Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has earned a recall to the Wallabies squad for their two Tests against South Africa, which kick off the Rugby Championship. The powerful lock impressed for the First Nations & Pasifika XV against the British & Irish Lions three weeks ago, earning his place in coach Joe Schmidt's 35-man squad.
Salakaia-Loto, who has 41 Wallabies caps, last played for Australia against Ireland late last year. He is one of several new faces in the squad, alongside uncapped players Corey Toole, Ryan Lonergan, and Aidan Ross, who previously played one Test for New Zealand in 2022.
Injury concerns in the halves have prompted Schmidt to call on Nic White, just a week after he announced his retirement from international rugby. Fly-half Tane Edmed has been added due to a concussion suffered by Tom Lynagh, while Ben Donaldson is the frontrunner to start at No 10 after being on the bench for all three Lions Tests.
Schmidt acknowledged the challenge of facing the top-ranked Springboks on home soil. 'We're very conscious of how difficult it is going to be, playing South Africa on their home turf over two consecutive weekends,' he said. The first Test is in Johannesburg on 16 August, followed by the second in Cape Town a week later.
The squad also includes Rob Valetini, who missed the third Lions Test with a calf injury, and veteran James O'Connor. Young centre Josh Flook and hooker Josh Nasser join their Reds teammate Salakaia-Loto as new inclusions. The Wallabies will look to build on their progress from the Lions series, where they won the third Test to avoid a whitewash.
