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Six weeks out from the first Test of Eddie Jones’ return and a key part of the selection process is still in flux.
The Giteau Law, in place to restrict the number of overseas based players and protect the interests of the Australian Super Rugby clubs and the men who have chosen to remain here and represent the five clubs, has always been up to negotiation.
Under the current rules, Jones would be restricted to three overseas based players per series (the Rugby Championship and World Cup rate as separate tournaments), but there is little appetite to hamper him ahead of the finals in France this year.
There is likely to be some restriction – but RA chairman Hamish McLennan has made it clear Jones will get what he wants for France.
Who remembers his interjection during Jones’ first press conference on home soil? “Whatever he wants,” McLennan said.
One scenario being touted is an expansion to five players, so The Roar’s rugby writers have given their top fives in order of what the Wallabies need most right now.
1 Quade Cooper
Six from six. They’re the numbers that tell me something about Quade Cooper’s influence. Quade’s always had the talent – it’s why he’s one of the few players in the world who’s more known by his first name than his second. The 2023 version is better than the 2011 one. He might not be as quick but his rugby brain will be crucial to the Wallabies’ World Cup hopes. That said, I’m not sure he’ll be picked against the Springboks in the Rugby Championship opener.
2 Samu Kerevi
Modern day rugby is about gain line dominance. Win it, win the breakdown battle. That’s why Kerevi is crucial to the Wallabies’ hopes. When France lost Jonathan Danty for their clash against Ireland, France were well-beaten and didn’t have that gain line dominance and breakdown presence they usually have. When he returned, they hit England for a half century.
3 Will Skelton
Leinster’s kryptonite. The Wallabies need the club version Skelton to show up. He’s got to be fit. Fitter than he’s ever been to have the same impact on the international game, but he’s got all the tools to be force for the Wallabies. He’s operated closer to 50 per cent of his capacity after being parachuted into the Wallabies over the past two spring tour campaigns.
Will Skelton celebrates on the final whistle during the Heineken Champions Cup Final between Leinster Rugby and Stade Rochelais at Aviva Stadium on May 20, 2023 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
4 Marika Koroibete
One of the world’s best wingers and, indeed, the Wallabies’ John Eales Medallist, Koroibete’s worth is there for everyone to see. His work on both sides of the ball is outstanding. However, I’ve listed the other three ahead of him because wing is an area of increasing strength for the Wallabies. Nonetheless, I believe the Giteau Law will be expanded from three to allow for another one to two selections.
5 Bernard Foley
Some believe Foley shouldn’t be anywhere near the squad, but here’s why he should be. The man was thrown a hospital pass by being selected in 2019 for the crucial match against Wales because he’d hardly played previously. He then returned suddenly last year and was lining up against the All Blacks weeks after enjoying a break in the United States. But Foley’s an experienced operator with the communication and calm head to succeed. After leading Kubota to a stunning League One title last weekend, it won’t surprise to see Foley start against the Springboks in Pretoria four years after starting in the corresponding fixture. The difference is Foley’s fresh and not stale as he was in 2019.
1 Quade Cooper
It has been pretty clear that Eddie Jones isn’t convinced about any of the young 10s, and Cooper’s ability to return from his Achilles injury before the end of the League One season in Japan will only give Jones more confidence that he’ll be good to go through the international season.
2 Marika Koroibete
If Cooper wasn’t the first name on the coach’s list, Koroibete would’ve been. Just an obvious selection to take if available.
3 Scott Sio
The increase to five overseas picks makes four selections pretty easy and obvious, but once you add the element of importance to the equation, then I think the lack of experienced loosehead props behind James Slipper and the uncertainty around Angus Bell makes Sio a more than handy deputy.
4 Samu Kerevi
Assuming Jones wants Cooper to run everything, and with a fullback providing the second-phase playmaking, then a damaging runner at 12 fits well. And there aren’t many better damaging runners at 12 than Kerevi. Simples.
5 Will Skelton
Skelton wouldn’t come into my thinking if only three overseas picks are allowed (lock is pretty well covered), but expansion to five makes him easy to include. The question then becomes how to best use him, and being a ‘sometimes’ lineout jumper not unlike Rob Valetini means they probably can’t both start. In which case you bring Skelton on for the last 25 minutes and let him run havoc.
