A month after Charlie Gamble declared he “bleeds blue” and supports the Wallabies, the New Zealand-born back-rower has been selected in Dave Rennie’s 44-man Australian training squad.
The 26-year-old is the only fresh face in the squad, which sees Kurtley Beale and Harry Wilson included after controversially missing last year’s Spring Tour.
The group will gather on the Gold Coast on Monday for a four-day training camp, which will be used to give players clarity about the World Cup year ahead.
“What’s exciting for us is that over the past three years we’ve created genuine depth and competition of places,” Rennie said.
“Of the 44 players all bar two have worn the gold jersey over the past three years and there’s also several fringe players who still have an opportunity to force their way into the next camp through strong Super Rugby form.
“We’ll use the four days to make sure all players head back to their franchises with a clear understanding on what will give them the best chance of representing their country in a World Cup year.”
Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie included just two uncapped players in his 44-man training squad ahead of the 2023 Super Rugby season. Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
Undoubtedly questions will be asked about the coaching structure moving forward, with Scott Wisemantel’s departure as attack coach rocking the rugby community.
With the Wallabies’ first Test of the year not until July, Rugby Australia don’t need to rush a decision on his replacement, but the destabilising nature of his sudden exit has left many questioning the unfortunate timing of his departure just nine months out from the World Cup in France.
Indeed, Wisemantel was the only coach in Rennie’s team who had coached in a World Cup. The long-time attack coach had also spent years coaching in France at Clermont, Lyon and most recently with Jake White at Montpellier. His understanding of French culture and the way of life in the rugby mad country will be missed.
NRL recruit Suliasi Vunivalu, James O’Connor and Pone Fa’amuasili are the three major exclusions from a settled, though injury-ravaged squad.
Of the trio, Fa’amuasili’s omission is the most surprising given his hulking physique and the fact Taniela Tupou is in a race against the clock to be fit for the World Cup after his devastating ruptured Achilles injury last November, which will see him miss the entire Super Rugby season.
But Fa’amuasili’s selection could prove to be the masterstroke needed to ignite the flame inside, with the massive tight-head prop not doing himself any favours since switching to rugby.
The fortunes of Vunivalu and O’Connor will likely come down to form and injury in 2023, with the Queensland Reds duo falling out of favour with the Wallabies throughout The Rugby Championship.
Pone Fa’amausili has been left out of the Wallabies’ training squad ahead of the 2023 Super Rugby season. Photo: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images
Tupou, lock Matt Philip, versatile forward Rob Leota, and Japan-based duo Samu Kerevi and Quade Cooper have each been included in the squad despite major injuries which will be seen them miss their respective seasons.
Kerevi and Cooper were the only overseas played selected, but that was because their injuries ruled them out of their seasons in Japan.
While 44 players have been named for the training camp, Rennie will have to trim the squad down to 33 for the World Cup.
The fat will be cut right across the entire squad, with seven props selected, five locks, 10 back-rowers, four halfbacks, five centres and seven outside backs.
In particular, the back-row will be close to halved by the time Rennie settles on his squad in early August.
Only three hookers were named, with returning Waratahs rake Tolu Latu, who was one of the Wallabies’ best at the 2019 World Cup, not included.
Cooper, Ben Donaldson and Noah Lolesio are the three playmakers in the squad, with no room for Tane Edmed despite going close to touring the Northern Hemisphere with the Wallabies.
Waratahs star Charlie Gamble has been included in his first Wallabies squad. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
Gamble is one of two uncapped players in the squad, with Brumbies back-up halfback Ryan Lonergan also included.
It continues an incredible rise for the former Crusaders junior, with Gamble playing Subbies rugby in Sydney before catching the eye of a number of people involved in the NSW Waratahs set-up.
Gamble’s selection comes as no surprise, with Rennie previously noting that the back-rower becomes available to play for the Wallabies midway through the 2023 Super Rugby season.
Capable of playing anywhere in the back-row, Gamble faces a challenge to start for the Waratahs in 2023 with Michael Hooper set to wear the No.7 jersey. But his physicality and on-ball presence will likely see him push for a start alongside the former Wallabies captain in Darren Coleman’s backrow.
In an interview with ESPN ahead of the Christmas break, Gamble confirmed his desire to wear the Wallabies jersey.
“The first couple of years I was still a bit of a supporter of back home, but I owe everything to Australia and to this club here, they gave me this opportunity and I’ll be forever grateful for it,” Gamble told ESPN.
“I bleed blue now, I support the Wallabies, it is what it is.”
