After being overlooked for the Lions series, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has been called up for the first leg of The Rugby Championship in South Africa against the Springboks.

In preparing for the biggest physical test the Wallabies will face all year, the experienced Salakaia-Loto was one of four locks, including French-based Will Skelton, named in Joe Schmidt’s 35-man squad for the two Tests against the back-to-back world champions.

As revealed by The Roar last week, Nic White has been selected despite announcing his retirement last Thursday. But those plans were shelved when fellow fly-half Jake Gordon went down at training, which led to Test rugby’s shortest retirement.

Despite White being included, uncapped Brumbies halfback Ryan Lonergan has been officially called up and is poised to make his debut in South Africa after years of being on the periphery.

The 27-year-old is one of three uncapped Wallabies in the squad, with winger Corey Toole and loose-head prop Aidan Ross named. Australian-born Ross, who became eligible for the Wallabies last month, previously played one Test for the All Blacks.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is in line for his first Test in 2025 after being named in Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies to take on the Springboks. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Tane Edmed, the one Test playmaker, whose debut last November against Ireland was cut short because of a head knock, has also earned a recall following Tom Lynagh’s own concussion issues.

Lynagh, 22, was forced off before half-time during the Wallabies’ 22-12 win over the British and Irish Lions in Sydney after being illegally hit high by Dan Sheehan. Although the incident was initially missed, Sheehan has since been suspended for three matches. It was Lynagh’s third concussion in six months.

Edmed, who will join the Brumbies ahead of the 2026 season, joins Ben Donaldson and James O’Connor as the three playmakers in the squad. Donaldson is expected to be thrust into the No.10 jersey for the first time this year after coming off the bench in all four Tests to date.

Reds back Josh Flook provides cover at outside centre and the wing and comes in for the injured Harry Potter (hamstring).

Tane Edmed’s crazy year has continued after being called up for The Rugby Championship following Tom Lynagh’s injury. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

In better news, back-to-back John Eales Medallist Rob Valetini has been named.

Tight-head prop Taniela Tupou, who had a most encouraging return for the Wallabies in the win over the Lions, has also been named. But the French-bound prop will undergo another fitness test before the Wallabies fly to South Africa on Saturday after injuring his toe during the win.

Reds hooker Josh Nasser joins Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Billy Pollard in the squad following Dave Porecki’s sudden retirement and the injury to Matt Faessler (calf).

Schmidt has also included his overseas-bound forwards Tom Hooper (Exeter) and Langi Gleeson (Montpellier), who were disinvited to the Wallabies’ first camp of the year but forced their way back into the Test set up for the Lions series after being two of Australia’s best in Super Rugby.

The duo repaid Schmidt’s faith during the Lions series, with Hooper earning player of the match in Sydney, leading to their selections for The Rugby Championship.

Their selections also come off the back of Rugby Australia high performance director Peter Horne clarifying the nation’s eligiblity criteria earlier this week, saying anyone and everyone was available for Schmidt to pick from.

Schmidt said he was pleased to be able to retain some continuity in the squad.

“It’s pleasing to be able to keep the core of the group together, while also leaning on some depth and fresh bodies,” he said.

“We’re very conscious of how difficult it is going to be, playing South Africa on their home turf over two consecutive weekends.

“The group has made some positive steps throughout the start of the Test season but we all know there is a lot of hard work ahead of us.”

Joe Schmidt has named a 35-man Wallabies squad for the Rugby Championship. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Wallabies will head to South Africa as massive underdogs.

In many ways the tournament opener will be a harder test than taking on the Lions, who have to bring together players from four nations and make combinations and tactics stick within weeks.

In stark contrast, the Springboks are a well-oiled machine under arguably rugby’s greatest coach and innovator, Rassie Erasmus, who led the nation to a second straight World Cup in 2023.

The first leg will also serve as the perfect litmus test to where the Wallabies are and how far they’ve progressed over the past 12 months since being crushed by the Springboks in Australia this time last year.

