Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Marika Koroibete and Angus Bell return for Wallabies’ clash with Springboks

Marika Koroibete poses during an Australia Wallabies Portrait Session on August 05, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images for ARU)

Winger Marika Koroibete and prop Angus Bell will both wear Wallaby gold for the first time since last year’s Rugby World Cup when Australia take on South Africa in an intriguing Rugby Championship clash on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Koroibete is the only overseas-based player who has been selected in a Wallabies squad by coach Joe Schmidt this year. The 59-Test veteran missed the July series but was recalled into the squad for The Rugby Championship.

The 32-year-old comes into the starting side as a replacement for Filipo Daugunu who picked up an injury during last weekend’s 33-7 loss to the Springboks at Suncorp Stadium. Koroibete joins Andrew Kellaway and Tom Wright in the Wallabies’ outside backs.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

Nic White is another big addition to the Wallabies’ ranks after being named at halfback ahead of Jake Gordon and Tate McDermott. White will partner former ACT Brumbies teammate Noah Lolesio in the halves.

The other big talking point is the inclusion of Bell. The NSW Waratahs enforcer picked up a toe injury during Super Rugby Pacific but is now line to return to a competitive professional match for the first time since a 40-16 loss to the Brumbies on April 6.

Hooker Josh Nasser also comes into the starting side for the first time in his international career. Queenslander Angus Blyth will wear the No. 4 jersey following injuries to locks Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams last time out.

On the bench, Seru Uru and Max Jorgensen after both in line to debut after being named in a Wallabies matchday side for the first time. Jorgensen went to last year’s Rugby World Cup in France but didn’t take the field due to an injury.

ADVERTISEMENT

“There’s some continuity and freshness in this team after a very physical Test last weekend,” coach Joe Schmidt said in a statement.

“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.”

Angus Bell will pack down along with Josh Nasser and captain Allan Alaalatoa in the front row, while Angus Blyth and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto round out the tight five. Rob Valetini joins Carlo Tizzano and Harry Wilson in an unchanged loose forwards combination.

White and Lolesio will combine in the halves, while Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau continue their combination in the midfield. Then there’s the previously mentioned outside backs combination of Koroibete, Kellaway and Wright.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium is scheduled to get underway at 5:45 pm AWST on Saturday evening.

Wallabies team to take on the Springboks in Perth

  1. Angus Bell (28 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
  2. Josh Nasser (3 Tests) – Easts Tigers
  3. Allan Alaalatoa (c) (71 Tests) – West Harbour Juniors
  4. Angus Blyth (3 Tests) – Casuarina Beach Rugby Club
  5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (33 Tests) – Randwick
  6. Rob Valetini (43 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
  7. Carlo Tizzano (1 Test) – University of Western Australia
  8. Harry Wilson (14 Tests) – Gunnedah Red Devils
  9. Nic White (68 Tests) – Maitland Blacks
  10. Noah Lolesio (20 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
  11. Marika Koroibete (59 Tests) – Nasinu Secondary College, Fiji
  12. Hunter Paisami (28 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
  13. Len Ikitau (30 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
  14. Andrew Kellaway (30 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
  15. Tom Wright (29 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles

Replacements

16. Billy Pollard (3 Tests) – Lindfield Junior Rugby Club

17. James Slipper (137 Tests) – Bond Pirates

18. Zane Nonggorr (7 Tests) – Gold Coast Eagles

19. Tom Hooper (9 Tests) – Bathurst Bulldogs

20. Seru Uru* – Wests BulldogsTate McDermott (32 Tests) – Flinders Rugby Club

21. Tate McDermott (32 Tests) – Flinders Rugby Club

22. Ben Donaldson (9 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles

23. Max Jorgensen* – Balmain Wolves

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

I
IkeaBoy 2 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 4 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Munster-ROG reunion a ‘love story’ but no return likely for La Rochelle boss Munster-ROG reunion a ‘love story’ but no return likely for La Rochelle boss
Search