Wallabies Valetini, Skelton omitted from Fiji test
The pair have been struggling with injuries, local media have reported, leaving coach Joe Schmidt short of experience and power for the match in Newcastle, the Wallabies' only warmup for the Lions series starting in Brisbane on July 19.
Valetini, who was starting blindside flanker against Ireland in the Wallabies' last test in November, has been replaced by Langi Gleeson, while lock Jeremy Williams will partner Nick Frost in the second row in the team released on Friday.
The Wallabies' season-opening test sees Joseph Suaalii resume his midfield partnership with Len Ikitau, with Tom Wright playing fullback.
Noah Lolesio has been retained as flyhalf but Tate McDermott will be starting scrumhalf in place of Jake Gordon, who has also been under an injury cloud, according to reports.
Rugby Australia made no mention of any injuries to players in its team release, with Schmidt set to appear at a press conference later on Friday.
Team:
15-Tom Wright, 14-Harry Potter, 13-Joseph Suaalii, 12-Len Ikitau, 11-Max Jorgensen, 10-Noah Lolesio, 9-Tate McDermott, 8-Harry Wilson (capt), 7-Fraser McReight, 6-Langi Gleeson, 5-Jeremy Williams, 4-Nick Frost, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-David Porecki, 1-James Slipper.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Straits Times
West Indies stage stunning fightback to trail Australia by 45 in Grenada
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Cricket - Ashes - Fifth Test - England v Australia - The Oval, London, Britain - July 30, 2023 Australia's Usman Khawaja in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs West Indies were bowled out for 253 in their first innings of the second test in Grenada on Friday, trailing Australia by 45 runs at stumps after a dramatic second day that saw early promise turn to utter collapse before a thrilling lower-order fightback. Australia were 12 for two when play was called off, having lost Sam Konstas for a duck when he was bowled by Jayden Seales, and Usman Khawaja for two runs when Seales trapped him lbw. What began as a Friday of fluctuating fortunes for the hosts became a tale of extraordinary resilience, with the West Indies tail staging a spirited recovery to keep alive the test match and series. The morning session belonged to John Campbell until a moment of madness cost him his wicket on 40. The West Indies left-hander looked in fine touch, striking five fours and a six, before attempting an ambitious shot off Beau Webster that he could only sky for a simple catch to Mitchell Starc at mid-on. Kraigg Brathwaite's milestone 100th Test got off to the worst possible start when he fell for a duck in just the second over after being caught and bowled by Josh Hazlewood. Keacy Carty also departed cheaply for six, falling to a spectacular catch by Pat Cummins off his own bowling. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore From temples to towers: Old memories collide with new money in Geylang Singapore Clans of Geylang: The fight for survival and revival Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore 20 retired MPs spoke up on many issues in Parliament, helped successors prepare for new role: PM Wong Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Asia JB petrol station shooting: Dead man with bullet wounds dumped at hospital Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work The afternoon session began ominously for West Indies when Roston Chase became Hazlewood's second victim in the first over after lunch, falling lbw for 16 via a successful Australian review. Brandon King and Shai Hope then steadied the ship with a patient partnership that saw King reach 75 with some authoritative strokeplay. King's innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, while Hope grew in confidence alongside him, striking boundaries with a flourish and looking increasingly comfortable. The session was not without its lighter moments either, as play was briefly interrupted when a dog wandered on to the field, trotting around casually before Cummins helped to shepherd it back over the boundary rope. Cummins, as he so often does, produced a moment of magic to break the crucial King-Hope partnership and swing the tide back in Australia's favour. The Australian captain cleaned up Hope on 21 with an absolute peach of a delivery, triggering a collapse that saw West Indies slump from a promising position to 174 for seven, after King and Justin Greaves (1) departed soon after. At that point, the hosts seemed headed for a substantial deficit chasing Australia's first innings total of 286, but the West Indies tail had other ideas. Alzarri Joseph was the chief architect of the fightback, smashing 27 from 49 balls, while Shamar Joseph provided equally valuable support with 29, before falling to Starc. The tail-end resistance proved nothing short of remarkable, with Anderson Phillip contributing a gritty 10 from 40 balls and Seales adding a valuable seven runs as the last-wicket partnership frustrated Australia's bowlers. The lower order added 79 crucial runs for the last three wickets to keep alive West Indian hopes. The final wicket of the hosts' innings fell when Travis Head took a low catch to dismiss Phillip, with the third umpire ruling the catch clean despite replays suggesting it was touch-and-go. Nathan Lyon was Australia's most successful bowler with three wickets for 75 runs from 19 overs. Hazlewood and Cummins claimed two wickets apiece but even they could not prevent their hosts from rallying. Australia's failure to deal with the West Indies tail will be a source of frustration for the tourists, but they can take comfort from the fact that their narrow lead could still prove crucial if the pitch deteriorates further. Australia lead the three test series 1-0 after winning the opener in Bridgetown. REUTERS
CNA
12 hours ago
- CNA
West Indies stage stunning fightback to trail Australia by 45 in Grenada
