Wallabies to recall Will Skelton and Marika Koroibete to tackle Springboks

By SABC Sport
25th July 2024

Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt is set to recall lock Will Skelton and Marika Koroibete, according to reports from the Sydney Morning Herald.

The duo were not involved in the Wallabies series whitewash over Wales, nor the victory against Georgia on Saturday as Schmidt opted to play Australia-based players, but they would add plenty of experience and quality ahead of the opening game of the Rugby Championship against South Africa on August 10th.

Speaking to the media, Schmidt said: "I think we're open to bringing guys in, but we've also been impressed with the guys that we've had.

"While the performances have ebbed and flowed, and we're frustrated by that, when we've flowed we've actually looked pretty good with the players we have."

"So, if we can supplement that with a couple of guys who make a difference, that's great," he continued. "But at the same time it means leaving someone out who's contributed really well so far, so it's just finding the balance there and trying to build from there."

Powerhouse lock Skelton last featured for Australia during their World Cup victory over Georgia, but has been a mainstay in the La Rochelle side again this season. He was named as captain for a friendly against France prior to the World Cup, and has 30 caps to his name thus far.

Dual-code international Koroibete also featured for the Wallabies during the World Cup, where he featured in all four of their group matches during the tournament. He has 57 caps to his name and boasts a good record of 20 tries for his country.

Australia kick off their Rugby Championship campaign with two huge matches against the Springboks, before heading to Argentina for two Tests against Los Pumas. Rounding things off, Joe Schmidt faces his old side as Australia take on New Zealand; where they will also look to win their first Bledisloe Cup since 2002.

The Wallabies come into the tournament in good form though. They have won all three matches since Schmidt's arrival, and have tallied a combined total of 101 points across those games.