Dave Rennie’s transformation of the Wallabies from a youth group to a hardcore line up of seasoned pros under further relaxation of the Giteau Law continued Friday when he named Will Skelton among three overseas-based players for the spring tour.
Rennie named a 37-man squad for Tests against Japan, Scotland, Wales and England with Waratahs centre Izaia Perese a chance to make his Test debut five years after taken on a spring tour as a development candidate by Michael Cheika.
Perese, who had a brief stint in the NRL with Brisbane Broncos, joins Brumbies hooker Connal McInerney among the four uncapped players called up for the tour.
The Brumbies dominate the squad with 10 selections with six from the Reds, Rebels and Waratahs, three from Western Force and six overseas-based players.
Skelton, who hasn’t played for the Wallabies in five years, will join 2019 World Cup squad members Rory Arnold and Tolu Latu as Rennie makes the most of an easing of restrictions in Rugby Australia’s adherance to the Giteau Law.
Australia gave significant game time to young flyhalf Noah Lolesio earlier in the domestic campaign but after thrilling Rennie against France his form dipped in the Bledisloe Cup and he will miss the tour altogether, staying behind at the Brumbies. Fellow youngsters Harry Wilson, 21, and Fraser McReight, 22, will also be left behind after spending long stretches with the squad this year.
Since the 2-1 series win over France, that also featured raw youngsters Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau in leading roles, Rennie has overhauled the Wallabies age profile.
In have come Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon with James O’Connor also returning to fitness, and Nic White taking back the No.9 jersey from McDermott. Only Ikitau has cemented his starting place this campaign.
Quade Cooper. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
It would be wrong to suggest Rennie had any ulterior motive in putting up his young lambs for a Bledisloe slaughter – but the nature of those losses, and the subsequent success of experienced players from abroad, has shifted the narrative on allowing more experienced overseas based talent to return to the fold.
Skelton, 29, had thought himself lost to the national team after playing the last of his 18 Tests in 2016.
“Obviously, not being eligible is tough, not being able to put your hand up to play,” Skelton said last week.
“If the opportunity does come along I’ll definitely put my hand up. You can see how well they’re playing at the moment, and you miss that environment, the international field.
“You almost ask yourself if you’ve still got it and good enough. You want to test yourself against the best. It would be awesome to link up. If it happens, it happens.”
Perese had been pencilled in to join the Wallabies squad ahead of the first Test in June but suffered a shoulder injury just before the squad was named by Rennie.
His selection is the latest chapter in an unsettled football career and one he hopes will find some stability.
He represented the Reds on 17 occasions before leaving for the Broncos, but was sacked having played just two games after pleading guilty to supplying a dangerous drug. He avoided a conviction and was given permission to travel to France, where he played a season with Top 14 club Bayonne.
The Waratahs brought him home in early 2021 and he was one of the club’s few shining lights this season.
It’s likely Perese’s best chance of a cap comes in the opening Test against Japan and from the bench with Ikitau, Kerevi and Hunter Paisami, back after leaving the squad for his child’s birth, ahead of him.
Elsewhere there is return to the squad for Filipo Daugunu who broke his wrist in the opening Test of the season against France and has found his place claimed superbly by Andrew Kellaway.
Wallabies squad
Allan Alaalatoa (50, Brumbies, 27)
Rory Arnold (26, Stade Toulousain, 31)
Angus Bell (12, NSW Waratahs, 21)
Quade Cooper (74, Kintetsu Liners, 33)
Filipo Daugunu (6, Queensland Reds, 26)
Pone Fa’amausili* (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 24)
Folau Fainga’a (21, Brumbies, 26)
Lalakai Foketi* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 26)
Jake Gordon (10, NSW Waratahs, 28)
Reece Hodge (53, Melbourne Rebels, 27)
Michael Hooper (c) (115, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Len Ikitau (9, Brumbies, 23)
Feleti Kaitu’u (3, Western Force, 26)
Andrew Kellaway (9, Melbourne Rebels, 25)
Samu Kerevi (38, Suntory Sungoliath, 28)
Marika Koroibete (42, Melbourne Rebels, 29)
Tolu Latu (19, Stade Francais, 28)
Rob Leota (2, Melbourne Rebels, 24)
Tate McDermott (11, Queensland Reds, 23)
Connal McInerney* (uncapped, Brumbies, 26)
Sean McMahon (27, Suntory Sungoliath, 27)
James O’Connor (57, Queensland Reds, 31)
Hunter Paisami (11, Queensland Reds, 23)
Izaia Perese* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 24)
Jordan Petaia (14, Queensland Reds, 21)
Matt Philip (19, Melbourne Rebels, 27)
Tom Robertson (26, Western Force, 26)
Izack Rodda (30, Western Force, 24)
Pete Samu (15, Brumbies, 29)
Will Skelton (18, Stade Rochelais, 29)
James Slipper (110, Brumbies, 32)
Darcy Swain (9, Brumbies, 24)
Lachlan Swinton (6, NSW Waratahs, 24)
Taniela Tupou (35, Queensland Reds, 25)
Rob Valetini (14, Brumbies, 23)
Nic White (43, Brumbies, 31)
Tom Wright (5, Brumbies, 24)
*denotes uncapped
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
It's not just the money Chris. These guy's are spending most of there lives living out of a suitcase. To get paid 50% more AND have a home base is the whole story of the proverbial carrot.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Does anyone know if the spring tour is going to be televised or streamed? If so where? Stan and the ARU appear to be very quiet on this.
