Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has made changes to the team as he prepares to face the Springboks at Optus Stadium in Perth tonight, recalling seasoned Fijian winger Marika Koroibete to the starting lineup. Koroibete will join Andrew Kellaway and Tom Wright in the back three, marking his first match since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The 59-Test veteran was included in the squad for the first two Tests of the Rugby Championship but missed the July series due to his return from Japan. Schmidt has also selected Western Force scrum-half Nic White for his first start of the year, pairing him with former Brumbies teammate Noah Lolesio in the halves after White came off the bench in recent matches against Wales and Georgia.
In the forward pack, prop Angus Bell has been cleared to return from a toe injury, providing a significant boost to the team. Bell last played in April for the Waratahs before the injury impacted his 2023 Super Rugby season. Joining him is hooker Josh Nasser, who will make his debut start, along with captain Allan Alaalatoa. Angus Blyth is also back in the starting lineup after missing the previous match against the Springboks due to an infection, taking the place of Nick Frost, who is sidelined with a concussion.
There are two possible debutants on the bench: former Fiji U20 player and Ratu Kadavulevu School captain Serupepeli Uru, alongside Max Jorgensen. Uru offers cover for both second and back row positions in a five-three bench split, alongside returning players Billy Pollard and Tom Hooper. Jorgensen is making his highly anticipated return after an injury prevented him from setting the record as the youngest Australian to debut at a Rugby World Cup last year.
“There’s some continuity and freshness in this team after a very physical test last weekend,” Schmidt commented. “The players have rolled up their sleeves and worked hard again this week. The reality is that we need to be more combative and accurate this Saturday.” The match is set to kick off at 7:45 PM.