Kurtley Beale is in contention to play in the Bledisloe Cup games against New Zealand after being named in the 36-man squad by Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
It is Beale’s first call up since the 2021 Spring Tour, having overcome a a significant hamstring injury sustained in France earlier this year.
Cadeyrn Neville is the only other new inclusion from the group that split a two-Test series with South Africa. Rennie named 35 squad members for that series.
The Brumbies lock has recovered from a knee injury sustained in the side’s second Test against England in July and will replace Japan-bound Rory Arnold who is unavailable for the matches due to the impending birth of his first child.
Queensland Reds fullback Jock Campbell and NSW Waratahs backrower Langi Gleeson are the only two uncapped players in the group.
The first Test will be held at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne next Thursday, the first Bledisloe Cup match in Victoria since 2010, before a return clash at Auckland’s Eden Park on September 24.
The side will assemble on Friday and is placed second on the Rugby Championship ladder with just two rounds remaining. The team for game one should be named on Tuesday with Hunter Paisami and Noah Lolesio still in doubt after their concussions against South Africa in Sydney.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said in a statement: “It’s great to be able to keep the core of our group together and welcome Cadeyrn back to the mob, while we wish Rory all the best for what’s an incredibly exciting time for him and his family.”
“Kurtley is a welcome return to the squad after recovering from a long-term injury and will bring his passion for the jersey along with his wealth of experience at Test level.
“We know how important these next two Tests are with silverware on the line and we’ll be expecting a response after the disappointment of last weekend’s loss.”
Lock Rory Arnold was not considered after being allowed to join his pregnant wife and establish himself in Japan where he has moved to from European rugby.
Wallabies squad for South Africa Tests (age, team, Tests played)
Allan Alaalatoa (28, ACT Brumbies, 58 Tests)
Kurtley Beale (31, NSW Waratahs, 95 Tests)
Angus Bell (21, NSW Waratahs, 19 Tests)
Jock Campbell (27, Queensland Reds, uncapped)
Pone Fa’amausili (25, Melbourne Rebels, 1 Test)
Folau Fainga’a (27, ACT Brumbies, 31 Tests)
Lalakai Foketi (27, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)
Bernard Foley (32, Kubota Spears, 71 Tests)
Nick Frost (22, ACT Brumbies, 4 Tests)
Langi Gleeson (21, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)
Jake Gordon (29, NSW Waratahs, 14 Tests)
Reece Hodge (28, Melbourne Rebels, 59 Tests)
Jed Holloway (29, NSW Waratahs, 4 Tests)
Len Ikitau (23, ACT Brumbies, 19 Tests)
Andrew Kellaway (26, Melbourne Rebels, 16 Tests)
Marika Koroibete (30, Saitama Wild Knights, 49 Tests)
Rob Leota (25, Melbourne Rebels, 12 Tests)
Noah Lolesio (22, ACT Brumbies, 14 Tests)
Lachlan Lonergan (22, ACT Brumbies, 6 Tests)
Tate McDermott (23, Queensland Reds, 18 Tests)
Fraser McReight (23, Queensland Reds, 6 Tests)
Cadeyrn Neville (33, ACT Brumbies, 2 Tests)
Hunter Paisami (24, Queensland Reds, 20 Tests)
Jordan Petaia (22, Queensland Reds, 20 Tests)
Matt Philip (28, Melbourne Rebels, 26 Tests)
David Porecki (29, NSW Waratahs, 5 Tests)
Pete Samu (30, ACT Brumbies, 26 Tests)
Scott Sio (30, ACT Brumbies, 73 Tests)
James Slipper (33, ACT Brumbies, 121 Tests)
Darcy Swain (25, ACT Brumbies, 15 Tests)
Taniela Tupou (26, Queensland Reds, 43 Tests)
Rob Valetini (24, ACT Brumbies, 25 Tests)
Suliasi Vunivalu (26, Queensland Reds, 1 Test)
Nic White (32, ACT Brumbies, 54 Tests)
Harry Wilson (22, Queensland Reds, 11 Tests)
Tom Wright (25, ACT Brumbies, 16 Tests)
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Yes Aldo, we all get better with age!
Guess
Roar Rookie
He's isn't 15. Coleman was playing him out of position
Rhys
Roar Rookie
That is true. That era was a real missed opportunity for the Wallabies.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Yes, Joey is playing very well. Bolter for the end of year tour I reckon.
