Wallabies scrum-half Nic White and head coach Joe Schmidt.

Experienced scrum-half Nic White has delayed his retirement after he was named in the Wallabies squad for the Rugby Championship.

Australia take on South Africa in a double header to start the competition and he has been selected in the 35-man group due to an injury to first choice scrum-half Jake Gordon.

White started in the Wallabies’ victory over the British and Irish Lions last weekend in what was supposed to be his final match for the country, but those plans have now been put on hold.

The 35-year-old is one of three scrum-halves in the squad alongside Tate McDermott and the uncapped Ryan Lonergan, who is the direct replacement for Gordon.

Other playmaking issues

Joe Schmidt has also been forced into a change at fly-half with Tom Lynagh’s concussion ruling him out of the Springboks games.

That means they are without both Lolesio and Lynagh for the start of the Rugby Championship, leaving Ben Donaldson, James O’Connor and Tane Edmed as the 10s.

Edmed, who has a single cap to his name, has been added to the squad and will compete with Donaldson and O’Connor for that jersey.

Up front, hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa has officially been added to the group after Matt Faessler’s injury and David Porecki’s retirement.

Paenga-Amosa featured against the Lions last Saturday, but he was drafted in late due to the unavailability of Faessler and Porecki.

Josh Nasser is also selected, which means he, Paenga-Amosa and Billy Pollard are the hooking options available to Schmidt.

Reward for fine form

Nasser’s fellow Reds forward, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, also returns to the group after impressing for a First Nations and Pasifika XV against the Lions in July.

Meanwhile, Taniela Tupou and Rob Valetini have been named despite their injury concerns, although the former will undergo another fitness test before they fly to South Africa.

Wallabies head coach Schmidt said: “It’s pleasing to be able to keep the core of the group together, while also leaning on some depth and fresh bodies.

“We’re very conscious of how difficult it is going to be, playing South Africa on their home turf over two consecutive weekends.

“The group has made some positive steps throughout the start of the Test season, but we all know there is a lot of hard work ahead of us.”

Australia begin the Rugby Championship with two matches against the Boks in South Africa before a home double header against Argentina.

They then finish off the competition against the All Blacks as they look to win the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.

Wallabies squad for the Rugby Championship

Forwards: Angus Bell, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Aidan Ross, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson

Backs: Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright