Wallaby skipper Harry Wilson will not face Cape Town’s Springbok after suffering a knee injury in Australia’s incredible 38-22 comeback victory at Ellis Park last weekend.
Wilson’s injuries are not understood to be serious, but he confirmed to ESPN that he missed the second Test this weekend. His location is finally filmed by Rob Vallecini, the perfect fit after suffering a nasty calf injury, after falling into just 40 minutes of the British and Irish Lions series.
Balletini, like Will Skeleton, hit Newcastle calves ahead of a one-off test with Fiji, but veteran Locke was able to return in his second Test with the Lions and play for Sydney and Johannesburg.
However, Valetini is a great alternative for Wilson, earning two tries in a 16-point victory over the weekend, leading from before with a generally typical performance.
With Wilson coming out and Prop Alan Arratoa on the sidelines, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt needs to name the new skipper.
Meanwhile, Schmidt is poised to ultimately hand over his Test debut to Brunby Flyer Corey Toll after Dylan Piecchu broke his jaw with an uninjured Springboks captain Siya Kolisi tackle this weekend in Cape Town.
Sydney Morning Herald We first reported Toole’s inclusion before a source with knowledge of choice confirmed his inclusion in ESPN.
Toole first joined Wallabies Squad in 2024, but was never handed over a test call.
He returned to Brumby at the beginning of the season and did just that.
Toole returned to the Brumbies last month to face the Canberra Lions, earning a try in a 36-24 loss.
A former Australian men’s sevens team star and two-time Olympian, Toole will be his 20th Test debut in his days as Schmidt Wallabies.
The Wallabies will need to make at least one change after James Slipper suffered a concussion last weekend and then returned to Australia.
Angus Bell looks like a front runner to replace the number one jersey slippers, but Schmidt could also consider Tom Robertson and maintain a dynamic waratus in the bench role he filled very well last weekend.
Otherwise, Schmidt is expected to stick to the rest of the team that surprised the two-time reigning champion last weekend, resisting the call to refresh his team even more after four passionate Tests in five weeks.
Australia will check out match 23 on Thursday night (AEST).