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Pete Samu called up as star trio return in Wallabies squad for Pumas

Pete Samu poses during a Wallabies Rugby Championship Headshots Session at Sanctuary Cove on June 26, 2023 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

There are a handful of returning faces in the Wallabies squad to face Los Pumas in rounds three and four of the Rugby Championship, with injuries dictating availability for Joe Schmidt’s team.

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The coach has lost the services of star fullback Tom Wright, supersub Langi Gleeson, giant lock Will Skelton, bruising wing Dylan Pietsch and the versatile Ben Donaldson.

The good news is Allan Alaalatoa, Tom Lynagh and Harry Potter are all back to full fitness in time for the home series against Argentina, and are joined by Pete Samu in his first Wallabies squad since 2023. Filipo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart, and Josh Canham are all involved as injury replacements, too.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “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.

“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.”

Related

Wallabies squad to play Los Pumas

Forwards (20)

Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors, ACT Brumbies, 83)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 41)
Josh Canham (#987, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 1)
Nick Champion De Crespigny (#991, Canberra Grammar School, Western Force, 2)
Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions, ACT Brumbies, 31)
Tom Hooper (#964, Bathurst Bulldogs, ACT Brumbies, 15)
Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies, Queensland Reds, 31)
Josh Nasser (#979, Easts Rugby (Brisbane), Queensland Reds, 6)
Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles, Queensland Reds, 14)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts, Western Force, 23)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 12)
Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos, Western Force, 34)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick, Queensland Reds, 41)
Pete Samu (#920, Moorabbin Rams, NSW Waratahs, 33)
James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates, ACT Brumbies, 148)
Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia, Western Force, 8)
Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby (Brisbane), NSW Waratahs, 61)
Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 54)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers, Western Force, 16)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils, Queensland Reds, 27)

Backs (16)

Filipo Daugunu (#931, Wests Bulldogs, Queensland Reds, 12)
Tane Edmed (#990, West Harbour Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 2)
Josh Flook (#972, Brothers Rugby, Queensland Reds, 4)
Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 45)
Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves, NSW Waratahs, 13)
Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 43)
Ryan Lonergan (uncapped, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 0)
Tom Lynagh (#977, University of Queensland, Queensland Reds, 6)
Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 47)
James O’Connor (#832, St Joseph’s College, Nudgee, Crusaders (New Zealand), 66)
Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 31)
Harry Potter (#989, Moorabbin Rams, Western Force, 5)
Hamish Stewart (#986, Toowoomba Bears, Western Force, 2)
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (#988, The Kings School, NSW Waratahs, 10)
Corey Toole (#992, Wagga Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, 1)
Nic White (#875, Maitland Blacks, Western Force, 75)

Rugby Championship

P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
New Zealand
2
1
1
0
6
2
Australia
2
1
1
0
5
3
South Africa
2
1
1
0
4
4
Argentina
2
1
1
0
4
Unavailable for selection due to injury

Charlie Cale
Massimo De Lutiis
Ben Donaldson
Matt Faessler
Langi Gleeson
Jake Gordon
Noah Lolesio
Dylan Pietsch
Luke Reimer
Tom Wright

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Tom 1 hour ago
Change at the top is only answer for England – Andy Goode

We aren't miles ahead of any other nation in terms of talent at all. I agree Borthwick is a mediocre coach but let's not get carried away. France have won the u20 world cup three out of the last five times and just beat us in both the u20 and u18 six nations… and I don't think many people would claim we've got more talent than SA or the ABs either. Ibitoye isn't someone you want in a test match, he's so unpredictable. In a tight test match there are very few scoring opportunities for wingers but there are lots of opportunities for wingers to make defensive misreads and balls things up. In a tightly contested, low scoring game, you'd much rather have someone like Feyi Wabosi who has X factor but can be relied upon to defend properly or not have a brain farts, we've got other good wingers without needing Ibitoye.

I agree in general with your sentiment but we should be realistic. We've won the u20 WC once in the last decade, won the six nations only twice. A prem club hasn't won anything in Europe since Bristol won the challenge cup when they had Piutau, Radradra. There is talent out there for sure but our clubs and u20s aren't enjoying the level of success which could support statements about us having the most talent in the world. If a new coach comes in they aren't going to wave a magic wand and make us the best team in the world. There are a lot of structural problems and engrained attitudes which need to be overcome within the RFU and Prem etc. Plus any new coach is going to have to undo the damage Borthwick and Wigglesworth have done. They're going to have their work cut out for them.



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