Nic White delays retirement for South Africa Tour
Nic White has postponed his retirement from international rugby to join Australia’s squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship
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Veteran scrumhalf Nic White has postponed his retirement from international rugby to join Australia’s squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship tour of South Africa.
The 35-year-old, who had earlier announced that the third British and Irish Lions Test in Sydney would mark his final appearance for the Wallabies, answered an SOS call from head coach Joe Schmidt following an injury to first-choice No. 9 Jake Gordon.
White, capped 73 times for Australia, will be joined by uncapped Ryan Lonergan as the two scrumhalves in the 35-man squad. The Wallabies are set to face world champions South Africa in Johannesburg next week, followed by a second Test in Cape Town on August 23.
In another squad change, flyhalf Tom Lynagh has been ruled out after suffering a head injury during the Wallabies’ 22-12 victory over the Lions in Sydney.
Lynagh was injured in a ruck clearance involving Lions captain Dan Sheehan, who later received a four-week suspension, potentially reduced to three pending a successful coaching intervention course.
His place has been taken by Tane Edmed, who joins Ben Donaldson and James O’Connor as the available outhalf options.
Edmed’s inclusion comes after a turbulent season with the New South Wales Waratahs, where he struggled for game time under coach Dan McKellar.
Despite his setbacks, the 24-year-old remained in contact with Schmidt and has now been given a fresh opportunity. His only previous Test outing lasted just three minutes before a concussion forced him off the field against Ireland last November.
Other notable additions to the squad include uncapped prop Aidan Ross, winger Corey Toole, and Queensland-based trio Josh Flook (centre), Josh Nasser (hooker), and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (lock). Prop Taniela Tupou and hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, who was a late inclusion for the third Lions Test, have also been retained.
Australia squad:
Backs: Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright.
Forwards: Angus Bell, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Billy Pollard, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Carlo Tizzano, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, James Slipper, Jeremy Williams, Josh Nasser, Langi Gleeson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nick Frost, Rob Valetini, Taniela Tupou, Tom Hooper, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, Zane Nonggorr, Aidan Ross
.jpg "Australia's Rob Valetini may have only played 40 minutes vs the Lions but he - along with Will Skelton - could be big for Australia at The Rugby Championship")
