Twenty-seven years after his old man helped Australia win its last Rugby World Cup, rising Waratahs halfback Teddy Wilson has been named in his first Wallabies squad and will tour the UK next month.
Wilson, the son of former Wallabies flanker David Wilson, was included in a 33-man squad named by coach Les Kiss ahead of the four-Test tour. In the second instalment of the new Nations Championship tournament, the Wallabies take on England, Scotland and Wales, and will then play in a final against a yet-to-be-determined Six Nations opponent at Twickenham on the final weekend of November.
In a squad largely devoid of surprises, Wilson and new Queensland prop Tom Lambert were the only two uncapped players named by coach Les Kiss in an otherwise settled group.
Lambert’s inclusion came at the expense of Reds prop Aidan Ross, who has been left out just a few days after starting at loosehead prop in the Wallabies’ loss to the All Blacks at the weekend.
Lambert is currently on tour with Australia A and will play against a USA XV in Nashville on Sunday morning. He and lock Miles Amatosero will both join the Wallabies in London.
The main inclusions for Kiss come in the form of much-needed cavalry who missed one or both of the Wallabies’ recent defeats to New Zealand, via injury, suspension or overseas club duty.
Star five-eighth Carter Gordon has been named after overcoming a broken leg, suffered in Argentina, and he’ll join a No.10 stable including Declan Meredith and Ben Donaldson, who is fit again after missing the Sydney Bledisloe with a groin injury.
Key midfielders Len Ikitau (concussion) and Hunter Paisami (suspension) have both been named, and after missing the Bledisloe series because October was not an international release window, overseas-based stars Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper have returned to the squad for November, which is covered by Regulation 9.
Nick Champion De Crespigny and Jock Campbell were also left out.
Elsewhere, Tate McDermott was named in the Wallabies squad as one of the halfbacks, but may return to Australia given his partner is due to give birth in November. Kalani Thomas, who debuted for the Wallabies last weekend in Sydney and will also play for the Australia A side in the USA, is on standby.
The Wallabies, who take on England in their opening match on November 9, depart for London next Saturday.
“There’s a real buzz among the squad as we prepare for what will be four incredibly demanding matches against high-quality opposition as part of the November Nations Championship Tests,” Kiss said in a statement.
“As coaches, we’ve made some tough selection calls to keep building depth across the board and we know a tour like this will challenge the whole squad on many levels.
“This Tour gives us another valuable opportunity to test new combinations, strengthen our existing connections and push our game forward in all areas.”
More to come
Iain Payten is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
