Wallabies Spring Tour squad: Tom Lynagh dropped as Joseph Suaalii, Will Skelton, Tane Edmed picked
Coach Joe Schmidt has put a broom through the Wallabies, announcing major changes for his first Spring Tour squad. Newly arrived NRL star Joseph Suaalii is in – but some shock names have missed out.
Rugby
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tom Lynagh has been dropped and Tane Edmed has been elevated to the Wallabies’ spring tour squad, joining NRL convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and overseas additions Will Skelton and Samu Kerevi.
Marika Koroibete has missed out altogether, while Joe Schmidt’s first Wallaby captain Liam Wright and winger Filipo Daugunu will miss the trip due to injury, while hooker Dave Porecki was ruled out due to family reasons.
Edmed, who was playing in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship just weeks ago, now becomes a genuine contender for the Wallabies’ No.10 jersey, competing against Noah Lolesio and Den Donaldson in the top squad.
Lynagh, meanwhile, has been relegated to the touring Australia XV team having played four Tests this year under Schmidt.
Kerevi and Skelton have not featured in the gold jersey this Test season after the latter captained the group in France last year.
The experienced duo are two of five fresh faces to the group along with Suaalii, the former Australian Schoolboys representative who returned to the 15-man game last week.
The 21-year-old is one of three uncapped players named in the squad, with NSW Waratahs flyhalf Edmed and Western Force winger Harry Potter also selected for their first national set ups.
ACT Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard and versatile Queensland forward Seru Uru return to the squad, which is comprised of 19 forwards and 15 backs, and is mostly drawn from the group that has been together throughout 2024.
This year’s Spring Tour will feature Tests against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland over four consecutive weekends in November. It is the 40th anniversary of the Wallabies’ victorious 1984 Grand Slam Tour.
The squad will assemble in Sydney over the weekend before departing for the United Kingdom on Thursday next week.
“The squad has had a chance to regenerate over the last few weeks,” Schmidt said. “At the same time, it was good to catch up with a wider group of players in the two-day training hubs we had in Canberra and Brisbane last week.
“We have a relatively consistent group but will integrate a few new players on tour.
“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, the Wallabies and Australia XV coaches have selected 30 players to travel to the United Kingdom for matches against Bristol and England A next month.
A total of 14 Wallabies have been named in the group, which is made up of 17 forwards and 13 backs.
20-year-old Massimo De Lutiis has been selected in his first senior national representative group, capping off a memorable seven days, having re-signed with the Queensland Reds last week.
His club teammate and Junior Wallabies playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has also been named, as has ACT Brumbies hooker Lachlan Lonergan who continues his comeback from an ankle injury he sustained during the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The side will be led by Rod Seib, with Queensland assistant Zane Hilton and former Melbourne Rebels defence coach Brad Harris rounding out the coaching team.
Australia XV coach Rod Seib said: “To have 14 Wallabies as part of the group illustrates the depth that’s currently being created in Australian Rugby.”
“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.”
Originally published as Wallabies Spring Tour squad: Tom Lynagh dropped as Joseph Suaalii, Will Skelton, Tane Edmed picked
NRL convert in shock Wallabies call
His last game was in an NRL final and now Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is set to play his next match as a Wallaby in the UK after a rapid elevation and confirmation he’s not going to England just for a ride.
Wallabies’ prized recruit to be parachuted into Aussie side
The high-profile code switch of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is set to be cemented with his selection in Joe Schmidt’s official Wallabies squad, while the future of another young gun remains clouded.