Wallabies squad: 11-man injury list, Will Skelton’s absence explained as returnees bolster Joe Schmidt’s team, but selection conundrum remains
Wallabies Will Skelton and Tom Wright and head coach Joe Schmidt
Joe Schmidt has named his Wallabies squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship matches against Argentina, with powerhouse lock Will Skelton omitted.
The Wallabies are back in Australia after winning one of their two matches in South Africa against the Springboks and now face Los Pumas in back-to-back games in Townsville and Sydney.
Wallabies squad breakdown
However, they are without the services of behemoth lock Skelton, who has returned to France to link up with his club La Rochelle ahead of the upcoming Top 14 season.
Rugby Australia confirm that discussions are ongoing regarding the lock’s availability for the two Tests against the All Blacks following the pair of fixtures against Argentina.
But for now, he has been replaced in the squad by Queensland’s Josh Canham, who is one of several new faces to the team.
NSW Waratahs recruit Pete Samu has been added to the squad as a replacement for Langi Gleeson, who is managing a sore heel. Samu returned to Australia in July after spending two seasons playing for Bordeaux, winning the Champions Cup in his final season in France, with the versatile back-rower looking to add to his 33 caps of Test experience over the next fortnight.
Allan Alaalatoa returns from injury to add experience in the front-row and replaces Aidan Ross, while another returnee includes fly-half Tom Lynagh, who has been sidelined since the third British and Irish Lions Test.
James O’Connor was called in as cover for Lynagh, but he remains with the squad as Ben Donaldson is sidelined for the Wallabies after sustaining a setback in training before the first Test against the Springboks.
Winger Harry Potter, who started the first two Tests against the British and Irish Lions, is another who has recovered from injury to re-join the squad, having spent time rehabbing a hamstring in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Dylan Pietsch and Tom Wright are ruled out after their respective injuries against the Springboks. Filipo Daugunu and Hamish Stewart are also named, having joined the squad after the two setbacks in South Africa.
“While it’s disappointing to lose some players in what was an attritional fortnight in South Africa, we’re pleased to be able to lean into the squad depth that we’re trying to create and welcome back some familiar faces to the group,” head coach Schmidt said.
“Argentina have been in strong form this year with wins over the British & Irish Lions and New Zealand, and we know they’ll be very tough to beat in Townsville.”
The injury list for the Wallabies has now entered double digits following the tour to South Africa, with Pietsch, Wright, Gleeson and Donaldson joining Charlie Cale, Massimo De Lutiis, Matt Faessler, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Luke Reimer, and Liam Wright on the sidelines.
Will Skelton’s absence explained and problem areas
Rugby Australia would be within their rights to select Skelton for the next two rounds of the Rugby Championship if they so wished. World Rugby regulation 9 (c) (iii) for Rugby Championship Release Period reads: “Subject to the provisions of Regulation 9.32 and Regulation 9.33 during the Rugby Championship Release Period Unions may only exercise the Right to Release pursuant to this Regulation 9 for six weeks out of the eight-week period.
“The six weeks shall be the same weeks for each of the senior National Representative Team, the next senior National Representative Team and the Under 20 National Representative Team.”
This means that La Rochelle could recall the lock for the rest periods during the tournament, but the Wallabies could have him at their disposal for all the match weeks.
However, it is clear that Rugby Australia are attempting to build a strong club-country relationship with the French club and have had rolling negotiations on scenarios that will best serve all parties.
Will Skelton’s Rugby Championship fate decided as Wallabies won’t enforce World Rugby regulations
Earlier this week, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the lock would not be selected in the squad to face the Pumas but stated that he could well return to face the All Blacks in the final two rounds of the Rugby Championship. He rejoins Ronan O’Gara’s squad as La Rochelle ramp up their preparations for the upcoming season with an opening day fixture against last season’s runners-up Bordeaux on September 6 – the same day as the clash against Argentina.
Like with the Wallabies, Skelton is a hugely influential figure in the La Rochelle squad, so it is certainly understandable that O’Gara will want the lock in France for the start of the new season, particularly after a hugely underwhelming campaign where they failed to reach the Top 14 knockouts and bowed out of the Champions Cup in the round of 16 phase.
While Skelton’s absence will be sorely felt in the pack, Schmidt will also be without star full-back Tom Wright, who has consistently featured in the number 15 jumper over the past 18 months.
Donaldson has featured in the role, particularly off the bench, for the Wallabies, but is also sidelined with no clear successor named in the squad. Winger Andrew Kellaway has the versatility to cover the position and did so in Cape Town against the Springboks, while Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii filled the role for the Waratahs during Super Rugby. However, the latter has been used purely as a midfielder in the Wallabies set-up as Schmidt builds his combination with Len Ikitau.
Filling Skelton’s void will also be tricky, but Lukhan Salakaia-Loto showed tremendous form for the likes of the AUNZ Invitational XV as well as the First Nations and Pasifika XV against the British and Irish Lions. Previously, Jeremy Williams started alongside Nick Frost when Skelton has not been selected, but he will face stiff competition from the likes of Salakaia-Loto, Canham and perhaps even Tom Hooper, but the latter would require a shake-up in the loose trio.
Wallabies Rugby Championship squad
Forwards (20): Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Josh Canham, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Pete Samu, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson
Backs (16): Filipo Daugunu, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Ryan Lonergan, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami, Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White
Injury list: Charlie Cale, Massimo De Lutiis, Ben Donaldson, Matt Faessler, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Dylan Pietsch, Luke Reimer, Tom Wright, Liam Wright
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