Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has named six uncapped players but left out some big names in a squad of 35 to prepare for the three-Test series against England next mont.
Reece Hodge, Izack Rodda and Fraser McReight were among the casualties. Rennie later said Rodda had suffered a setback in progress with a foot injury and would be sidelined for up to three months.
Four players will feature in their first Test squads, including high profile NRL convert Suliasi Vunivalu.
Waratahs duo Jed Holloway and David Porcecki have been named after impressive Super Rugby displays while Brumbies lock Cadeyrn Neville is named for the first time at 33.
Tighthead prop Pone Fa’amausili and Brumbies second rower Nick Frost are the other two uncapped players selected by Rennie.
Tom Banks has been named despite his decision to leave for Japan, with no place for Queensland fullback Jock Campbell.
Queensland No.7 McReight, one of the standout players of SRP misses out with other notable exclusions from Rennie’s 40-man squad earlier this year including Rebels fullback Hodge, a player Rennie has praised for his versatility, and Force lock Rodda, who has had foot injury but said last week he was expecting to be fit for the first Test.
Waratahs Ben Donaldson, Lalakai Foketi and Harry Johnson-Holmes have also missed out.
Rennie will also name a 30-man Australia A squad on Wednesday to play in the Pacific Nations Cup on the same days the Wallabies face England.
Rennie said McReight, HJH and Hodge would be in that squad.
Japanese-based trio Quade Cooper, Marika Koroibete and Samu Kerevi are the three overseas selections, as flagged by Rennie midweek..
The squad features 15 Brumbies, seven Queensland Reds, six Waratahs, four Melbourne Rebels and three from Japanese-based clubs.
The Wallabies will assemble on the Sunshine Coast from Thursday with games on July 2, 9 and 16.
Rennie said in a statement: “The core of this squad is a group who have performed strongly for us over the last two seasons, while strong form in Super Rugby Pacific has been rewarded with a handful of new faces.
“The past two years have allowed us to build strong foundations as a group but there’s no doubt that we have a lot more in us.
“We’re looking forward to working hard and preparing as a group to put in performances that make our supporters proud against England next month.”
Wallabies camp squad (age, team, Tests played)
Allan Alaalatoa (28, Brumbies, 53 Tests)
Tom Banks (27, Brumbies, 19 Tests)
Angus Bell (21, NSW Waratahs, 16 Tests)
Quade Cooper (34, Kintetsu Liners, 75 Tests)
Pone Fa’amausili (25, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)
Folau Fainga’a (27, Brumbies, 25 Tests)
Nick Frost (22, Brumbies, uncapped)
Jake Gordon (28, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests)
Michael Hooper (c) (30, NSW Waratahs, 118 Tests)
Jed Holloway (29, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)
Len Ikitau (23, Brumbies, 13 Tests)
Andrew Kellaway (26, Melbourne Rebels, 13 Tests)
Samu Kerevi (28, Suntory Sungoliath, 38 Tests)
Marika Koroibete (29, Saitama Wild Knights, 42 Tests)
Rob Leota (25, Melbourne Rebels, 6 Tests)
Noah Lolesio (22, Brumbies, 9 Tests)
Lachlan Lonergan (22, Brumbies, 4 Tests)
Tate McDermott (23, Queensland Reds, 15 Tests)
Cadeyrn Neville (33, Brumbies, uncapped)
James O’Connor (31, Queensland Reds, 61 Tests)
Hunter Paisami (24, Queensland Reds, 15 Tests)
Izaia Perese (25, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)
Jordan Petaia (22, Queensland Reds, 16 Tests)
Matt Philip (28, Melbourne Rebels, 20 Tests)
David Porecki (29, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)
Pete Samu (30, Brumbies, 19 Tests)
Scott Sio (30, Brumbies, 69 Tests)
James Slipper (33, Brumbies, 114 Tests)
Darcy Swain (24, Brumbies, 10 Tests)
Taniela Tupou (26, Queensland Reds, 38 Tests)
Rob Valetini (23, Brumbies, 18 Tests)
Suliasi Vunivalu (26, Queensland Reds, uncapped)
Nic White (31, Brumbies, 47 Tests)
Harry Wilson (22, Queensland Reds, 10 Tests)
Tom Wright (24, Brumbies, 10 Tests)
Someone will bite... :silly:
:laughing:
djellingjaa
Roar Rookie
I would have added Tane Edmed to the squad and dropped Lolesio. Among other things Edmed can take on the line in tough going and can tackle. ....or at least make a good attempt. Lolesio needs more development time to prove himself.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
If he goes down on the day of the game which is extremely unlikely Samu will start. If he doesn’t, which is extremely likely, McReight will sit in the stands and get no top level rugby
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So his team mates and World Rugby player of the year judging panel are all wrong and you’re right? His personal record DOES speak for itself. Multitudes of personal awards and one of the very small number of players to be nominated for world player of the year twice. Or do you mean the team record and you want to blame team losses on him? Nothing will change your opinion. Even the facts, which Phil has already provided to you below. Interestingly in his first international season he also had the most pilfers one the test season. So seems like your initial opinion was wrong, completely contrary to what the facts showed, and continues to be wrong. And what are the false pretences? More rubbish you just make up to try and justify your baseless dislike?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So Jordan Petaia is more reliable because he’s not given the chance to kick for touch, kick for goal, etc? You’re marking Hodge down for being good enough to be used for key kicking, and ignoring that Petaia’s isn’t considered enough for even be used. And you can’t ignore Petaia’a ball security and offloads to nobody, but criticise Hodge for dropped balls and passes going to nobody. Statistically Hodge has a lower error count.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Agree to disagree. Hodge is a huge liability with dropped balls, kicks for touch not going out, passes to no one, poor decision making, missed penalties (when was the last one he sunk?) etc.
