Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio is relishing a clean slate and return to the national set-up as the build towards next week's first Test begins.
Lolesio is back in the Wallaby squad after his omission in 2023 despite leading the Brumbies to the semi-finals.
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The 24-year-old is coming off a brilliant Super Rugby Pacific season, finishing second for points (150) and goal kicking percentage (85%) behind Damian McKenzie and fifth for try assists (seven), the most by a flyhalf.
“I’m real grateful to be back in the setup with all the boys and see all their faces again," he told the media.
“I’ll just try and do the best job that I can training every day and meeting with the boys, try and get as much feedback as I can from Joe (Schmidt) as well because he’s a very experienced coach and you just have to look at his resume.
“I’m just going to be a sponge at the moment and learn as much as I can.”
Lolesio has been in and out of the Wallabies squad since his debut in 2020 in the quest to lock down the number 10 jersey.
He started the majority of home Tests in 2021 and 2022 before inconsistent performances and the return of experienced halves Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley saw him drop down the depth chart.
Lolesio is keeping the same approach that brought the best out of him at Super Rugby in order to put his best foot forward ahead of the July 6 Test against Wales.
This was one of the big things he learned from his stint in Toulon, when he headed to France on a 'joker' deal after missing the World Cup.
Lolesio played six games for the French powerhouse and impressed in his two starts so much that the club pleaded to keep the half for an extended period before his return to the Brumbies.
“I’ve taken the approach into the camp of not really changing much of what I’ve done this season," he explained.
“The time in France taught me a lot about just loosening myself up a bit. I know as a young ten internationally, you can tend to put a lot of pressure on yourself so trying to really loosen myself up a bit more and enjoy the moments and training with the boys because I know when I tend to enjoy what I’m doing, I tend to play better.
“It’s worked well so far so far and nothing will change in my prep heading towards the upcoming Tests.
"...It’s feeling really good off the boot at the moment so just really trusting my process and what I’ve been doing on the training paddock doesn’t change in the game.
“I’m just backing my process and trusting it the best I can. I know some kicks are going to do well, some kicks aren’t but that’s just the way it goes.
“I’m just trying my process and if I get the opportunity to play these next coming weeks, I won’t be doing anything different.”
The connection with the French club remains, with Lolesio crediting the club for turning around his morale after a tough season
“A fair few of the boys from Toulon congratulated me because they know during the World Cup last year I was a bit down when I first walked up and they saw that," he notes.
“It’s been one of my best experiences so far in my career.”
He returns to the Wallabies excited by the clean slate offered by new coach Joe Schmidt, with 13 uncapped players included alongside several returning faces that missed the World Cup.
"Obviously last year happened and a fair chunk of that squad didn’t make it this year so any position is up for grabs," he added.
“I know the next few days of training Joe will be watching with close eyes so it’s a clean slate and I’m sure whoever Joe picks will get the job done.”
