New Wallabies coach Les Kiss has recalled Reds enforcer Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and kept faith in Harry Wilson as captain in his first squad for Australia’s upcoming Test matches with Japan.
Though named in April last year as the incoming Wallabies coach, Kiss only officially took office this week following the completion of Queensland’s Super Rugby season and Joe Schmidt finishing up following the Nations Championship Tests in July.
Kiss was consulted on the Wallabies squad for those games and did not stray too far from the same list when naming his maiden squad of 34 players, who will play Eddie Jones’ Japan in Osaka on August 8 and Townsville on August 15.
But in a major blow for his first game in charge, Kiss was forced to leave out star centre Len Ikitau, who has a minor ankle injury. His place will be taken by either Hunter Paisami, who returns from a knee injury, or the only new uncapped player in the squad, Reds centre Isaac Henry.
Henry, 27, is a hard-charging centre who has played 21 Super Rugby games for the Reds after making his debut in 2021.
Salakaia-Loto also won a recall after controversially missing selection in the Wallabies squad for the July Test series.
Salakaia-Loto may end up playing in the back row, with Kiss leaving out the Force’s Nick Champion De Crespigny. Josh Flook and Corey Toole also missed out, having been part of the July squad.
Waratahs prop Isaac Kailea has been named in his first Australian squad in two years, after James Slipper returned to Canberra following an SOS call-up out of retirement in July.
Carter Gordon returns to the squad after missing two Tests with a calf injury, but Tom Hooper remains on the injured list with a shoulder complaint.
Amid speculation Kiss could make a change to the captaincy, potentially to Reds skipper Fraser McReight, Kiss has kept faith in Wilson.
“Selection is always a challenging process, but as coaches we’ve looked to bring together a group based on form, cohesion and how we want to play the game,” Kiss said in a statement.
“Spending time with the group over the last few weeks alongside Scott McLeod and Jonny Fisher has been incredibly valuable as we look to hit the ground running.
“It’s been encouraging to see how tight they are as a group and how hard they work for each other and the gold jersey. The challenge now is for everyone to roll up their sleeves and find a new level of consistency.”
Kiss will talk to the media on Thursday morning in Sydney.
More to come
Iain Payten is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