Salakaia-Loto’s return comes after the 28-year-old delivered a couple of eye-catching performances during the Lions series.

After initially missing selection in part because of his injury-disrupted finish to the Super Rugby campaign, the 41-Test lock showed some promise for the Reds before starring for the AUNZ Invitational side and backing it up with another imposing performance for the First Nations and Pasifika XV.

Despite his strong form, Schmidt resisted calling up the Reds lock immediately. But knowing the physical test ahead, the experienced coach didn’t leave Salakaia-Loto waiting this time.

He is joined in the Wallabies squad by fellow bruisers Valetini and Nick Champion de Crespigny, who started against the Lions in the first Test before missing selection in the final two fixtures.

Lonergan’s call-up comes after years of high quality form for the Brumbies.

Whether he plays in the first Test at Ellis Park remains to be seen, but after years of waiting patiently for an opportunity, a maiden Wallabies cap is seemingly weeks, not years away.

Wallabies squad to tour South Africa for The Rugby Championship

Forwards (20)
Forwards (club, Tests)
Angus Bell (NSW Waratahs, 39)
Nick Champion De Crespigny (Western Force, 1)
Nick Frost (ACT Brumbies, 29)
Langi Gleeson (NSW Waratahs, 17)
Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies, 13)
Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds, 29)
Josh Nasser (Queensland Reds, 6)
Zane Nonggorr (Queensland Reds, 12)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Western Force, 21)
Billy Pollard (ACT Brumbies, 10)
Tom Robertson (Western Force, 33)
Aidan Ross (Queensland Reds, 0)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Queensland Reds, 41)
Will Skelton (Stade Rochelais, France, 34)
James Slipper (ACT Brumbies, 147)
Carlo Tizzano (Western Force, 8)
Taniela Tupou (NSW Waratahs, 59)
Rob Valetini (ACT Brumbies, 53)
Jeremy Williams (Western Force, 14)
Harry Wilson (Queensland Reds, 26)
Backs (15)
Ben Donaldson (Western Force, 19)
Tane Edmed (NSW Waratahs, 1)
Josh Flook (Queensland Reds, 4)
Len Ikitau (ACT Brumbies, 43)
Max Jorgensen (NSW Waratahs, 11)
Andrew Kellaway (NSW Waratahs, 41)
Ryan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies, 0)
Tate McDermott (Queensland Reds, 45)
James O’Connor (Crusaders, New Zealand, 64)
Hunter Paisami (Queensland Reds, 31)
Dylan Pietsch (Western Force, 6)
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (NSW Waratahs, 8)
Corey Toole (ACT Brumbies, 0)
Nic White (Western Force, 73)
Tom Wright (ACT Brumbies, 41)
Unavailable for selection due to injury
Allan Alaalatoa
Charlie Cale
Massimo De Lutiis
Matt Faessler
Jake Gordon
Noah Lolesio
Tom Lynagh
Harry Potter
Luke Reimer

The Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup fixtures
Wallabies v South Africa at 1:10am AEST on Sunday August 17 at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Wallabies v South Africa at 1:10am AEST on Sunday August 24 at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Wallabies v Argentina at 2:30pm AEST on Saturday September 6 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Wallabies v Argentina at 2:00pm AEST on Saturday September 13 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v New Zealand at 3:05pm AEST on Saturday September 27, Eden Park, Auckland
Wallabies v New Zealand at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday October 4 at Optus Stadium, Perth

Spring Tour
Wallabies v Japan at TBC on Saturday October 25 at National Stadium, Tokyo
Wallabies v England, at 2:10am AEDT on Sunday November 2 at Allianz Stadium, London
Wallabies v Italy at 4:40am AEDT on Sunday November 9 at Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
Wallabies v Ireland at 7:10am AEDT on Sunday November 16 at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wallabies v France at 7:10am on Sunday November 23 at Stade de France, Paris