retired earlier this month after setting an all-time Wallabies caps record of 150.
“He’s like no other…”
Australia are set to begin their five-match tour in the Far East on Saturday before European assignments versus England, Italy, Ireland and Australia, a schedule that provides Ross with plenty of opportunity to stake his claim behind Angus Bell, who will wear the No.1 shirt in Tokyo.
Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has been impressed by what he has seen so far in the build-up to the tour opener. “He is like no other; he has been good for the group,” he said.
“He is different. He has come from outside of the group, but he has been a huge addition in terms of his experience across the ditch and he has played a fair bit of footy.
“He is someone who adds to our depth at loosehead, especially with the departure of James. He has been working hard in the background playing this year for the Reds and he has been toiling away, so his opportunity is this week and he will grab it with both hands.”
Wallabies have a new captain as Joe Schmidt makes wholesale changes for Japan clash
Eddie Jones recalls Michael Leitch as South African set for Japan debut against Wallabies
When Ross makes his expected appearance off the bench in Tokyo, he will become only the fifth player to wear the gold and black at Test level. The four other dual Wallaby/All Black players are Alex Hodgman, Ted Jessep, Des Connor and Owen Stephens.
Beaten by the All Blacks in Perth in the final match of their 2025 Rugby Championship campaign on October 4, the Wallabies have made several changes to their side to play Japan.
Among the changes is a return for winger Dylan Pietsch, who was left on a liquid diet for a week in August following the injury suffered in South Africa when colliding with Siya Kolisi.
“It was a pretty abrupt collision. I noticed pretty much straight away,” he said. “I had my mouth shut for a week. It was actually going a lot better than what we had initially thought.
“We initially thought it would be six to eight weeks with my mouth shut on a liquid diet, but that only lasted a week. I couldn’t clench my jaw for a couple of weeks. I was sitting there trying to gym with my mouth open. It looked a bit weird to most boys.
“It was definitely a hard rehab. Probably the hardest I have gone through mentally. Not being able to do a lot, not being able to talk or eat or anything like that, was pretty challenging. I’m so glad to be back now. To be here with this group is really special.”