Wallabies January training squad
Props
Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Matt Gibbon, Tom Robertson, James Slipper, Sam Talakai, Taniela Tupou
Hookers
Folau Fainga’a, Lachlan Lonergan, David Porecki
Locks
Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville, Matt Philip, Izack Rodda, Darcy Swain
Loose Forwards
Charlie Gamble, Langi Gleeson, Ned Hanigan, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper, Rob Leota, Fraser McReight, Pete Samu, Rob Valetini, Harry Wilson
Scrumhalves
Jake Gordon, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Nic White
Flyhalves
Quade Cooper, Ben Donaldson, Noah Lolesio
Centres
Lalakai Foketi, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Izaia Perese, Samu Kerevi
Outside Backs
Kurtley Beale, Jock Campbell, Reece Hodge, Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Tom Wright
Rocky's Rules
Roar Rookie
@Chivas Yes I agree with you about S Donald. I just think Foley was not nearly as good is all - not a throwaway comment either :)
Hooter
Roar Rookie
I use "The Imperial March" from Star Wars. Same deal.
Wigeye
Guest
Hahaha, even if they stabbing our coaches in the back we probly could give our players anything to help the 25 odd year shambles at faulty towers HQ Australia :stoked:
Barney
Roar Rookie
Bit surprised about Pone. Early days of course but assuming the list isn't taking injuries into consideration? Thought he had a bit of a blinder on his last game - or was it too little too late? Would have thought a fit Pone would be a pretty dangerous option - and ahead of say a Talakai?
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Mate I 100% agree that the lifestyle advantages are there. But for a player who wants to grow their skills and develop into a player that can move from club, to province to Super Team to ABs I'm not sure Australia actually has the coaching skills to do this.
Hooter
Roar Rookie
If you want to win matches, you need to select match winners (Bill Belichick: 2002) Exactly the reason not to pick Beale. He will win you the odd test match against mediocre or weak opposition but will either go missing or cost a test match against a strong opponent. Beale has not been world class since before the 2015 world cup where he had a brief period as a top class 15 in lieu of anyone else to do the job. He. like Foley, rides on the coat tails of their few good performances and hopes that the bad ones are not remembered.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I disagree. Lots of young Kiwis have family in Australia and the fields are harder and faster. Australian teams do have disadvantages in terms of the pool of players available to select from which impacts results but there would be a lot of benefits for young Kiwis in playing different styles in Australia for example or for giving them the opportunity to travel without fully leaving their support network.
Hooter
Roar Rookie
Yep, he was one of the ones that got away. Michael 7As as well.
Hooter
Roar Rookie
I can just see it. Somehow the Wallabies play out of their skins and make the RWC final and Latu is the starting hooker, five minutes into the game he has a brain snap and clouts someone illegally and receives a red card (the first to be handed out in a RWC final) resulting in the Wallabies being trounced.
Hooter
Roar Rookie
Nothing controversial about Beale missing the spring tour. He isn't up to it, has not been for the best part of a decade. IMO opinion it is actually more controversial to have him anywhere near a Wallabies squad ever again. The Beale apologists will argue "He is there to pass his experience onto the younger players.", my response is what is he going to teach them? How to crab across field robbing outside players of time and space? How to shirk defensive duties and miss tackles? How to perform low percentage grubber kicks when carrying to contact and setting fast recycle ball is needed? How to disrupt the team with poor on and off field behaviour. Beale, like Foley is the past. I would even suggest that Cooper is too, but Cooper can teach a Donaldson or a Lolesio how to create and exploit space. Not to mention that Cooper has proven himself against SA to be still up to the job. Beale and Foley rarely did.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Was he... I am a Waikato supporter and like him, but not sure he was any great shakes at international level. Donaldson was slow and his defence was below average. Maybe you remember a different Donaldson.. or maybe you don't like Foley and it is justva throw away comment. I am thinking the latter but happy to.be proven wrong.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Could very well be.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
So no planni g or development until they name an attack coach? That sounds smart at the begiining of pre-season a d a year out from a world cup. Lets just sit on our hands, necause once we have an attack coach only then can we do anything..You know the workd turns regardless of whether the Wallabies have an attack coach.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Im with you.. it is seeingvthem stand up and produce consistently. A season can be a long time to sort out ahortcomings and find form unless you get injured, then it feels even longer without any growth or development.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Or rightfully sacked and paid out.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Its called development Porkchop. Ypu know create a vision, communicate and buy into it.. tweak it a little, get everyone on the same page. They are there because they are important and have something to contribute.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
That sounds a great idea. Lets do no planning, just turn up with a handful of inform players who have had no direction and that should do it right? Another wonderfully insightful idea from a Wallaby fan...
Chivas
Roar Rookie
But why shouldn't that ne the case for someone wanting to get into the side..
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Cry us a river. What happened to players earning their spot and demanding it. Too many QLD fans think players should make the side just because why exactly. All the QLD players put forward have not blown away the competition. They are merely untried substandard options. Theyvare hardly world class and if people think JOC was doi g the damage before he got dropped they are seeiously deluding themselves.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Will QLD fans try as hard as possible to play the victim card, because as everyone knows the QLD players are so good they are demanding selection.