Wallabies coach Dave Rennie named a 23 with some big surprises to face England and had some positive news on the injury front ahead of Saturday’s first Test in Perth.
“Can you not tell how excited I am?” joked a typically taciturn Rennie as he looked ahead to the first of 14 Tests against tier one nations this year in a critical campaign as he continues building towards the World Cup.
After naming a squad that had 12 Brumbies and just one Reds player, and appears built for physical presence, Rennie explained his decisions to reporters.
“The Brumbies are clearly our best side and best performing side but we were picking individuals,” Rennie said.
Here’s everything he had to say about his first Test selection for 2022
“There are a lot of challenging decisions, which is good thing,” Rennie explained.
“We’ve talked about creating more depth and more competition for places, so that’s a positive.”
On why James O’Connor missed out to Quade Cooper and Noah Lolesio
“We left James out of the mix (because) he’s not quite sharp enough yet,” said Rennie.
“Obviously, he’s missed a big chunk of the second part of the year, didn’t play many of the Kiwi games, and had two different injuries.
“While he’s back fit and available, he lacks a bit of sharpness around his skill set. Everything’s a lot quicker.
“He’s aware of that and we altered training a little bit for him today to allow him to focus on that sort of stuff. It’s not a disaster.
“Noah has trained very well, we have a lot of confidence in him. Quade brings a calmness and obviously massive experience and has trained very well.”
(Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)
On the make-up of his backrow
While Michael Hooper was an obvious pick at No.7, the rest of the backrow was an area of great conjecture for fans. Rennie went with his preferred approach from last season’s Rugby Championship, with Rob Leota at No.6 and Rob Valetini at No.8.
With Pete Samu versatile enough to cover all three spots, he was named on the bench, with Queensland’s Harry Wilson the unlucky omission.
Rennie made it clear Wilson, along with Tate McDermott, was a victim of Queensland’s poor performances against Kiwi opposition in Super Rugby Pacific.
“I thought Harry was excellent against the other Aussie sides, but did not have the same impact against New Zealand sides,” said Rennie.
“There’s not much in it. Harry has worked really hard but Rob gives us genuine go-forward and carry, as does Bobby.
“They’re big men, good both sides of the ball. Wilso’s not far away. It wasn’t a straightforward decision. We had a lot of discussion over a number of days.
“So that was probably one of the tighter decisions. Pete Samu is on the bench because of his versatility – he genuinely plays 6-7-8. Chances are Hoops can go the distance, so he’ll play 80, but Pete gives us 7 cover.”
On the fitness of Taniela Tupou
There is no doubt Tupou is a big loss as the Wallabies try to match England’s scrum power, but Rennie had a ray of light for supporters.
“Taniela is going alright,” he said.
“It was a significant injury. We always hoped we’d get him right in time for the first Test. The strength and conditioning boys have done a great job with him.
“It was looking at one stage that he might not take part at all in the England series. We’re very confident he’ll get back on the park next week. He’s had a reasonable week of training. He trained against the starting team today and got through, so it gives us plenty of confidence going into next week.”
(Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)
On why he went for Jake Gordon over Tate McDermott
This was another tight call according to Rennie, who decided to reward Gordon for his impressive season with the Tahs by giving him bench duties behind clear top dog Nic White.
McDermott carried the load of captaincy for the Reds, and at times it seemed a heavy one, as the team floundered later in the season.
“You would say that Jake and Whitey had excellent seasons,” Rennie said.
“Tate was good but I guess it was harder for him in the final couple of months against New Zealand sides where they struggled as a group.
“Whitey has been outstanding. Jake’s had a fantastic season. It’s a really highly competitive position. Tate’s trained really well, put a lot of heat on, but we wanted to reward form from Super Rugby.”
On the two debutants
Rennie has given debuts to 33-year old Brumbies lock Cadeyrn Neville and Dave Porecki.
“The two boys on debut are great stories. It’s taken them a long route to get to a Wallaby jersey. They’ve got a genuine hunger and a thirst,” Rennie said.
“I look at Nev at 33, but if you’ve seen him training, he’s a really good athlete. He can get around the park. He’s a big man, 124-125kgs, so very important to us from a set-piece point of view – very good at maul, lineout, scrum.
