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The 60 minutes that showed why Wallabies must take Zac Lomax on spring tour

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Doran, C. (2026, October 31). The 60 minutes that showed why Wallabies must take Zac Lomax on spring tour. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/the-60-minutes-that-showed-why-wallabies-must-take-zac-lomax-on-spring-tour-20261031-p61a8r.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

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The Sydney Morning Herald · collected 2026-10-31 · by Christy Doran

Quick Summary

Les Kiss must decide whether to include Zac Lomax on Australia's spring tour squad for the upcoming November Nations Championship Tests after Lomax’s impressive performance in a 52-0 victory over the USA Eagles. In his debut for Australia A, Lomax demonstrated superior aerial skills, securing several high balls and setting up a try while playing wing against the Eagles for 60 minutes on October 7th in New Jersey. Although he made one mistake handling a grubber kick near the line, his overall performance highlights potential solutions to the Wallabies' ongoing issues under the high ball.
Written by AI on 2026-11-01, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Leslie Kiss must decide whether to include Zac Lomax in the Wallabies squad for the November Nations Championship Tests ahead of the World Cup. In a recent match against the USA Eagles, where Australia A defeated the Eagles 52-0, Lomax played impressively as a winger, winning several aerial balls and setting up a try while also saving another during his 60-minute performance. Although he was penalized for playing the ball on the ground after tripping over, his skills in the air suggest he could address the Wallabies' struggles with high balls. With Mark Nawaqanitawase uncertain to play for Australia in 2027, Lomax's potential inclusion is being debated as a viable solution.

Written for “Zac Lomax's Impact Demonstrated” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Zac Lomax's Impact Demonstrated
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18
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 18 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
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not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
61/100
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Outlets on this story
1
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The Sydney Morning Herald · 5759 article(s) · 15 correction(s) detected
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Who wrote this

Christy Doran
18 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 7.36pm What’s at stake: semi-final match-ups By Christy Doran The equation for tonight’s match is simple: the winner will take on New Zealand next Saturday while the loser will set up a date against Australia at Allianz Stadium next Sunday.
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🔮 As the Wallabies flew to London ahead of next weekend’s Test against England at Twickenham, Kiss would have been pleased the side came through with a clean bill of health, with prop Tom Lambert and halfback Thomas cleared to fly across the Atlantic to link up with the national team.
🔮 While the tourists are ahead in the game, they will be wanting to get quick wickets this morning to minimise the dimensions of the chase they confront on a dry pitch that is starting to do plenty for spin and a little more for pace.
🔮 I couldn’t believe when he wasn’t getting picked for the Tahs.
🔮 I don’t know who it will be for, but time will tell.”
🔮 The Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup drought might have stretched to 24 years, but dual international Michael O’Connor believes Mark Nawaqanitawase’s extraordinary two-year stint in rugby league proves the 15-a-side game in Australia still produces world-class talent.
🔮 That’s what Les Kiss will be thinking – and hoping – occurs in 12 months.
🔮 Former Wallaby Nathan Charles is set to be honoured by Rugby Australia and the Wallabies today.
🔮 The absence of Donaldson and regular first-choice No.10 Carter Gordon means Declan Meredith will start for just the fourth time since debuting against France in July.
Also by Christy Doran
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 18 articles by Christy Doran →

Topics

Australia Australia A Eagles Wallabies World Rugby

Subjects

Wallabies ORG · 8× Lomax PERSON · 7× Eagles ORG · 5× Australia GPE · 2× Australia A ORG · 2× Kiss PERSON · 2× World Rugby ORG · 2× Israel Folau PERSON · 1× Lions ORG · 1× Robbie Deans PERSON · 1×

Narrative

With Japan-bound Mark Nawaqanitawase no certainty to pledge his allegiance to the Wallabies in 2027, Lomax showed he has the tools to help solve the national team’s struggles in the air – and why he should be considered only on the wing. Kiss has been at pains to point out that there are several quality wingers in Australian rugby, including Max Jorgensen, but none have Lomax’s awesome aerial ability. The recent Bledisloe Cup series laid bare the Wallabies’ deficiencies under the high ball, with their back three, including Tom Wright and Harry Potter, smashed in the air by the All Blacks.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-01
🔮 As the Wallabies flew to London ahead of next weekend’s Test against England at Twickenham, Kiss would have been pleased the side came through with a clean bill of health, with prop Tom Lambert and halfback Thomas cleared to fly across the Atlantic to link up with the national team.
2026-11-01 · The Sydney Morning Herald
The 60 minutes that showed why Wallabies must take Zac Lomax on spring tour · assertive framing

