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  • The Associated Press

    59-test veteran Koroibete in starting side for Wallabies vs South Africa in Rugby Championship

    20 hours ago
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0U2o44_0uybBlAk00

    PERTH, Australia (AP) — Australia head coach Joe Schmidt has recalled 59-test veteran Marika Koroibete to the starting side in a revamped team to face South Africa on Saturday in the second Rugby Championship match for both teams.

    South Africa outclassed the Wallabies 33-7 last Saturday in Brisbane to hand Australia its first loss of the season after three wins.

    Koroibete was named on Thursday in the back three alongside Andrew Kellaway and Tom Wright for his first appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Schmidt also named Western Force scrum-half Nic White for his first start of the year.

    “There’s some continuity and freshness in this team after a very physical test last weekend,” Schmidt said in a statement. “The players have rolled up their sleeves and worked hard again this week. The reality is that we need to be more combative and accurate this Saturday.”

    Scrumhalf Morne van den Berg and lock Ruan Nortje are expected to earn their first test starts in a South Africa team with 10 changes announced Wednesday for the Perth match. Salmaan Moerat will captain the 2023 World Cup champions from lock while regular captain Siya Kolisi was one of nine players from last Saturday’s win over the Wallabies at Brisbane who has been rotated in the squad.

    Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus says the reason for the wholesale changes was a desire to expand his squad’s depth.

    “We made it clear from the outset this season that one of our main goals is to build squad depth with an eye on the next Rugby World Cup here in Australia, and we feel there is no better way to test some of the younger players and assess where we are as a group against a top-tier nation, especially away from home, in this match,” Erasmus said.

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    Australia: Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Nic White, Harry Wilson, Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Blyth, Allan Ala’alatoa (captain), Josh Nasser, Angus Bell. Reserves: Billy Pollard, James Slipper, Zane Nonggorr, Tom Hooper, Sere Uru, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen.

    South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Elrigh Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Salmaan Moerat (captain), Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels; Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard.

    ___

    AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

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