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
Who would you recommend? Anstee unlucky but in a competitive field. Unfortunately most of their best players are imports or close the end of their careers.
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
Antony, can you name another player from any Tier 1 team that made more than 120 tackles and got 14 turnovers. Not bad for someone that is ineffective. Maybe, just maybe his team mates (that voted him the best player for the second year running) and those on the World Rugby panel that put him in the top 4 players of 2021 know a little bit more about the game than you...
Morsie
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Your bait is perhaps too fresh if that's possible. Tahs finished above the Reds and therefore should have more players in the squad. I can't believe this, what an insult to the home of Australian rugby!!!
Rolando
Roar Rookie
When the WB face the English they need a LH would can hold their weight. Slips has never been able to do that against international teams. He hinges like Baxter (Tah) did. Sio also goes straight to ground. The one thing you need against the Poms is a decent scrum or they will continue to destroy us. AAA has the knowledge and physical strength and reach to be a better LH, as well as Bell. Bell conceded two against Chiefs or Canes ( I forget) then figured out how to improve and held the scrum for the rest of the game. TT is a no-brainer as TH and then HJH and in his absence Pone. This combo could not be a greater liability than Slipper at LH who has been collapsing scums for last decade against NH teams.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Jordan’s D was good when he first came on the scene. That was part of why he was looked at as a 13. His ball retention has gone backwards since he came up though. And his boot isn’t “more reliable” than Hodge’s. Petaia is a great talent with huge potential but he has not yet converted that to a level of reliability at test level that even Hodge has provided.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah but it Kerevi goes down you’ll bring another player into the squad. Like if Hooper goes down.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
If kerevi goes down..then you will have hunter who last played 12 last year I think..and if he goes down then you will have to look at JOC but he has not played there for quite sometime..on top of that his getting more injuries now..the other thing is both JP and vunivalu are injury prone but they could be covered with current wingers..i am not sure for the 12th position though..unless if you one to grab foketi assuming his in the Ozzy A squad..
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
I reckon he's gone forwards in his attack set up and defense where he has drilled a few ABs and Frenchies.His main issue is obviously ball retention but otherwise he is an aerial threat and has a decent boot (yes not as good as Hodges, but much more reliable).
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
You guys aren't even trying to make sense anymore.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
This is beyond ridiculous but let's start with all the games against France, South Africa and Argentina. That's 7 so I won't even bother arguing with you about the NZ games.
Geoff
Guest
"Yes, he is very good against weak forwards " Which weak forwards are you speaking of, the Brumbies and Waratah forwards ? Fraser is 4-0 against those two packs this year.
Chris
Guest
So you drop our best LHP Slipper and don`t want Sio, but you will except a 16 test veteran Angus Bell who is a very shaky scrummager on the Wallaby bench i spose?.You wouldn`t be a rabid tah man or a kiwi trying to wind us up eh mate.
Antony Henrie
Guest
Nope not wrong, his personal record speaks for itself and i see you keep up with the incessant "but but but he was nominated etc etc. blah blah blah", he didn`t win the world rugby player award because he was not good enough. He was never going to win it. We all have different opinions and mine differs from yours on Hooper every time. I don`t rate him as a 7, he has been mis-cast his entire career. He should have been a crash ball 12, i never have rated him as a number 7 and that is what i judge him on. My gripe is he is so ineffective at the breakdown and always has been. Nothing will change my opinion on him as he is the same one dimensional player he was when he came into the Wallabies under false pretences. And after 9 years he still has not improved his ground game. You love him, i get it, i don`t, it is what it is TWAS.