Lolesio set to miss Wallabies spring tour selection as Reds trio also poised to remain in Australia

Brumbies and Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio is set to miss selection for Australia’s upcoming rugby tour of Japan and Europe alongside a handful of Queensland Reds youngsters who will also remain at home and get a full pre-season under their belts.

The Wallabies will unveil their squad later this week for matches in Japan on October 23, before three fixtures in the UK against Scotland, England and Wales.

Noah Lolesio takes a kick during Australia’s first Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in August. Credit:Getty

After four straight wins, the Wallabies aren’t expected to make wholesale changes to their group for four Tests to round out the year but there are a number of familiar faces understood to have been told they won’t be travelling.

The Herald and Nine News have been told by sources with knowledge of the situation that Lolesio will remain in Australia in coming months.

Lolesio, who started all three Tests against New Zealand this year, was replaced by Quade Cooper ahead of Australia’s first match against South Africa in the Rugby Championship. The Wallabies have since won four consecutive matches.

The 21-year-old is still seen as a rising star of Australian rugby and could very well be part of Australia’s plans at the next World Cup in 2023.

James O’Connor will join Cooper on the plane next week, while Duncan Paia’aua looms as a left-field option for the tour.

Meanwhile, a Reds trio of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson are also expected to remain in Australia.

Wilson has fallen out of favour with selectors after a fine debut season last year, while McReight has been stuck behind skipper Michael Hooper who has been sensational in the No.7 role.

European-based players Will Skelton, Rory Arnold and Tolu Latu are expected to be named in Australia’s squad. Skelton and Arnold will provide Australia with much-needed depth in the second row stocks.

There has also been consideration to leave centre Hunter Paisami at home. The 11-Test midfielder is highly regarded by Wallabies selectors and has had a stellar start to his Test career, however, he left camp recently to be with his partner for the birth of his child and may be better suited remaining in Australia to train with the Reds.

Meanwhile, Waratahs centre Izaia Perese is being strongly considered for the tour.

Senior figures at the Waratahs have been told by Wallabies officials that Perese could very well be taken in the touring party for a six-week block overseas.

That the Waratahs have been organising potential training replacements for their pre-season suggests Perese is firming to be included in the squad, while fellow centre Lalakai Foketi has also been mentioned to the Waratahs as a player they could lose.

Inside-centre Samu Kerevi picked up an ankle injury during Australia’s most recent win against Argentina. Despite initial reports the 28-year-old was set to miss the tour, the Herald understands Kerevi is aiming to be back in time for the England Test at Twickenham on November 13.

Izaia Perese runs the ball for the Waratahs against the Crusaders in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman this year. Credit:Getty

Kerevi’s absence for at least the Japan Test leaves a hole at No.12, one that could be filled by Perese, or even Reece Hodge. Outside-centre Len Ikitau was superb throughout the Rugby Championship and will be on the plane to Japan and Europe.

Perese’s hopes of a Wallabies debut were dashed in June after the Waratahs midfielder picked up a shoulder injury against the Chiefs in the team’s final Super Rugby Trans-Tasman fixture.

Perese was hotly favoured to be named in Dave Rennie’s Wallabies squad for the July Test series against France but has since recovered and is training at Daceyville under new coach Darren Coleman.

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