“From a perseverance point of view, it’s a great story. And likewise, Dave Porecki spent a lot of time over at London Irish. We would have picked him last year had he not got injured late.
“It’s great for both those guys and awesome for their families.”
It’s 10 years since Neville, an ex-rowing star, was picked to tour Europe under Robbie Deans, and he has been in several camps since then without breaking through.
“He’s had injuries. He spent a bit of time overseas and come back for a final dig,” said Rennie.
“We brought him into the group a couple of years ago, we had a couple of injuries; then unfortunately he got injured which denied him the chance to push for a spot a year earlier.
“A big man, a good athlete and great story for the guys out there who may have thought that the dream had passed them.”
On how plans have changed since camp started
“We’ve had a couple of injuries which has changed things,” acknowledged Rennie.
“Taniela you’d expect to be in the mix. Jed Holloway is unlucky – he’s picked up a minor injury.
“We’ve been picking sides all year. The guy who has really impressed me is Scott Sio. We left him home at the end of year tour. He had a really good off-season. He’s played very well for the Brumbies and probably in the best nick he’s been in a lot of years.
“It’s great to see him back in the group and also in the 23 this weekend.”
On having more experience and competition in the ranks
Rennie said it was significant that the team was more experienced than the young outfits he put out to start last season against France.
“We picked a lot of young men over the last couple of years who have got their foot in the door and cemented a place in the Wallabies,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who’ve been with us in the past. We had two weeks to prepare. We hadn’t had these boys since November last year. So certainly, that continuity has helped.
“No doubt Dan and the continuity and connection he has with the Brumbies boys (helps). There’s certainly a lot more competition for places.”
On the style we should expect from the Wallabies – and England
Although he’s picked a big pack set for close-in combat, and Dan McKellar has flagged the maul as crucial, Rennie was adamant that his team will ‘still want to play’.
“But there’s no doubt that that’ll [the maul] be a focus for them. Big scrum, they’ve got a very big pack and they’ve brought back a fair bit of experience assuming they name who we’re expecting them to,” Rennie added.
“The line out, the mall, the scrum are big aspects of their game. They’ll want to scrum and maybe scrum for penalties to get territory, and put us in the corner or kick for the posts.
“It’s an area that we feel if we can overshadow them, then it gives us an opportunity to get our game going and put a bit of heat on at the right end of the field.
“There’s no doubt at international level, if you haven’t got a group of men functioning up front, you’re not going to win.
“We’ve got a pretty big pack as well. We’ve got a lot of powerful athletes and that’s the nature of the game. We’ve got confidence in our set-piece, a fair bit of continuity there, there’s strong connection and we’ve got a scrum we think can be competitive with anyone, even with Taniela missing.
“We’ve got to have that mindset going into this because it’s such a crucial area.”
He added: “The lineout maul is a massive part of the game now.
“If you don’t have a genuine threat up front it’s pretty easy to defend that. If you’ve got a good maul, it creates opportunities elsewhere off that.”
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
On England’s recent struggles
A poor Six Nations campaign and loss to the Barbarians have seen the knives sharpened for Rennie’s rival Eddie Jones.
Asked why he thought Jones had been relatively quiet so far in the lead-up to the series, Rennie replied: “He’s probably got the same mindset as me. It’s not about us. It’s about the players and we’ll let them do the talking.”
Rennie ruled out the old enemy’s recent form as irrelevant.
“I wouldn’t read too much into the Baa Baas game. Most of the squad that we’ll face this weekend were playing for Leicester and Saracens, and it’ll be a completely different approach being a Test match,” Rennie said.
“We know the Six Nations is a competitive competition. France have been outstanding and the depth they’ve created is amazing. Ireland are a very good side so we know how tough that is and we’re not going to read too much into it.
“We’ve got a lot of focus on us getting our game right and that’s going to be crucial for us this weekend.”
On where the Wallabies are headed
Rennie was asked to explain the course he has the team set on, with the World Cup on the horizon.
“We’re still growing our game and that’ll continue,” he said.
