Lukhan Salakaia-Loto earns Wallabies call-up for South Africa Tests

• Powerful lock rewarded for efforts with First Nations & Pasifika XV against Lions

• Australia coach Joe Schmidt names 35-man squad to face Springboks

Powerful lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has earned a return to the Wallabies' squad for the two Tests in South Africa to kick off this year's Rugby Championship, but injuries in the halves have forced coach Joe Schmidt to call on Nic White a week after his supposed retirement from international rugby.

The Wallabies showed progress in the series against the British & Irish Lions and won the third Test to prevent a whitewash, but they cannot afford to rest heading into the clashes with the top-ranked Springboks, who beat the All Blacks in the 2023 World Cup final.