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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Retiring White earns Wallabies recall for farewell Test
Veteran scrumhalf Nic White has been recalled to Australia's starting side to face the British and Irish Lions in what will be his 73rd and final Test for the Wallabies. White announced his impending retirement on Thursday before Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt revealed several team changes for Saturday night's third Test at Sydney's Accor Stadium. The 35-year-old will partner Tom Lynagh in the halves, while Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii are again selected as the midfield pairing for the sixth straight Test. Thank you Whitey 🙌Wallaby No. 875 Nic White will call time on his Test career after Saturday's final Test of the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions more - #LionsTour2025 — Wallabies (@wallabies) July 31, 2025 Dylan Pietsch replaces the injured Harry Potter on the left wing with the Wiradjuri man set to play for the first time in the special edition Wallabies jersey he designed for this year's Lions series. Pietsch joins 20-year-old Max Jorgensen, who will play his first Test in his home city, and Tom Wright in the back three. Tighthead prop Taniela Tupou will make his first appearance in a gold jersey this year, replacing the injured Allan Alaalatoa, and will partner with hooker David Porecki and James Slipper, who will play his 147th match for his country. Tom Hooper comes into the starting side at blindside flanker, for Rob Valetini, who is being managed. Hooper will link up with Queensland pair Fraser McReight and skipper Harry Wilson in the back row. Billy Pollard has been named as replacement hooker and will combine with Angus Bell and Zane Nonggorr in the substitute front row. Western Force skipper Jeremy Williams is the lock cover with Langi Gleeson selected as the back-row replacement. Tate McDermott, after coping incredibly well on the wing in last week's 29-26 series-deciding defeat in Melbourne, will again bring energy off the bench, along with Ben Donaldson and Andrew Kellaway who round out the match-day 23. "The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week's Test in Melbourne, but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday," Schmidt said. "The support in Brisbane and Melbourne helped to lift the squad, and I know the support this weekend in Accor Stadium will again help to lift the players in the high-pressure moments that we know are coming." The Wallabies are looking to avoid becoming the first team in more than a century to suffer a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of the Lions in Australia. WALLABIES SQUAD FOR THIRD LIONS TEST: James Slipper, David Porecki, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt), Nic White, Tom Lynagh, Dylan Pietsch, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright. Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Nic White called on to inspire Australia for third Lions Test in Sydney
The Wallabies will take inspiration from retiring scrum-half Nic White as they seek to avoid a series whitewash in the third Test against the British & Irish Lions in Sydney on Saturday. The veteran announced on Thursday he would retire from international rugby after Saturday's Test and coach Joe Schmidt has handed him the No 9 jersey for his 73rd Wallabies cap in a nod to his long contribution to Australian rugby. White said it was the right time to 'pass on the baton' to players like Jake Gordon and Tate McDermott, who have played ahead of him in the first two Tests. 'Pulling on the gold jersey was a dream of mine when I was a young boy in Scone and to say I've done it 72 times, with one last crack on Saturday night, is something I'm incredibly proud of and a privilege I've never taken for granted,' White said. 'Rugby has given me so much to be grateful for. I've made some incredible memories, some lifelong friendships and had the opportunity to see the world.' Schmidt described White as 'the ultimate competitor'. 'First and foremost Nic is a great man to have in a squad,' he said. 