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AAP
Darren Walton

Koroibete to miss Springboks Test in Wallabies shock

Marika Koroibete has been left out of the Wallabies team to take on world champions South Africa. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Marika Koroibete is the glaring omission from the Wallabies team to tackle the back-to-back world champion Springboks in Saturday's Rugby Championship opener in Brisbane.

Coach Joe Schmidt used the Giteau Law to lure Koroibete back from Japan for the showdown but has opted against including the two-time John Eales Medallist even on the bench.

Andrew Kellaway and Filipo Daugunu will instead be the starting wingers at Suncorp Stadium as Schmidt lived up to his word of looking to the future.

"Marika wasn't quite ready," Schmidt said.

"This week was about orientating him and getting him back up to speed. I think Marika will be available beyond this week, but this week was a little bit too soon."

In seemingly unveiling his best available line-up, Schmidt has revealed Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio as his preferred halves pairing.

Queensland teammates Tate McDermott and Tom Lynagh will come off the bench.

The fellow Reds midfield combination of Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau will start in the centres, with in-form Tom Wright named at fullback for a fourth straight Test under Schmidt.

In the forwards, West Australian junior Carlo Tizzano will make his Test debut at openside flanker, joining Rob Valetini and Harry Wilson in the back row.

Tizzano comes in for the injured Fraser McReight, the latest to fall victim to the Wallabies' captain's curse.

"We just felt that Carlo would suit the combination that we picked in the back row and in the second row and so best complement that, really," Schmidt said.

"He's such a good young man and we're really excited about watching him. His energy is relatively positive, more than abrasive, but he fights for everything Carlo and that's what first caught our eye.

"He's quite a dynamic competitor around the breakdown and, in the context of losing Fraser, we needed someone who could bring elements of Fraser's game but probably not all of them.

"That's why we were picking Fraser before but it's a great opportunity for Carlo."

Allan Alaalatoa will again captain the side as the starting tighthead prop, combining with hooker Matt Faessler and Isaac Kailea in the front row.

Powerhouse prop Taniela Tupou wasn't considered following the death of his father this week. Nick Frost and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will start in the second row.

"There's a mix of continuity and freshness in the squad and the players have worked with good enthusiasm during the week, but we know there's still plenty to work on," Schmidt said. "We're conscious of the size of the challenge and the size of our opponents but there's a keenness in the player group to take a step forward.

"We've got to make sure that we match up at set piece because whatever you do against South Africa, you've got to be able to match up at set piece because that's where the whole thing starts."

Wallabies: Isaac Kailea, Matt Faessler, Allan Alaalatoa (capt), Nick Frost, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Rob Valetini, Carlo Tizzano, Harry Wilson, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway, Tom Wright. Res: Josh Nasser, James Slipper, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Luke Reimer, Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Dylan Pietsch.

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