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Wallabies hopefuls have been staking their claims as the Super Rugby regular season reaches a crescendo, so the time is right for the third edition of our Wallabies Power Rankings for 2023.
In the seven weeks since our second crack at defining the ranking order in each position in this World Cup year, Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has given us a significant, and very handy pointer with his first Wallabies squad.
Ultimately 50 players were part of the camp – either in person or remotely – and Jones will have to narrow his selection down to 33 for the tournament in September and October.
Jones may have sidestepped the issue of the assembled squad’s dress code with claims that it wasn’t an official Wallabies cohort – but it gave us a clue as to whose chances are as a slick as an MJ Bale suit and whose are fraying at the seams.
As before, we’ve based it on if a World Cup squad was named today. There is some leeway for short term injuries but others with long term issues – bless poor Tom Banks and his limbs of glass – will be left out.
Also – and there were lots of calls for Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Scott Sio and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in The Roar comments section when we did this seven weeks ago – overseas players who were not invited to Zoom into the first camp will not be included here. That includes the stateless Rory Arnold.
Here is our latest Power Rankings.
Version 2 ranking: Slipper, Gibbon, Robertson, Schoupp
Version 1 ranking: Slipper, Angus Bell, Robertson, Gibbon
Angus Bell’s rehab is progressing well but he’s still several weeks away from being considered after his toe surgery. There has been a slight change in the order at places behind Wallabies captain Slipper with Robertson’s worth to the Force illustrated by how their scrum has struggled in his absence. Matt Gibbon was left out of Eddie’s selection for the camp – but Schoupp went along, the coach probably wanting to check the foundations of the Brumbies’ “brick shithouse”. Schoupp has to play second fiddle to Slipper at club level – and has made two starts and seven appearances off the bench.
Version 2 ranking: Lonergan, Porecki, Fainga’a, Tolu Latu, Alex Mafi
Version 1 ranking: Porecki, Fainga’a, Lonergan, Latu, Josh Nasser
Dave Porecki has returned from an infection that costs him several weeks and has done enough to show why he was the Wallabies’ first choice No.2 under Dave Rennie. Mahe Vailanu has been favoured above Tolu Latu as Porecki’s back up at the Tahs, and the latter is slipping down our rankings – and believed to be heading back to France at the end of the year. Fainga’a missed six weeks with Achilles soreness but showed his eager eye for a meat pie with a couple on return for the Force in round 12. Lonergan has continued his strong season and contributed five tries for the second on the table Brumbies. Matt Faessler is starting to enter the conversation for higher honours – his impact off the bench was instrumental in the Reds’ incredible win over the Chiefs.
Dave Porecki poses during the Australian Wallabies captain’s run at Optus Stadium on July 01, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Version 2 ranking: Alaalatoa, Fa’amausili, Talakai, Johnson-Holmes, van Nek.
Version 1 ranking: Alaalatoa, Talakai, Fa’amausili.
A frustrated Tupou might be able to tango but he’s still not able to run on his injured Achilles.
“At the moment, I’m focusing on getting the strength back in my Achilles and calf and I’m still two weeks away from running. Can’t wait for that,” he said last week. “I’m not sure, maybe around July I’ll be playing some club footy and who knows.”
Alaalatoa remains the top dog in the position but it’s a competitive position and behind the Brumbies skipper a close battle is being waged.
Fa’amausili, who has missed out on a Rugby Australia top up for next season, is a dominant player with a point of difference over his rivals when it comes to impact and explosiveness. Johnson-Holmes is finding his form after missing the start of the season.
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Version 2 ranking: Frost, Skelton, Neville, Swain, Jed Holloway, Hosea, Ned Hanigan, Smith.
Version 1 ranking: Rodda, Skelton, Frost, Swain, Hanigan, Neville, Smith, Hosea.
Will Skelton continues to tear it up with La Rochelle and was part of Eddie’s Zoom crew. The coach will have been happy to hear the French-based giant’s praise for him too.
“When you look at the media, he’s definitely brought some life back into Aussie rugby,” Skelton said of Jones’s impact recently. “As a player it’s refreshing to have a new coach come in and bring in his style, his way of playing, which the boys have to buy into.”
He admitted the calls kept him up late but he was happy to be invited.
“[We had] a few Zoom calls last week for the foreign players,” he said. “We had to tune in in the middle of the night and did a few meetings with the team … it was good to be a part of.”
Skelton jumps (figuratively at least) above Nick Frost. The Brumby remains highly considered, but has been fended off twice for tries in recent weeks, raising concerns about his physicality. Based on recent selections, we have made some adjustments with Jed Holloway and Ned Hanigan moving out of our locks rankings to the No.6 position. Darcy Swain continues to frustrate from a disciplinary stand point and the selection for the Zoom call of Toulouse’s Richie Arnold hinted at Jones’ thinking in what’s already a crowded area of selection. Matt Philip joins the rankings for the first time – he’s expected to return from his ACL injury for the Rebels in the next week or two. Izack Rodda remains out of action due to injury.
Version 2 ranking: Valetini, Pete Samu, Liam Wright, Swinton, Josh Kemeny, Seru Uru, Michael Wells.
Version 1 ranking: Holloway, Samu, Swinton, Uru, Kemeny.
Rob Valetini will likely play at No.8 for the Wallabies but has been used as a No.6 by Stephen Larkham at the Brumbies, with Samu at No.8. We’ve left Samu – who could reprise his super sub role for Rennie under Jones – in this group but he can play anywhere across the back row. Samu is peaking at the right time as the international season looms. Liam Wright has put in some strong performances for the Reds – not least in the win over the Chiefs where his desire to run down a late restart helped the Red win their decisive penalty. Can Wright find a point of difference? He might that need and to improve his ball carrying to overcome the other candidates for the Wallabies jersey. Lachie Swinton smashes rucks and, while prone to trouble, has the attributes Wright lacks.
