A "massive upside" to Noah Lolesio has made the ACT Brumbies flyhalf an easy selection for a Wallabies call-up as he enters the frame for a grand final return.
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The 20-year-old is on the cusp of a Wallabies debut after being drafted into Dave Rennie's first national squad alongside another trio of uncapped Brumbies.
Len Ikitau is the biggest bolter in the 44-man squad for the Rugby Championship, which could soon welcome two more overseas-based players following a tweak to the Giteau Law.
Irae Simone and Tom Wright have also been named among 13 Brumbies in Rennie's squad as they now turn their attention to a Super Rugby AU grand final against the Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
Joining the international rookies are Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa, Tom Banks, Folau Fainga'a, Joe Powell, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Pete Samu, Rob Valetini and Nic White.
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The incoming Wallabies mentor could find no room for Tevita Kuridrani, casting doubt over the outside centre's international future after being left out of a squad for an eight-Test campaign.
Lolesio has not played for two months since suffering a hamstring injury but could return for this week's decider - either starting or deputising for Bayley Kuenzle - to bolster the Brumbies' title tilt, giving coach Dan McKellar a major headache to contend with before he names his team on Thursday.
"We see a massive upside in him, he was an easy selection barring injury which he recovered well from," Rennie said.
"If they had a game last night he would have been fit to play. He has gone through a fair bit of training. He was in great form prior to his injury and prior to COVID.
"Noah was in great form prior to injury, and then you've got young Will [Harrison] snapping at their heels [behind James O'Connor and Matt To'omua]. Hopefully they'll learn a lot off those more experienced guys, but the idea is to put pressure on to get a starting jersey.
"We want everyone pushing for a starting spot."
Two Bledisloe Cup Tests across the ditch will precede the Rugby Championship, but first the Brumbies' group will look to secure the first Super Rugby AU crown.
The final gives Simone, Ikitau and Wright another chance to prove why they should be wearing Wallabies gold.
"They're all really good players. Irae has got a really good balance to his game," Rennie said. "He carries hard, he's an aggressive defender, he's got a good kicking game, a good communicator. If you look at all of those guys, we think they're ready to go.
"Lenny is probably the bolter if you look at the squad, he hasn't had a lot of Super Rugby minutes but we see a lot in him. We think he has a big future and we're keen to spend the next three months with him.
"Tom has been a really strong finisher, he has obviously got a few years of rugby under his belt and looks very comfortable. We're really excited for all of those boys."
Wallabies squad for 2020 Test season
Jermaine Ainsley (3 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 25)
Allan Alaalatoa (37 Tests, Brumbies, 26)
Tom Banks (6 Tests, Brumbies, 26)
Angus Bell* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 19)
Filipo Daugunu* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 25)
Pone Fa'amausili* (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 23)
Folau Fainga'a (12 Tests, Brumbies, 25)
Jake Gordon (1 Test, NSW Waratahs, 27)
Ned Hanigan (20 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 25)
Will Harrison* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 21)
Dane Haylett-Petty (37 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 31)
Reece Hodge (39 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Michael Hooper (99 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 28)
Tom Horton* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Trevor Hosea* (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 20)
Len Ikitau* (uncapped, Brumbies, 21)
Harry Johnson-Holmes (1 Test, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Marika Koroibete (28 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 28)
Noah Lolesio* (uncapped, Brumbies, 20)
Jack Maddocks (7 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Tate McDermott* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 21)
Fraser McReight* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 21)
James O'Connor (52 Tests, Queensland Reds, 30)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (4 Tests, Queensland Reds, 24)
Hunter Paisami* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 22)
Jordan Petaia (3 Tests, Queensland Reds, 20)
Matt Philip (3 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Joe Powell (4 Tests, Brumbies, 26)
James Ramm* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 22)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (21 Tests, Queensland Reds, 23)
Pete Samu (9 Tests, Brumbies, 28)
Rob Simmons (100 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 31)
Irae Simone* (uncapped, Brumbies, 25)
Scott Sio (63 Tests, Brumbies, 28)
James Slipper (96 Tests, Brumbies, 31)
Lachie Swinton* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Matt To'omua (52 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 30)
Taniela Tupou (19 Tests, Queensland Reds, 24)
Jordan Uelese (9 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 23)
Rob Valetini (1 Test, Brumbies, 22)
Nic White (31 Tests, Brumbies, 30)
Harry Wilson* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 20)
Liam Wright (2 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
Tom Wright* (uncapped, Brumbies, 23)
*Denotes uncapped player
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