“While there is more we wouldn’t have minded getting into the boys, we don’t want them to get on there on Saturday and their heads are spinning because they’re trying to work out what call is and where they’re supposed to be standing.
“We’ve got a fair bit of work in, but we’ve kept it reasonably simple so we can just get out and implement.
“It’s not just about a World Cup for us; it’s trying to build a game and have an understanding that when we play different opponents in different conditions, you got to play other sorts of tactics.
“Game awareness has been a big focus for us and will continue to be.”
Grev
Roar Rookie
Fair
Lara
Guest
Scrum n lineout . No lineout, no maul, no tries. Lose scrum parity….game over. Variation in QC short flat passes n kicking game, Kevei hit ups….that’s about it. Can’t see much magic out wide. Scrum n lineout.
mick dee
Guest
cant win with hooper in team, his win loss record is abysmal, most over rated player in world rugby
Oblosnky’s Other Pun
Guest
Samu has demonstrated much more impact in internationals than Harry, covers all three back row positions and is a very effective line out jumper. That’s three key differences. The Rebels picked have demonstrated things that the Reds equivalents have not (eg Leota jumping in the line out and being more effective tight). There was never any chance of Wilson being picked over Valetini given Valetini is the incumbent, has more effective international form and a better super season. I agree with you on Tate and would also have liked Wilson on a bench with a 6-2 split. But it isn’t a tale of woe or unfairness to Reds like some are making out. The Reds’ players need to perform better against the top teams, prove they’re better than the incumbents (Wilson>Valetini and McReight > Hooper) and/or improve their weaknesses (Wilson line out and Tate kicking).
Grev
Roar Rookie
I’m honestly pretty happy with the team and can see logic to everything except Gordon over Tate, and unless Hooper goes down would prefer Wilson over SAMU on the bench. Both would provide better impact as finishers. I will be glued to the game supporting the wallabies. But don’t give me the crap about team form to swallow when justifying selections like Gordon over Tate when you make the same wrong call. TM was the red hot form halfback last year when the squad was picked, and before the first team was named we had the leaked confirmation that White would start, then the further media preview thst Jake was “training the house down” and was eventually named on the bench ahead of him. He didn’t go that well, and in Tate’s first opportunity he saved a test match. Kellaway was excellent last year and provides balance to the back three. I get it. Tate was excellent last year and could turn a game from the bench. Banks has never performed at test level and is going overseas. LSL obviously not liked by his state coach, but has been an incredible test player. I wouldn’t have him in this game day squad but ahead of Ned Hannigan as a back up. I see why he has gone for Leota but would prefer Wilson for last 20 over PS. I think JP over Banks would be potentially great but understand the risk/reward. I DONT think we should be picking a team to balance different state expectations/happiness. However I am asking if there is something going on when the tight selections seem to go against any Qld player. Do Rennie and Thorn get on? Why is Rennie openly dissing Reds poor season when he picks Rebels from a well beaten and often humiliated team? After game 1, unless Banks is extraordinary, pick JP. Pick Tate to finish, and if Valentini is battered and Bruised then rotate him with Wilson. Go Wallabies.
Grev
Roar Rookie
Love to have seen him against Hooper, but Hooper was still on special dispensation additional off-season. McReight has had 2 x short cameos against All Blacks in all ready beaten teams, with well beaten forwards. Great opportunities…. Gordon similarly dissapointing with missed opportunities in losing Wallabies but gets another chance. I just want honesty. It’s not about form. It’s a height. Or skill set perception and we won’t see any progress unless we pick our most exciting team.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No NZ doesn’t consistently. It’s used different players at different times between 2, 6, 7 and 8. Just like Rennie does. And not really. The Reds lost to every NZ team. That doesn’t apply to any other Aus team. Rebels struggled the most in 2022 yet beat the Highlanders and lost to the Chiefs in the 80th minute. Rennie has been pretty clear. Tate and Wilson’s performances in those games, which also happen to be the most recent ones, are what has been held against them. Do you honestly think the coach should ignore the most recent form against some of the best teams?