'He's team first all the time and has been at the top of the game for over a decade.' Outside White, Tom Lynagh at flyhalf and the centre pairing of Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii keep their places, while Dylan Pietsch will replace the injured Harry Potter on the wing. There are more changes in the forwards, as tighthead prop Taniela Tupou replaces Allan Alaalatoa who is out with a shoulder complaint. Rob Valetini will miss the game as the staff manage his return from a calf injury, after he lasted only 40 minutes in Melbourne. Into the loose forwards comes Tom Hooper to play alongside Queensland pair Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson who was again named captain, and prop Zane Noongar has been brought on to the bench. Carlo Tizzano and Tom Robertson have dropped off the bench, which has five forwards and three backs including the recalled Andrew Kellaway. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Schmidt said the squad has been 'deflated' after the 'gut-wrenching' end to the Test in Melbourne, when a contentious last-minute try won the Lions the match and the series, but they have now put that experience behind them. 'They have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday,' he said. 'The support in Brisbane and Melbourne helped to lift the squad, and I know the support this weekend in Accor Stadium, will again help to lift the players in the high-pressure moments that we know are coming.' The 83,000-capacity stadium is sold out for the clash, as the Wallabies hope to avoid their first whitewash against the Lions since 1904. Wallabies: 15-Tom Wright, 14-Max Jorgensen, 13-Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12-Len Ikitau, 11-Dylan Pietsch, 10-Tom Lynagh, 9-Nic White, 8-Harry Wilson, 7-Fraser McReight, 6-Tom Hooper, 5-Will Skelton, 4-Nick Frost, 3-Taniela Tupou, 2-David Porecki, 1-James SlipperReplacements: 16-Billy Pollard, 17-Angus Bell, 18-Zane Nonggorr, 19-Jeremy Williams, 20-Langi Gleeson, 21-Tate McDermott, 22-Ben Donaldson, 23-Andrew Kellaway
Perth Now
a day ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Retiring White earns Wallabies recall for farewell Test
Veteran scrumhalf Nic White has been recalled to Australia's starting side to face the British and Irish Lions in what will be his 73rd and final Test for the Wallabies. White announced his impending retirement on Thursday before Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt revealed several team changes for Saturday night's third Test at Sydney's Accor Stadium. The 35-year-old will partner Tom Lynagh in the halves, while Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii are again selected as the midfield pairing for the sixth straight Test. Dylan Pietsch replaces the injured Harry Potter on the left wing with the Wiradjuri man set to play for the first time in the special edition Wallabies jersey he designed for this year's Lions series. Pietsch joins 20-year-old Max Jorgensen, who will play his first Test in his home city, and Tom Wright in the back three. Tighthead prop Taniela Tupou will make his first appearance in a gold jersey this year, replacing the injured Allan Alaalatoa, and will partner with hooker David Porecki and James Slipper, who will play his 147th match for his country. Tom Hooper comes into the starting side at blindside flanker, for Rob Valetini, who is being managed. Hooper will link up with Queensland pair Fraser McReight and skipper Harry Wilson in the back row. Billy Pollard has been named as replacement hooker and will combine with Angus Bell and Zane Nonggorr in the substitute front row. Western Force skipper Jeremy Williams is the lock cover with Langi Gleeson selected as the back-row replacement. Tate McDermott, after coping incredibly well on the wing in last week's 29-26 series-deciding defeat in Melbourne, will again bring energy off the bench, along with Ben Donaldson and Andrew Kellaway who round out the match-day 23. "The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week's Test in Melbourne, but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday," Schmidt said. "The support in Brisbane and Melbourne helped to lift the squad, and I know the support this weekend in Accor Stadium will again help to lift the players in the high-pressure moments that we know are coming." The Wallabies are looking to avoid becoming the first team in more than a century to suffer a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of the Lions in Australia. WALLABIES SQUAD FOR THIRD LIONS TEST: James Slipper, David Porecki, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt), Nic White, Tom Lynagh, Dylan Pietsch, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright. Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.
The Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Tom Lynagh confident that Wallabies can beat Lions in Sydney
Tom Lynagh admits he wasn't expecting to be Australia's starting flyhalf during the Wallabies' series against the British and Irish Lions, but says it has been a 'seamless transition' from being on the bench to wearing the No.10 jersey. The neck injury suffered by Noah Lolesio in the Wallabies' 21-18 win over Fiji earlier this month opened the selection door for 22-year-old Lynagh, whose only previous experience for Australia had been three appearances off the bench. And while he hasn't been able to guide his nation to victory in his two starts against the Lions, Lynagh said he 'done all right', but hadn't been entirely pleased with his goal-kicking. He missed his only attempt on goal in Australia's 27-19 first Test loss in Brisbane, and kicked four from six in the Lions' series-clinching 29-26 win on last Saturday's second Test in Melbourne. Wallabies flyhalf Tom Lynagh (right) passes the ball during Australia's loss to the British and Irish Lions at the MCG. Picture:'I'm a bit disappointed in my goalkicking so far,' Lynagh said. 'I feel like that's let myself and the team down a bit, but in terms of the rest of it, it's been good. 'I'm just playing part of the system, and just trying to do my role for the team, and not overplay my hand. 'I didn't quite expect it, to be honest, but it has been great. The boys around me in the team have been great. 'It felt like a seamless transition really. They've given me a lot of confidence and so has (coach) Joe (Schmidt).' Support for Lynagh has also come from his father, Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, who has flown to Australia from his England base to see his son in action. 'Dad's been out here, and I've seen him quite a few times, which has been really nice,' Tom said. Despite the three-Test series being out of Australia's reach, Lynagh was confident the Wallabies could avoid being whitewashed by beating the Lions on Saturday night at Sydney's Accor Stadium. Tom Lynagh has started at flyhalf for the Wallabies in back-to-back Tests against the British and Irish Lions. Picture:'It would mean a lot for all of us, and everyone that has supported us throughout the series so far,' he said. 'We put in a good performance last week (at the MCG), and hopefully we can try to do the same, and get the result in the end. 'We know there are a lot of people supporting us, and a lot of people going out to the game, so we'd just like to try to give them something back.' The Wallabies have suffered another injury blow, with winger Harry Potter (hamstring) being joined by prop Allan Alaalatoa (shoulder) on the sidelines. Wallabies forward Jeremy Williams said Alaalatoa was a 'massive part of the group'. 'We just wish him the best in his recovery and hopefully he'll be back out there soon,' Williams said. Those in contention to replace Alaalatoa in Australia's starting line-up on Saturday night include Tom Robertson, Taniela Tupou and Zane Nonggorr. . Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Tom Lynagh grateful for the support he has received during series against British and Irish Lions
Tom Lynagh admits he wasn't expecting to be Australia's starting flyhalf during the Wallabies' series against the British and Irish Lions, but says it has been a 'seamless transition' from being on the bench to wearing the No.10 jersey. The neck injury suffered by Noah Lolesio in the Wallabies' 21-18 win over Fiji earlier this month opened the selection door for 22-year-old Lynagh, whose only previous experience for Australia had been three appearances off the bench. And while he hasn't been able to guide his nation to victory in his two starts against the Lions, Lynagh said he 'done all right', but hadn't been entirely pleased with his goal-kicking. He missed his only attempt on goal in Australia's 27-19 first Test loss in Brisbane, and kicked four from six in the Lions' series-clinching 29-26 win on last Saturday's second Test in Melbourne. 'I'm a bit disappointed in my goalkicking so far,' Lynagh said. 'I feel like that's let myself and the team down a bit, but in terms of the rest of it, it's been good. 'I'm just playing part of the system, and just trying to do my role for the team, and not overplay my hand. 'I didn't quite expect it, to be honest, but it has been great. The boys around me in the team have been great. 'It felt like a seamless transition really. They've given me a lot of confidence and so has (coach) Joe (Schmidt).' Support for Lynagh has also come from his father, Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, who has flown to Australia from his England base to see his son in action. 'Dad's been out here, and I've seen him quite a few times, which has been really nice,' Tom said. Despite the three-Test series being out of Australia's reach, Lynagh was confident the Wallabies could avoid being whitewashed by beating the Lions on Saturday night at Sydney's Accor Stadium. 'It would mean a lot for all of us, and everyone that has supported us throughout the series so far,' he said. 'We put in a good performance last week (at the MCG), and hopefully we can try to do the same, and get the result in the end. 'We know there are a lot of people supporting us, and a lot of people going out to the game, so we'd just like to try to give them something back.' The Wallabies have suffered another injury blow, with winger Harry Potter (hamstring) being joined by prop Allan Alaalatoa (shoulder) on the sidelines. Wallabies forward Jeremy Williams said Alaalatoa was a 'massive part of the group'. 'We just wish him the best in his recovery and hopefully he'll be back out there soon,' Williams said. Those in contention to replace Alaalatoa in Australia's starting line-up on Saturday night include Tom Robertson, Taniela Tupou and Zane Nonggorr.