West Indies were bowled out for 253 in their first innings of the second test in Grenada on Friday, trailing Australia by 45 runs at stumps after a dramatic second day that saw early promise turn to utter collapse before a thrilling lower-order fightback. Australia were 12 for two when play was called off, having lost Sam Konstas for a duck when he was bowled by Jayden Seales, and Usman Khawaja for two runs when Seales trapped him lbw. What began as a Friday of fluctuating fortunes for the hosts became a tale of extraordinary resilience, with the West Indies tail staging a spirited recovery to keep alive the test match and series. The morning session belonged to John Campbell until a moment of madness cost him his wicket on 40. The West Indies left-hander looked in fine touch, striking five fours and a six, before attempting an ambitious shot off Beau Webster that he could only sky for a simple catch to Mitchell Starc at mid-on. Kraigg Brathwaite's milestone 100th Test got off to the worst possible start when he fell for a duck in just the second over after being caught and bowled by Josh Hazlewood. Keacy Carty also departed cheaply for six, falling to a spectacular catch by Pat Cummins off his own bowling. The afternoon session began ominously for West Indies when Roston Chase became Hazlewood's second victim in the first over after lunch, falling lbw for 16 via a successful Australian review. Brandon King and Shai Hope then steadied the ship with a patient partnership that saw King reach 75 with some authoritative strokeplay. King's innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, while Hope grew in confidence alongside him, striking boundaries with a flourish and looking increasingly comfortable. The session was not without its lighter moments either, as play was briefly interrupted when a dog wandered on to the field, trotting around casually before Cummins helped to shepherd it back over the boundary rope. Cummins, as he so often does, produced a moment of magic to break the crucial King-Hope partnership and swing the tide back in Australia's favour. The Australian captain cleaned up Hope on 21 with an absolute peach of a delivery, triggering a collapse that saw West Indies slump from a promising position to 174 for seven, after King and Justin Greaves (1) departed soon after. At that point, the hosts seemed headed for a substantial deficit chasing Australia's first innings total of 286, but the West Indies tail had other ideas. Alzarri Joseph was the chief architect of the fightback, smashing 27 from 49 balls, while Shamar Joseph provided equally valuable support with 29, before falling to Starc. The tail-end resistance proved nothing short of remarkable, with Anderson Phillip contributing a gritty 10 from 40 balls and Seales adding a valuable seven runs as the last-wicket partnership frustrated Australia's bowlers. The lower order added 79 crucial runs for the last three wickets to keep alive West Indian hopes. The final wicket of the hosts' innings fell when Travis Head took a low catch to dismiss Phillip, with the third umpire ruling the catch clean despite replays suggesting it was touch-and-go. Nathan Lyon was Australia's most successful bowler with three wickets for 75 runs from 19 overs. Hazlewood and Cummins claimed two wickets apiece but even they could not prevent their hosts from rallying. Australia's failure to deal with the West Indies tail will be a source of frustration for the tourists, but they can take comfort from the fact that their narrow lead could still prove crucial if the pitch deteriorates further.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Tupou gets chance to stake claim for Lions series with Waratahs
SYDNEY - The Wallabies thought they had a tighthead prop for a generation when Taniela Tupou packed his bags and headed to Australia to join his brother after completing his education in New Zealand. This weekend, however, he will not be facing Fiji in Australia's only warm-up for the British and Irish Lions test series but instead taking on the tourists in a New South Wales Waratahs shirt. The 29-year-old was released by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt on Monday in the wake of a Super Rugby season for the Waratahs which, by his own admission, was well below par. Waratahs coach Dan McKellar was grateful for his return and is hoping Tupou on Saturday can show the form which has earned him 58 test caps since his debut against Scotland in 2017. "(I want him) to go out there in set piece first and foremost, back that up with physicality and show the ability to repeat it," McKellar, a former prop himself, said after naming his team on Thursday. "They are the three things I talk to tight forwards about every day. I want him to be really good around the scrum, lineout, maul and then impose himself on the game as we know he can do with ball in hand and without it." Schmidt would no doubt echo those hopes as he prepares a nation which has never been blessed with huge stocks of front-row talent for three tests against the Lions, who lack nothing in that regard. Nicknamed "Tongan Thor" as a rampaging schoolboy forward in New Zealand, Tupou's best moments in a gold shirt earned him one of Rugby Australia's most lucrative contracts, which is reported to earn him A$1 million ($657,300) a year. Injury curtailed his 2023 World Cup but he was close to his powerful best as recently as the end of last year when Australia beat England at Twickenham and ran Ireland close in Dublin. A Tupou intercept in the latter match is still etched in the memory of Andy Farrell, who was finishing up with the Irish before his Lions sabbatical that day. "He's very disruptive, to say the least, and good at what he does," the Lions coach said on Thursday. "Ireland played against him last year and we saw the pace that he had, he went straight up the middle of the field there. He's not just a disruptive scrummager, he's certainly got power and pace on both sides of the ball." Schmidt will name a fresh squad for the Lions test series next Friday and Tupou's performance on Saturday night at Sydney Football Stadium could go a long way to deciding if he is in it. REUTERS