Version 2 ranking: McReight, Hooper, Wilkin, Scott, Ollie Callan.
Version 1 ranking: Hooper, McReight, Wilkin.
Michael Hooper is a Wallabies stalwart but McReight has come at him hard this season. McReight won their head to head battle by some margin recently and goes into the Rugby Championship as the form No.7 in the country. McReight has made more tackles (152 to 127) than Hooper this season and leads the competition in turnovers with 16. Will Eddie Jones make a big, early call? Brad Wilkin continues to impress, while Rory Scott has caught the eye. Ollie Callan is currently sidelined with a neck injury.
(Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)
Version 2: Gleeson, Wilson, Harris, Warren-Vosayaco
Version 1: Valetini, Wilson, Gleeson.
Valetini could be the man picked by Eddie Jones as No.8 but Gleeson and Wilson are showing the Wallabies have decent depth in the position. Wilson was considered a flight risk but since the last rankings he has signed a new deal with the Reds and Rugby Australia. Wilson leads the competition in carries – his 157 is 40 more than the next player – and he ranks 5th for carry metres (963) – the only forward in the top 10. While the stats are impressive they also point to an issue for Wilson, blunting his overall effectiveness as he is forced into a role as the Reds’ main workhorse.
Version 2 ranking: White, Lonergan, McDermott, Gordon, Fines-Leleiwasa
Version 1 ranking: White, McDermott, Gordon, Lonergan
The next month will be fascinating in the battle for the No.9 and this could be an area where Jones surprises. White is likely to miss the next couple of weeks due to injury, giving Lonergan, who will assume the Brumbies No.9 jersey next season when Nic’s off to the Force, a chance to seize control leading into the finals. That could also impact McDermott, who has responded as well as could be hoped to being left out of Jones’ first squad – there was no better example than his captain’s knock against the Chiefs. If the World Cup was being played next month White would be the obvious choice but the pack is closing on him. Jake Gordon has a lot of ground to make up and his forward pack and their form could determine his World Cup hopes.
Version 2 ranking: Foley, Lolesio, Gordon, O’Çonnor, Jack Debreczeni, Tom Lynagh, Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed
Version 1: Lolesio, Foley, Donaldson, Edmed, O’Connor, Gordon.
Three power rankings down and a third No.10 in our top spot, summing up the lack of certainty in a prime role heading into the World Cup. Quade Cooper is back on top with a bullet, based on two games (and a minute) of action in the Japanese playoffs. His performances have been encouraging, and the fact he’s fought back from an Achilles injury is a huge win for Jones and Australia. Bernard Foley divides the fan base but his form (although out of sight and mind of most Australians) has been outstanding for Kubota Spears – he was layer of the match last weekend as he led the team to the final. Carter Gordon has gone up against Noah Lolesio and Ben Donaldson in recent weeks and dominated in both. No one has attracted more hype in Australian Super Rugby circles this season than the young Rebel and it would now be a surprise if he doesn’t get some minutes ahead of the World Cup to press his claims.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Version 2 ranking: Foketi, Paisami, Stewart.
Version 1 ranking: Paisami, Foketi, Hodge, Stewart.
Samu Kerevi made his comeback in Japan last week in a huge boost for the Wallabies. Foketi has been the pick of the domestic options. Paisami has barely played since we last power ranked, but his return is not far away and he has just been signed to stay with the Reds for another year.
Version 2 ranking: Ikitau, Hodge, Flook, Perese
Version 1 ranking: Ikitau, Perese, Flook.
Len Ikitau is one of the first few picked in a Wallabies team right now and it’s a case of daylight second at No.13. Perese has at least overcome some poor early season form to rediscover his spark but Hodge’s versatility makes him more useful from a World Cup squad perspective.
Version 2 ranking: Koroibete, Nawaqanitawase, Petaia, Muirhead, Toole, Daugunu, Vunivalu, Pietsch, 9.Toni Pulu
Version 1 ranking: Koroibete, Nawaqanitawase, Petaia, Vunivalu, Pietsch, Muirhead.
Big Marika has finished the Japanese season with a bang – a second half hat-trick for Panasonic Wild Knights last weekend. Nawaqanitawase started SRP strongly but he’s been under utilised by the Tahs in recent weeks – a lack of cross field kicks to him has been puzzling. Dylan Pietsch has impressed since his return from injured – with the exception of a couple of exit issues against the Reds. Corey Toole continues to excite – his stunning long range try against the Highlanders last weekend showcased his blistering speed. A packed depth chart is boosted further with Andrew Kellaway and Tom Wright in consideration. Meanwhile Jordie Petaia, who could play in the centres or No.15, is out for the rest of the SRP season with a wrist injury and therefore “rested” from the rankings.
Version 2 ranking: Wright, Campbell, Banks, Jorgensen.
Version 1 ranking: Banks, Campbell, Kellaway, Wright.
Andrew Kellaway is back since our previous rankings but Tom Banks has suffered another huge blow – his third broken arm in 20 months. His overseas status already made him a World Cup outsider but now he’s a long shot. Tom Wright has a freshly signed contract with the Brumbies and RA and he’s been in career best form at No.15, and the time is right to make the Test jersey his own. Campbell continues to intrigue as an old school No.15 – he was excellent against the Chiefs – but less compelling as a wing option.