Eddie Jones has always maintained he could win a Rugby World Cup as a head coach, but has come unstuck in the attritional pack sweepstakes. To win seven matches far from home on heavy pitches like the one in St. Etienne, cavalry is needed. However, the overseas front and back row stocks are light. It is in the second row that Jones could beef up the team.
1 Quade Cooper
Cooper is still the only game manager besides Nic White that one can see steering the Wallabies to win a grand final in France. He has the confidence, the skills, and the deep experience to lead. No other flyhalf has all of that.
2 Will Skelton
Skelton is a Leinster-slayer. With Saracens or La Rochelle, he seems to know to turn the green tide. Does his selection alter lineouts? Yes, but France seldom lifts their locks; instead, Paul Willemse lifts loosies. Skelton is so big, his name is a (muscular) verb.
3 Rory Arnold
Rory can stop mauls. If there is one thing you simply must do to win a World Cup it is: don’t let foes’ mauls roll. Should he act more gnarly? Sure. But he is an elite technician with a Test animal body.
4 Richie Arnold
Richie has been carrying hard and well all season. With Skelton and his brother, he can swell the size of the Wallaby pack, at start or finish. In a quarterfinal against England or Argentina, and then against the biggest teams, size will matter a lot.
5 Samu Kerevi
Kerevi dents rush defences and has a kicking game befitting the old Australian 10-12 tradition. He practices good ball security and gives the Wallabies a shape needed to help their generally slower ruck cleaners.
Marika Koroibete is unlucky. He is the reigning John Eales medallist. But wings don’t make as much of a difference in a Cup as locks do.
Being allowed five overseas picks reminds me of the times my grandmother would allow us a free dig into the lolly jar. It’s a bit of a ‘no lose’ situation; hoping for a prized white jellybean or five but, whatever you came up with, still being well ahead of where you were before.
This feels like a straightforward task for Eddie Jones. Picks 1-3 are Australia’s best players in their position, and as such, go straight in, no questions asked. Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete and Quade Cooper.
Pick four is dual European Champions Cup winner Will Skelton. World Cups are attritional and Skelton, curiously maligned by many in his own country, having proven his worth at two of Europe’s leading club sides, is a man for the business end of the tournament. An added advantage is that he won’t be coming in cold, having made a good contribution in last year’s end-of-season tour.
For pick five, it’s a matter of identifying the position where Australia is weakest. Dave Rennie tried multiple players at hooker, with none yet to make the position their own. Brandon Paenga-Amosa won a French title last year with Montpellier and had established himself as their leading rake prior to sustaining a season-ending ankle injury. Assuming his slated end-of-June recovery is on track, he’s our man.
The two highest-profile names to miss out are, Rory Arnold – said by Jones not to have shown sufficient commitment to the cause – and Bernard Foley. There’s a close watch however on Foley, should any injury problems arise over the next two months with Cooper. As good as Carter Gordon has been this year, he is uncapped and still learning. Ben Donaldson is barely more experienced, while Noah Lolesio is yet to earn Jones’ favour.
For this reason, should the 35-year-old Cooper come up short, Jones may well look to place an experienced head like Foley, alongside Gordon.
1 Marika Koroibete
In plenty of Tests, he’s Australia’s only obvious World XV player. Combines quality and workrate. A must on the wing.
2 Samu Kerevi
The main factors to any Giteau Law inclusion are whether the player is a 10 per cent improvement on any Australian-based option and proven quality. Tick and tick for Kerevi. He’s a line-busting powerhouse at inside centre who has improved his passing skills. Must be at No.12 for the World Cup.
3 Quade Cooper
Eddie Jones must have him in and about the July Wallabies squad. He proved in the five straight Test wins that he was a part of last year that he manages a game better than any of the current Australian-based No.10s. He made so many players around him better, starting with Kerevi. He can’t just be a passing-distributing No.10 or the defence will go straight onto Kerevi and ignore him. If his repaired Achilles doesn’t allow him to dance and be elusive, he might end up being Bench Quade.
4 Will Skelton
Skelton is a huge unit and a point of difference with his ball-carting and rumbling over the advantage line. No lineout winner but Eddie Jones will have a compensatory plan there with two backrowers who can jump. French experience invaluable.
5 Rory Arnold
Arnold wins lineouts. Given a rocket already by Jones over his career decisions. His 30-odd Tests worth of experience makes him a better, more immediate bet than twin Richie, who could still be a Test wildcard in July.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.