BrumbieBob
Roar Rookie
Go Whites
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Yeah because he’s done so well in those games in the past
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
It’s a real shame the the Wallabies are still looking backwards instead of forwards. This why we are in the current situation of no youngsters coming through. Setting ourselves up for failure at the RWC
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Not sure why the current Wallabies need any insight on how to lose. That’s about all those two have to offer. I know it seems the Wallabies take 3 steps back for every step forward, now they’re taking 5 steps back
Olly
Roar Rookie
Yes, starting to notice this.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Long term I would be developing Edmed shadowed by Donaldson and Stewart. I would have already dropped Noah but want to see him without White at 9. White dictates play to much and just want to see what Noah can bring by himself. Edmed IMO has that Test level grit in him, does not panic and is not afraid to take the game on. Plus I want Jock at the Reds to start playing 10. Happy for him to play out wide but JOC goes off and Jock starts to finish games at 10.
Olly
Roar Rookie
If Beale is covering 10 then I am throwing in the towel. Literally one of our worst 10 experiments in the professional era in world rugby.
Olly
Roar Rookie
I would run them on the bench. They need to experience Test rugby now.
Olly
Roar Rookie
I would more say, not being given a run. Just think, Gits, JOC and many others got thrown into Test rugby at the very start of their careers to develop them. And here we are not even picking them in the squad....how do we expect them to develop into Test Rugby players if they don't even know what Test rugby is?
Olly
Roar Rookie
Toxic Beale...mentor....no thanks.
Olly
Roar Rookie
I also think in hindsight, Deans last year was the start of that period of certain players causing trouble in the Wallabies camp that continued on into the McKenzie era.
Olly
Roar Rookie
What, Larkham, Flatley....they played like 15 and almost 20 years ago....Larkham has now been a professional coach longer then he was a professional rugby players. Let's compare the last 10 years, not a life time ago. Gits was never a proper 10, he was a 12 pretending because we had so little talent to call on and I am not even going to bother about Beale as a 10. Wasted enough time with that rubbish. Yes Cooper and Genia, excellent players making up for the not so great players around them behind a forward pack being bullied around the park....Genia/Cooper carried the team around them, particularly Genia.... We go to the Cheika era of players who could not tackle or kick...like one season wonder Beale, Foley the Iceman who missed more then he kicked....this is not a great era of talent...Cheika was rolling out semi retired players enjoy French wine. Yes we have one competitive team and one rising team.... We never have more then one performing team and one rising team in Oz. This has been the same for the last 10 to almost 20 years and frankly we have struggled to even have this over that time. The Kiwi super teams are strong and having the blues now performing is an example of how well they are firing. their Test level performance is clearly a Test level coach selection issue....they are not struggling for talent. They have caught the Wallabies bug with selection trying to fit everyone on the field instead of picking the best players for the team. When they get it right they will be a force again and some exceptionally talent rugby players are going to never get selected. You are asking where are the 10s at the moment.....exactly where are they DR? That's right, he is not selecting them because we have Beale and Foley in the squad. Two positions that should be young 10s. DR has failed at developing our 10s for test rugby as this is his job. Right now the young 10s should be in the squad and one of them should be on the bench to get a taste of Test Rugby. Not playing in chaotic Aus A games in a patched together team being coached by a failed Tahs coach.
Woodsman
Roar Rookie
Glen Ella, 23, Larkham went to 10 at 23, Berrick Barnes 21ish, Quade in at 22. Our current 10’s aren’t too young they just aren’t good enough.
Mike88
Roar Rookie
Yeah agree the blooding should already take place in small doses. The difference between a guy like Eddie Jones and a lot of other coaches is Eddie is prepared to lose. No Wallabies coach has that luxury. But Eddie also has said he puts them in and it's sink or swim. Lots of guys don't make it. But that's how he gets a few gems. But going back to your comment - is that how you see it? That the Bledisloe cup is on the line? I'd take development over a flukey one off cup win any day.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: It’s alright Barney, he just got a plane ticket and a licence to chat with the new guys. I doubt he will be given game time against the AB’s unless Hodge and Kellaway (and maybe Campbell) all break a leg or something equally serious. Anything less than a snapped Femur, should see one of those 3 stay on the park before Beale comes on. A bit tongue in cheek of course, but really, Beale just got smothered with his pants down in his last Wallabies return and I don’t think the AB’s will have a ticker-tape parade waiting for him if he gets on the park.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
Campbell may get some game time on the Spring tour friendly games, along with Vunivalu. Now is not the time to be throwing International development squad selections to a seething pack of AB wolves with a “big something” to prove, while the RC and Bledisloe are on the line.