Injured Wallabies forwards Rob Valetini and Taniela Tupou could yet line up against the Springboks at Ellis Park, according to Joe Schmidt.
The Wallabies flew out to the Republic on Saturday morning with a spring in their steps after last weekend’s character-filled win over the Lions.
Without a host of big names, including Valetini and Allan Alaalatoa, the Wallabies responded from their heartbreaker in Melbourne to turn the screws on the Lions in atrocious conditions at the Olympic Stadium. The win denied the Lions a first clean sweep in a century.
But the Wallabies won’t be able to rest on their laurels with back-to-back fixtures against the Springboks in South Africa to start The Rugby Championship.
“It’s really exciting, we’re pretty pumped,” rising winger Max Jorgensen said at Sydney Airport ahead of next week’s TRC opener.
“After our last win against the Lions we built a bit of confidence, but South Africa are a bloody good team so we’ve got to take it to them, bring the physicality and hopefully come out with the win.
“We’ve got to stick to the process, for sure. We’re not perfect, so we’ve got to take our lessons from the last game and keep building for South Africa.”
Bruising Wallabies back-rower is in line to feature in the first Test of The Rugby Championship at Ellis Park. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
The Wallabies’ quest to win their first Test at Ellis Park since 1963 received a bit of a boost throughout the week as Will Skelton – the man who helped turn the Lions series through his sheer physical presence – was given clearance from his French Top 14 side La Rochelle to join Schmidt’s men in South Africa.
It will be the first time Skelton has played in the Rugby Championship since playing under Eddie Jones in the 2023 tournament.
Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday morning at a door stop interview, Schmidt confirmed that Skelton’s appearance in South Africa wouldn’t necessarily mean he plays throughout the tournament as he negotiated the lock’s availability with former Irish great Ronan O’Gara.
“I’m going to have to supply some decent vin rouge [red wine] for Rog [O’Gara] and Donnacha Ryan, who are pivotal in allowing us to have Will for those periods,” Schmidt told The Herald.
“As much as they’re [World Rugby’s] reg nine windows for the actual match weeks, the logistics of getting up and back, up and back, make it pretty difficult to get continuity of performance from guys like Will.”
Twelve months after the Springboks smashed the Wallabies on Australian soil, Joe Schmidt’s side will get a chance to see how far they’ve come as they prepare to play in South Africa. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
Joining Skelton on the plane are Wallabies giants Valetini and Tupou, who are both under injury clouds.
Valetini’s Lions campaign was plagued by a calf injury picked up ahead of the clash against Fiji in Newcastle.
Tupou, meanwhile, made an eye-catching return against the Lions in the third Test, but the French-bound tight-head prop injured his toe during a surging run in the second half.
There was talk that Tupou might miss the trip to South Africa, with the 29-year-old forced to pass a fitness test on Thursday afternoon before being confirmed for the tour.
But Schmidt downplayed the injury concerns and said his 35-man squad was fit for take off.
“They’re definitely all in contention for Ellis Park,” Schmidt said.
“Obviously, Will played 60 minutes [in the third Test against the Lions], Nela [Tupou] played 60-odd [minutes] in Sydney. It feels like a long time ago; it wasn’t even a week ago.
“Bobby [Valetini] did a really good run yesterday, so our ambition is that he’ll train fully with us this week.”
The Wallabies head to South Africa, where they haven’t won since 2010, as $11 outsiders.
Last year, the Wallabies were thumped by the back-to-back world champions twice on Australian soil.
And while some of the Wallabies’ big men will be in South Africa, Dave Porecki hung up the boots throughout the week and Allan Alaalatoa, who has been in career best form throughout the year, remains sidelined with a shoulder injury that will see him miss the first half of the tournament.
First choice halves Jake Gordon (hamstring) and Tom Lynagh (concussion) were also officially ruled out on Thursday.
In their place, uncapped halfback Ryan Lonergan has been called up while one-Test playmaker Tane Edmed also joins Ben Donaldson and James O’Connor.
“It’s good to see those boys get a shot again,” said Jorgensen.
“It’s unfortunate that we’ve had a couple of injuries, but it gives others a chance to put on the gold jersey and show what they’re made of. They’ll bring a lot of energy and I’m excited for them.”
The tour to South Africa will be the first for several members of Schmidt’s young squad, but Jorgensen said the group were looking forward to the latest tough assignment that will give the Wallabies a clear indication of where they are two years out from the World Cup.
“I’ve never been to South Africa, so I’m excited to get over there and see what it’s all about,” the in-form winger said.
“They’re physical, big and strong and fast, so we’ve got a big challenge.
“It’s who you want to play against. You don’t want to play against the lower-tier nations, you want to play against those higher-tier nations with strong players, who really challenge you as a team and a player.”
Max Jorgensen was one of the Wallabies’ best against the Lions. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
A rare win in South Africa would do wonders for the Wallabies’ quest to maintain their position inside the World Rugby rankings – with a top six position crucial to grabbing a seeding ahead of the 2027 World Cup draw.
Asked whether he would be targeting particular matches during the tournament, Schmidt said he was aware of the permutations but added that it wouldn’t influence how they approach each game.
“Not really,” he said. “I’m very conscious of it [the rankings] and I’ve been conscious of it all year thus far, and you can’t get anything off the Lions.
“Albeit that would have been a nice one to get, with so many of the players contributing to the Lions ranked ahead of us, but all we can do is try to manage our preparation week and then try to do the best we can to have as many things fall our way.
“Hopefully, in the end, that ends up with some results that we can consolidate our position currently sitting in the top six [of the world rankings].”
Christy Doranhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/08/09/got-to-take-it-to-them-wallabies-embracing-boks-challenge-as-schmidts-men-target-ending-62-year-drought/‘Got to take it to them’: Wallabies embracing Boks challenge as Schmidt’s men target ending 62-year drought
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