Claims (18 extracted, 0 hedged)

Robbie Deans didn’t waste a second in bringing Israel Folau into the Wallabies set-up in 2013 despite the high-stakes nature of a Lions series. asserted
Deans → waste → series
Now, with the World Cup fast approaching, Les Kiss must decide whether to follow the lead of the New Zealander and rush Zac Lomax into the Wallabies squad for the November Nations Championship Tests. asserted
Kiss → approach → Tests
The former NSW State of Origin winger showed enough to suggest he can be the answer to the Wallabies’ troubles under the high ball, dominating the skies in his first foray for Australia A in the 52-0 demolition of the USA Eagles in New Jersey on Saturday. asserted
he → show → Saturday
Lomax won several balls in the air, set up a try and saved one in his 60-minute spell wearing the No.13 jersey – where fellow code-hopper Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has played most of his rugby since switching from the Roosters. asserted
Suaalii → win → Roosters
Lomax’s performance was by no means faultless – he was penalised for playing the ball on the ground once after tripping over as he attempted to collect a grubber near the Eagles’ line – but the 27-year-old’s point of difference is undeniable. asserted
point → penalise → difference
With Japan-bound Mark Nawaqanitawase no certainty to pledge his allegiance to the Wallabies in 2027, Lomax showed he has the tools to help solve the national team’s struggles in the air – and why he should be considered only on the wing. Kiss has been at pains to point out that there are several quality wingers in Australian rugby, including Max Jorgensen, but none have Lomax’s awesome aerial ability. The recent Bledisloe Cup series laid bare the Wallabies’ deficiencies under the high ball, with their back three, including Tom Wright and Harry Potter, smashed in the air by the All Blacks. asserted
three → bind → Blacks
A week after Australia A thumped the Eagles 61-12 in Nashville, Stephen Larkham’s side was again far too good for the 2031 World Cup hosts, running in eight tries to nil. asserted
side → thump → nil
While the demolition was a positive sign for Australia’s depth – nine Wallabies featured in the 23 – the one-sided nature of the game was a concerning sign for World Rugby five years out from the Eagles hosting the game’s showpiece event. asserted
Eagles → feature → event
After all, the Wallabies are ranked seventh on the World Rugby rankings. asserted
Wallabies → rank → rankings
Lomax wasn’t the only one to have a field day at Sports Illustrated Stadium, with one-Test Wallaby Harry McLaughlin-Phillips finishing with 17 points after scoring a try and banging over six conversions. asserted
Phillips → have → conversions
The Western Force recruit’s best moment came in the 14th minute, when he stepped back on the inside of the Eagles’ rush defence and put away Joe Brial on halfway. asserted
he → come → halfway
The Queensland loose-forward, who was one of Australia’s best, then found Lomax, who then sent spring tour-bound halfback Kalani Thomas under the sticks to score. asserted
who → find → sticks
Test discard Nick Frost was also exceptional for Australia A. The 205cm lock scored a try, made a huge line break and also helped give the Eagles’ lineout nightmares. asserted
lock → score → nightmares
Outside backs Corey Toole and Mac Grealy also crossed during the rout and were threatening with every touch. asserted
backs → cross → touch
Despite showing plenty in attack, McLaughlin-Phillips said the team was most satisfied by shutting out their opponents. “Holding them to nil, they’re a good side and not giving them any points was really good for us as a team,” he said. asserted
he → show → team
As the Wallabies flew to London ahead of next weekend’s Test against England at Twickenham, Kiss would have been pleased the side came through with a clean bill of health, with prop Tom Lambert and halfback Thomas cleared to fly across the Atlantic to link up with the national team. asserted
Lambert → fly → team
As it stands, Lomax won’t be with them. asserted
Lomax → stand → them
But that will surely go down as a missed opportunity just 11 months out from the World Cup. asserted
that → go → Cup
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