ken gargett
Guest
mzilikazi, understand what you say and it is the way of the world, but the danger is surely that this encourages more of our young players to do exactly that. if you can get twice the cash overseas and still be eligible for the wallabies, why on earth stay in australia? if i am noah, wilson, mcreight, BPA, salakaia-lotu, mafi and so on (or their managers), then why stay? the selectors have shown no loyalty, why should they? no one is going to swallow the 'they are being rested' rubbish (from what, for what?).
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Mugs and Fionn, 9 may be our shallowest position? Guessing an order: 9 15 10 8 Very different to past years (10 jersey aside), when the engine room was our Achilles.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
:laughing: No
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Is it time to phone Willy G?
The Late News
Roar Rookie
It's uphill sometimes when you are dealing with someone who starts with 'mad'!
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Planet Reality - the one where the Tahs lost every game and had a truly abysmal defence with teams scoring against them at will. Perese was Ok but still lacking the game for a test 13 - defence, handling needs work. Foketi is a good club 13 for the Beasties but has ever looked at home for the Tahs. But great to see that the old mentality of someone doing well in Shute = genuine merit for test selection alive and well on the Roar.
Chufortah
Guest
What planet were you in when Perese was in rich form for a poor Tahs? Foketi is 12/13 and quality. Paisimi in poor form and needs a break. Muirhead is a winger.
Double Agent
Guest
Read this exchange a few times but it's mystifying! Where/who is the person that doesn't get the joke?!!
HiKa
Roar Rookie
"whether they have the smarts enough is another question" Exactly. If they know they're not going to have a highly paid career after rugby, they owe it to their themselves and their families to make good money while they can. That's not an emotional argument. That's a cold fact. The emotional argument is the amateur era hangover of continuing to suggest that these guys should take less than they're worth for a ride with the national team. (That's the funny thing about pro-sport. It's a business that just about everyone has "feelings" about.)
frisky
Roar Rookie
Lolesio’s “form dipped when playing against the AB” ??? The entire WB team’s formed dipped playing against the AB. Not unusual for teams facing the AB. An unfair standard to apply to just one player.
rugbybloke
Roar Rookie
As a Tahs fan Foketi is a surprise but he did standout in a team that lost every game and was constant as well as matured. If he played for a team that was more successful he would still be a weapon.
rugbybloke
Roar Rookie
James your right Lonergan need size could be a great player but not a the physical level yet
rugbybloke
Roar Rookie
Dave in his interview hinted very heavily at Perese making a run on for japan, even if Kerevi makes it.
rugbybloke
Roar Rookie
Yeah Red Rob Lukhan is a big bloke, but is yet to be a player you can't do without he's definitely need to work on his work rate and physicality with all the size he has far call
Dave
Guest
Getting a tad emotional there mate I don’t begrudge Skelton for leaving at all, but he did leave, he chose making a very large sum of money over making a large sum of money and playing for his country and he did so at a rather young age. I think questions about his commitment to the cause or his selection aren’t completely unwarranted Also all these guys get an education and have ample opportunity to set themselves up for after rugby, whether they have the smarts enough is another question. Also doing “bin runs” is a fairly well payed job
Tim J
Roar Rookie
No Toasties this time I think TH. :silly:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Well played MK. Yes, I am aware of your POV. And I am grateful for it. I suppose it’s an each way bet for some, such as Chiefs fans who still feel some ‘ownership’ of ‘Aussie Dave’? Anyway, we might see some passion back in the Bled before the next fight for Bill.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Mate it's the only way! I leave the precious ones alone thanks!