Grev
Roar Rookie
NZ consistently plays a wider running 6 to great effect. We look at Ione and wish we had a player like that but arnt prepared to go there. Wilson’s credentials in his go forward and in defence are not to be sneezed st. If Rennies assertion, that every other forward in the Qld pack is average; imagine how good Wilson could be with more support. But we won’t know will we. This is no disrespect to Leota who I rate; or to Gordon. They have both played well. But there is a weird Reds perception going on which does not apply to other tesms
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Let’s hope so Frankly.
Frankly
Roar Rookie
It's a bit of a head scratcher. Perhaps he'll get a run at fullback in the other games.
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
Thanks mrs mcdermott :laughing:
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
You wish to talk skill sets? At least Jake can pass L to R. As DR says about mcdermott "he trains well" Talk about getting slammed
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Well OOP, Wilson told to put on weight, did, and run better with the ball. On the stats that I’ve seen, he ran the ball better and more often than any other loosie in Aus. And he did it in the tight zones, not out wide where he’d been used in previous years. I don’t believe the line out was one of the “work ons” he was given by DR. Tate- being captain may have had an effect on his game this year, but not much. Kicking doesn’t seem to be part of his natural game, but I thought the back up was supposed to bring a point of difference. I also thought there had been an improvement in his kicking. But all Aus kickers need improving, as does the chase as a team. We are less than ordinary. Banks – has signed overseas. No where near good or important enough to be one of the three OS players to be brought into the team, if the current restrictions are to continue. I’ve explained elsewhere why Petaia is not the current answer and why Hodge and Campbell should be there. (It’s not all about the Reds.) LSL signed OS, but not even considered for Aus A to work his way back. And just because he’s playing club footie, it should not be a reason to ignore him. Where would Kearns be if he hadn’t been picked from reserve grade? (It was over Eddie Jones in A grade, wasn’t it?) So, when you’re on the outside, you hear the coach tell players what their “work ons” are, and you don’t see follow through by the coach, well you’ve just got to wonder. I know I’m not going to convince many, if any, but that’s where I’m coming from.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
I said 18 months ago it was time then to start the experiment. They didn’t. They tried this year at the Reds. Jock much better. 17 tests, 16 now that Banks is playing the first, are not enough for the position to become instinctive before the beginning of RWC. If you want Petaia to be Wallaby 15 then: 1) begin his education after 2023, 2) he should find a team willing to give him the time to make the mistakes he’s going to make, 3) get fit enough and strong enough to last 80 minutes, every game, game after game. He may have the potential, but that’s all it is at the moment. We need someone now who can do it. Some think that’s Banks, not me, and with him out of the country (even if he was in the country), I will continue to say our choices should be Hodge and Campbell.
Oblosnky’s Other Pun
Guest
Not sure there is a double standard BF. - It doesn’t matter how much McReight improves unless he improves to be better than Hooper. He didn’t appear to have done so given he struggled with the physicality against the Kiwi teams. - Wilson still isn’t effective at the line out. Unfortunately neither is Valetini. Rennie as a result seems to only think he can pick one of them and Valetini is the incumbent and was better against the Kiwi super sides. - I’d have had Tate as reserve 9 but he needs to improve his kicking evidently. He hasn’t done so and I think arguably was better in super last year. - LSL wasn’t really an incumbent prior to signing overseas, and was even playing for the Reds by season’s end. I’m sure being dropped to club rugby didn’t help. Banks was the incumbent and didn't get dropped to club rugby. What examples are there of a double standard?
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
The double standards that seem to be being applied. Some players selected last year. Told to stay home during EOYT and improve certain areas, so they do. They then put it on the field this year and now seem to be on the outer. Sure, I’m not in the inner sanctum, but I don’t get it.
Oblosnky’s Other Pun
Guest
Plenty of fans, experts and seemingly the Wallabies staff disagree.
Oblosnky’s Other Pun
Guest
Certain Reds fans are the only fans or commentators are the only ones who think that Campbell should be anywhere near. Perhaps they’re Copernicuses or maybe they’re wrong. Why does it matter if Queenslanders are ‘totally happy’ or not?
Oblosnky’s Other Pun
Guest
Highly debatable - and he certainly didn’t Uber the course of the season.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Abysmal yet he was one of our top 3 forwards every game across attack and defense stats