Brumbies speedster Corey Toole and Canberra-raised Force hardman Nick Champion de Crespigny have been named as two bolters in a 36-man Wallabies squad named by Joe Schmidt ahead of the British and Irish Lions series next month.
After surveying his options through the Super Rugby Pacific season, Schmidt took the covers off his first Wallabies squad of the year, which was named to prepare a Test against Fiji on July 6 but will ostensibly be the Test squad for the three-Test series against the Lions thereafter.
The story of the squad is one of consistency, with Schmidt turning mostly to the troops who played for the Wallabies last year.
But there were interesting new names on the list, and a handful of unlucky candidates left off it.
Toole, the electric Brumbies winger, and 28-year-old back-rower De Crespigny – who played for Sydney Uni and Castres in France before returning to join the Western Force this year – have both been rewarded for strong seasons, and are the only uncapped players in the squad.
But there were also recalls for Force lock Darcy Swain and Waratahs hooker Dave Porecki, who haven’t played Test rugby since 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Veteran prop James Slipper can become only the second Wallabies player after George Smith to play in two Test series against the Lions, after he played against them in 2013.
Taniela Tupou was named despite speculation he may miss out, following a poor season for the Waratahs.
There are plenty of notable omissions, with no room in the squad for lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, back-rower Seru Uru and five-eighth Tane Edmed, who all featured in the Wallabies side on the spring tour last year.
There was also no fairytale selection for James O’Connor, or Japan-based winger Marika Koroibete. Will Skelton is the only overseas-based player to win a spot in Schmidt’s squad.
Nick Champion de Crespigny of the Force is tackled against the Waratahs.Credit: Getty Images
Schmidt gave his first indication of potential first-choice Wallabies side by identifying five Western Force players who will not gather in Sydney on Sunday, and instead stay in Perth to play for the Force against the Lions on June 28: De Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Swain and Nic White.
That points to Jeremy Williams and Harry Potter being among a group of 23-25 players Schmidt intends to “quarantine” ahead of the Fiji Test, and Lions series.
“Selection is always tight and there’ll be players who are excited and those that are disappointed,” Schmidt said. “As coaches, there was a lot of healthy, robust discussion, and we think we’ve selected a group that will work hard and connect well as a squad.
“There’s some continuity from last year, plus a few new or returning players, who have forced their way into the mix through strong performances in Super Rugby Pacific. This squad’s immediate focus is Fiji, and we will need to hit the ground running having not been together since early January.”
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