It’s Toole-time for the Wallabies as history beckons
Melissa Woods |
Speedster Corey Toole will make his Test debut while Fraser McReight is the new captain as the Wallabies attempt to win back-to-back Tests against the Springboks in South Africa for the first time since 1963.
A Paris Olympics sevens star, Toole will replace injured winger Dylan Pietsch for their Rugby Championship clash in Cape Town on Sunday (1.10am AEST).
Flanker McReight will become the 91st Wallabies captain with Harry Wilson’s knee injury being “managed” – among three changes coach Joe Schmidt has made to the starting side from the first Test win in Johannesburg.
Rob Valetini will make a timely return from injury to replace Wilson at No.8, while Tom Robertson will start in the front row after James Slipper was ruled out after a head knock.
Schmidt was disappointed to lose the in-form Wilson, who scored twice in the last match, with Valetini only managing one half of Test rugby this year due to a calf injury.
But Valetini has consistently been one of Australia’s best performers, winning consecutive John Eales Medals.
“Losing Harry is not ideal at all – Rob’s played 40 minutes for us and that’s all so far this season,” Schmidt said.
“It’s good to have Rob back and I’m sure he’ll acquit himself really well.
“I think his selection in the Wallabies side is probably one of the most consistent things over the past four or five seasons and this season, there’s been a little bit of a hiatus where he hasn’t been there and it’s nice to have him back.”
After their astounding 38-22 comeback win over the Springboks last week at Ellis Park, the Wallabies are looking to duplicate the 1963 tourists, who claimed victories at Johannesburg and Cape Town.
No Australian side has won in Cape Town in 33 years, with the Wallabies losing their last seven straight at the picturesque venue.
Schmidt said they didn’t need history to motivate them, with their poor start – trailing 22-0 – more of a focus.
“Not really, because if we glance back, it’s nice to know what has happened, but that doesn’t influence what can happen,” he said from Cape Town.
“We’ve got to make what can happen, happen. We can’t wait around.
“We’ve got to kick off with our game a lot better than we did last week and we’ve thought more about that and tried to do more about that than look that far back.”
Toole has been knocking on the door for a Test call-up and likely would have made his debut last year but was drafted into Australia’s sevens teams for Paris.
With the more versatile Andrew Kellaway remaining on the bench, Toole’s start comes after Pietsch required surgery on a fractured jaw.
Known as the fastest man in Australian rugby, 25-year-old Toole has been one of the Brumbies’ best performers in the past three seasons, bagging 28 tries.
“Corey is a great young kid,” Schmidt said.
“He’s obviously come in from the sevens program which is something that a number of the South African speedsters have done as well.
“He’s adapting well to the game and this will be a big, steep learning curve for him.”
WALLABIES: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Corey Toole, James O’Connor, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight (capt), Tom Hooper, Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Tane Edmed, Tate McDermott, Andrew Kellaway.
AAP
