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.
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.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Clearly a person living in the past
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
And, for a 10, he's still in L plates - more intense Euro comps => much more practise to young 10 s How good is Hastoi lookin under pressure?
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
None as good as TKB - let Lonergan learn from one of the best, certainly better than white
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
Rassie "5 is not enough", two in run-on team and two on bench plus psdt hiding at #6 Snyman looks to be running into fitness and form at Munster' Let's hope France don't qualify the younger Skelton play-alike from Toulouse https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/toulouse-lock-meafou-chooses-france-over-australia-2023-04-14/
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Hey,jez,at least Eddie has got everybody having an opinion,even Chivas!Can't be bad.
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Not sure how much influence Lolesio had on the winning of the game,though.Possibly goal kicking. Foley was nearly instrumental in a big win last year but instead became hugely instrumental in the loss!
Joffrey
Roar Rookie
Everyone has cut Skelton down, He is a non- entity in test matches.
Wolla Wotsa
Roar Rookie
Never seen his power at test level. Ever. He has always been limp slow and weak for a man his size.He should be manhandling players every game, but it`s always the opposition who do the manhandling.
Wolla Wotsa
Roar Rookie
If Eddie starts Skelton it will end in a world of hurt. He wont.
Wolla Wotsa
Roar Rookie
And he also brings laziness and slowless and weak scrummaging.
Sydney Slug
Roar Rookie
Very one dimensional response Harry. I talked about his contribution across the park in attack and defence across 7 different games. If an opposing team chooses to focus on upsetting one player because of their particular game plan surely that narrows their ability to success with completing perfectly. It allows a smart playing group to refocus their defence and play the counter. A single try in the air is in no way compensation for leaving out a player who changes the way the Wallabies do their business.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Even as a puppy fatted kid he had silky hands.
Harry Jones
Expert
They come into play at 60:00 or later, after the brutal slow poison has worked. Mapimpi is a premium chaser, though. KLA can fill in fine for Kolbe. Moodie for Mapimpi. And there are others. Dillyn Leyds and Rhule just beat Leinster.
Harry Jones
Expert
There are 5-6 wings in SA who can do the job, but only one Etzebeth.
Harry Jones
Expert
But there is a way to take Marika out of the game (e.g. Canan Moodie try in Sydney): the air. Can't take a top hooker or lock out of a game as easily.
Harry Jones
Expert
I agree (he has) but I don't see that happening in KOs versus the top four when all teams are as fit as feasible and space tightens. Also, the dropoff from Koroibete to Marky Mark for example is not as great as the margin between an Arnold stopping a maul versus Neville/Swain/Philip.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
WC winning sides average 28. Look at the dad's army that won the last WC. Experience is what we we need and Foley is in fine form and if QC is fit won't be the starting 10 but having depth is important. Same goes for QC, he came back and was the boss not trying to be the star player. We don't need a star player at 10 with Kerevi at 12 and our options at 15, we need an experienced 10 who can manage the game and has the experience to get the most out of all the guys around him. Australia can field a strong team on paper, Jones just needs to get them playing as a team better than Rennie was ever going to be capable of doing.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Yeah he will. Skelton is not a bench option, he is 100% a starting option. His work around rucks is exceptionally good and not only hitting rucks he polices rucks exceptionally well and was very obvious against Leinster. Leinster like to get past the ruck up the sides, not with Skelton there they weren’t. Ireland do the same. Skelton imposes himself around rucks and is 100% what Australia need. He typically plays 80 minutes for his club and he normally starts to come into his own in the second halves. His ball skills and offloading in traffic are world class, better than any of our other locks.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Skelton has actually been jumping and if it's a lineout on the opponents 5m line having the big boppa in the centre of a maul is a very good tactic as he's a hard man to get past and he drives a maul very well.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
He will be...not every test ones that count.