Wallabies Reset for Ireland
Campbell Returns to Wallabies Squad, New Halves Named for Ireland Clash
Key Points
Carter Gordon was selected at flyhalf over Ben Donaldson, and Ryan Lonergan will start at scrumhalf for the first time, a pairing that hasn't previously played together due to Jake Gordon's long-term injury.
Len Ikitau returns in the centres after playing club rugby in Europe, with Tom Hooper back in the squad alongside props Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou.
Coach Joe Schmidt indicated he will hand over the Wallabies coaching reins to Les Kiss later this month.
Lachlan Shaw is named among the replacements and could make his Test debut, potentially becoming Wallabies No. 996.
Jock Campbell will start at fullback for Australia against Ireland on July 4, ending a 1,316-day absence from Test rugby — his last cap came in November 2022 against Wales in Cardiff, according to Wallabies.com.au. The Nations Championship opener at a sold-out Allianz Stadium in Sydney pits the Wallabies against the world's third-ranked side.
Coach Joe Schmidt named a squad full of returning faces and fresh starters. A new halves pairing, a veteran prop out of retirement, and a potential debutant off the bench make this one of Australia's more interesting selections in recent years.
Campbell and a New Halves Pairing Shake Up the Backline
Campbell, 31, was picked after a standout Super Rugby Pacific season that earned him a place in the Team of the Year, according to AAP. He beat out Max Jorgensen for the No. 15 jersey. His return has divided fans, with some questioning whether Jorgensen's future is at fullback rather than the wing.
Carter Gordon starts at flyhalf after returning to Australian rugby in October 2025 following a stint in the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans. Ryan Lonergan gets his first Test start at scrumhalf, stepping in for the injured Jake Gordon. The two have never played together in a match, which SA Rugby Magazine called a "gamble" by Schmidt.
Slipper Comes Out of Retirement to Fill Injury Crisis
James Slipper, 37, retired in October 2025 after his 151st Test cap against New Zealand. But a loosehead prop injury crisis prompted him to release a statement in June simply saying, "I'm back," according to Rugby.com.au. He will start from the bench, becoming one of the oldest players ever to return to the Wallabies.
Slipper said he "probably surprised myself a little bit with how well I played this year" and felt he was "still moving well." The Guardian noted his return is a double-edged sword — it steadies the scrum but highlights a thin depth chart at loosehead prop. If he plays all three July Tests, he will need just two caps to pass Sam Whitelock's 153 and become the second most-capped player in rugby history.
Lachlan Shaw Could Become Wallaby No. 996 Off the Bench
Brumbies lock Lachlan Shaw, 23, is named among the replacements. If he comes on, he will become Wallaby No. 996, just four short of a milestone 1,000th player in the green and gold, according to The Guardian. Shaw stands 200cm tall and is seen as a key part of Australia's long-term plan ahead of the 2027 home World Cup.
The forward pack also features Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou in the front row, with Harry Wilson captaining from No. 8. Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight complete the back row. Len Ikitau returns in the midfield after playing club rugby in Europe, joining the Ikitau-Suaalii centre pairing that has started 14 of the last 19 Tests together, according to Wallabies.com.au.
Schmidt's Farewell Tour and a Coaching Handover Loom Large
This Nations Championship window — Tests against Ireland, France, and Italy in July — is Schmidt's last as Wallabies head coach. Les Kiss, currently coaching the Queensland Reds, will take over after the series. Rugby Australia announced Kiss as the next head coach in April 2025, with Schmidt staying on to manage a smooth handover, according to AP.
Schmidt said the group has "reconnected quickly" and is "fully focused on earning every bit of that home crowd support," according to The Straits Times. The Wallabies, currently ranked No. 8 in the world, went 5-10 in 2025. Beating a top-three Ireland side at a sold-out 42,500-seat Allianz Stadium would be a strong statement ahead of the 2027 World Cup on home soil.
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