Wagga Wagga junior Corey Toole will make his Wallabies debut against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday evening local time.
An Olympian with the Australia Sevens program in 2024, Toole, who plays for the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby Pacific, will start on the left wing in place of Dylan Pietsch who suffered a jaw fracture in the side’s win at Ellis Park last weekend.
It’s one of three changes to the starting side, with back-to-back John Eales Medallist, Rob Valetini returning to the team at number eight, replacing regular captain Harry Wilson who is being managed after limping from the field in Johannesburg.
Wilson’s club teammate Fraser McReight will skipper the side from the number seven jersey. A former Australia Under 20s skipper, McReight will become the 91st player to captain Australia. He also took over as Captain in last weekend’s test after Harry Wilson left the field
Dubbo product Tom Robertson is the final change to the matchday 23. He’ll start at loosehead prop, after James Slipper returned home under the HIA protocols, joining Billy Pollard and Taniela Tupou in the run on front row.
Nick Frost and Will Skelton are again named as the second-row pair, with Tom Hooper completing the back five of the scrum.
The experienced halves pairing of Nic White and James O’Connor have been selected for what is the second Test of the side's 2025 Flight Centre Rugby Championship campaign. White is the only player in the matchday 23 who was involved the last time the Wallabies played in Cape Town back in 2014.
Len Ikitau inches closer to his 50th cap for the Wallabies, starting at inside centre in his 45th appearance for his country. He’ll again partner with Joseph-Aukuso Suallii in the midfield, the outside centre scoring his first try in a gold jersey last Saturday.
Toole’s club teammate Tom Wright will start at fullback for the 18th time in the last 19 Tests, with 20-year-old Max Jorgensen to line up on the right wing, completing the back three.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell and Zane Nonggorr will again provide ballast as the substitute front row, with Jeremy Williams and Nick Champion de Crespigny the remaining forward cover.
Queensland skipper Tate McDermott is the reserve scrumhalf, having showed his versatility again in Johannesburg; spending time on the wing before finishing the game at halfback. Sydney’s Tane Edmed is the replacement flyhalf, with Andrew Kellaway finalising the matchday 23.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “The squad as a whole has recovered pretty well from what was a very draining and physical Test match on the highveld last week.
“We struggled to contain a powerhouse Springbok start last weekend and we know that we have to improve leading into what’s likely to be a bruising encounter in Cape Town on Saturday night.”
1. Tom Robertson (33 Tests) – #898; Dubbo Junior Rugby Club
2. Billy Pollard (11 Tests) - #958; Lindfield Junior Rugby Club
3. Taniela Tupou (60 Tests) - #917; Brothers Rugby
4. Nick Frost (30 Tests) – #953; Hornsby Lions
5. Will Skelton (35 Tests) - #883; The Hills Sports High School
6. Tom Hooper (14 Tests) - #964; Bathurst Bulldogs
7. Fraser McReight (c) (30 Tests) – #937; Albany Creek Brumbies
8. Rob Valetini (53 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
9. Nic White (74 Tests) - #875, Maitland Blacks
10. James O’Connor (65 Tests) - #832, St Joseph’s College, Nudgee
11. Corey Toole* - uncapped, Wagga Crows
12. Len Ikitau (44 Tests) – #944; Tuggeranong Vikings
13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (9 Tests) – #988; The Kings School
14. Max Jorgensen (12 Tests) – #984; Balmain Wolves
15. Tom Wright (42 Tests) – #939; Clovelly Eagles
Substitutes:
16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (22 Tests) - #918, Southern Districts
17. Angus Bell (40 Tests) – #940; Hunters Hill Rugby Club
18. Zane Nonggorr (13 Tests) - #966; Gold Coast Eagles
19. Jeremy Williams (15 Tests) – #973; Wahroonga Tigers
20. Nick Champion de Crespigny (1 Test) - #991; Canberra Grammar School
21. Tate McDermott (46 Tests) – #936; Flinders Rugby Club
22. Tane Edmed (1 Test) - #990; West Harbour Juniors
23. Andrew Kellaway (42 Tests) - #943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club
Wallabies 19 defeated by the British & Irish Lions 27 on Saturday July 19 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Wallabies 26 defeated by the British & Irish Lions 29 on Saturday July 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Wallabies 22 defeated the British & Irish Lions 12 on Saturday August 2 at Accor Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies 38 defeated South Africa 22 on Saturday August 16 at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Wallabies v South Africa at 1:10am AEST on Sunday August 24 at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Wallabies v Argentina at 2:30pm AEST on Saturday September 6 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Wallabies v Argentina at 2:00pm AEST on Saturday September 13 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v New Zealand at 3:05pm AEST on Saturday September 27, Eden Park, Auckland
Wallabies v New Zealand at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday October 4 at Optus Stadium, Perth
Wallabies v Japan at TBC on Saturday October 25 at National Stadium, Tokyo
Wallabies v England, at 2:10am AEDT on Sunday November 2 at Allianz Stadium, London
Wallabies v Italy at 4:40am AEDT on Sunday November 9 at Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
Wallabies v Ireland at 7:10am AEDT on Sunday November 16 at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wallabies v France at 7:10am on Sunday November 23 at Stade de France, Paris
