From Dengue fever to Lions bolter? The burning questions around the Wallabies squad

The Age

3 hours ago

One big unit who has caught the eye in the second-half of the year is the Brumbies' Tuaina Taii Tualima, a giant back-rower who came from the Rebels. Tualima only played half the year after catching dengue fever in the Brumbies' trip to Fiji early in the season, but was a trusted starter for Stephen Larkham in the run home and finals.
Tualima is a strong ball carrier and good lineout target, but back row is arguably the most competitive bracket of all.
You'd probably have to class James O'Connor as a bolter if he was picked as a utility/playmaker option, having last played for the Wallabies in 2022.
Will Taniela Tupou make it?
Yes, is the short answer. Tupou has not had a great year but props with his build and experience – 145kg and 59 Test caps – don't grow on trees, so it's hard to see him missing out on one of the probable 6-7 prop spots in the initial squad.
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The Wallabies' depth up front is not strong enough to ignore Tupou. Allan Alaalatoa, James Slipper and Angus Bell are certainties, and Tom Robertson should also return. Then you have Tom Lambert, Zane Nonnggor and Isaac Kailea. And Tupou, whose main issues seem to be more mental than physical and thus alluringly resolvable for Schmidt and Mike Cron. A powerhouse stint from Tupou off the bench, in a series where scrum dominance will be golden, would be the ideal scenario.
Will there be high-profile omissions?
Rob Leota's injuries last year, and into this season, are likely to see him miss out in the highly competitive back row, and five-eighth Tane Edmed – who played for the Wallabies in the last Test of 2024 – could be a victim of modest game time for the Waratahs this year.
There'll be no shortage of strong – but unlucky – candidates. Darcy Swain and Josh Canham will likely duel for a lock spot, and a Test hooker will also end up as surplus to needs, with Matt Faessler, Billy Pollard, Dave Porecki, Lachlan Lonergan and Brandon Paenga-Amosa all in the frame.
Marika Koroibete is also a chance of being overlooked, given the strength and depth in the outside backs. Brumbies speedster Corey Toole is also another right on the cusp.
Will there be Giteau Law picks?
It's a sign of the increasing quality in Australia's Super Rugby ranks that there has been far less discussion about the numbers of overseas-based players needed to take on the Lions. In the win over England last year, for example, there weren't any on the field.
The numbers won't be big. Will Skelton is a certainty, and he is already back in the country. Samu Kerevi is also a strong chance after an impressive season for Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan, and has been training at Ballymore this week. Koroibete was once the first picked, but he was off the pace last year and has been hampered by injury this season in Japan.
Who will be the playmakers?
Pending fitness after a head knock in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-final, Noah Lolesio has done enough to hold down his starting spot, even though he's leaving Australian rugby next season and may subsequently be overlooked for the Rugby Championship.
The two deputies will be between Ben Donaldson, Tom Lynagh, Edmed and James O'Connor – probably in that order. Michael Hooper is a big fan of Bernard Foley, too, and said on the Inside Line show he'd have the former NSW and Wallabies star – who is still going strong in Japan – in the squad.
Will there be a new captain?
We won't find out in the squad naming, and Schmidt won't show his hand until naming the side for the Fiji Test. There has been speculation around a change of captain, but if Harry Wilson is fit, he should retain the armnband under an overall theme of consistency from Schmidt.
Allan Alaalatoa would be the next pick. Both are hugely admired as leaders in the Wallabies system.
Where will Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii play?
Centre. Though Suaalii played at No.15 for the Waratahs, and did it well, there is no need for him in that role for the Wallabies, with Tom Wright in superb form.
There is a need in the centres, however; the area where Australia's depth is arguably at its shallowest. Suaalii and Len Ikitau would be odds-on to re-unite, with Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart, Josh Flook and Samu Kerevi in the mix after that.