Wallabies Name Young Squad for Fiji Test

Australia's Wallabies have named a 36-man squad for their July 6 Test against Fiji, with coach Joe Schmidt opting for youth by selecting Ben Donaldson, Noah Lolesio, and Tom Lynagh as fly-halves and omitting veteran James O'Connor, despite his strong Crusaders form. The squad includes two uncapped players, Nick Champion de Crespigny and Corey Toole, while Will Skelton is the only overseas-based player. David Porecki returns after captaining the Wallabies at the 2023 World Cup, and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has recovered from injury to make the squad. Schmidt emphasized the competitive selection process and the importance of recent Super Rugby Pacific form and squad cohesion. O'Connor's exclusion signals a move towards a younger generation, though he could be recalled for the British and Irish Lions series if circumstances change. The Fiji Test serves as the last audition before the Lions series squad is chosen.