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Amongst the chaos, there was calm.
Forty players were put through their paces at Coogee Oval on Monday afternoon with the hopes of many resting on catching Eddie Jones’ eye this week, with the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship squad to be named on Sunday. Many won’t return next week.
Without Australia’s A-listers, the Brumbies, who have been given the week off to cool their heels following Saturday’s semi-final exit as well as French duo Will Skelton and Richie Arnold, the also-rans, as well as Japanese quartet Bernard Foley, Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete, hit the training paddock at Eddie’s old home.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones will name his Rugby Championship squad on Sunday. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Langi Gleeson, who is in doubt for the Wallabies’ opener against the Springboks because of injury, slowly made his way over from the sideline to his teammates when they regularly gathered together in a huddle.
Giant props Taniela Tupou and Angus Bell had a spring in their steps as they too joined from the sidelines.
Confined to training by themselves, the pair were put through their paces and ran freely on the sidelines, giving hope the front-rowers will take part in The Rugby Championship.
Kerevi, meanwhile, was put through his own fitness tests as he makes his way back from a tight hamstring suffered during the Barbarians’ narrow win over World XV last month.
Fellow back Andrew Kellaway didn’t train either but looked in good spirits on the sidelines watching on.
Others like Jordan Petaia and Hunter Paisami are still to return, with the Reds duo on the comeback trail and likely to be available for the Wallabies’ home Test against Argentina in Sydney.
There were however some notable omissions too, like Brad Wilkin, Folau Fainga’a Jake Gordon.
Fresh from leading Kubota to the Japanese League One title, Bernard Foley looked sharp at Monday’s Wallabies training session. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Everything Jones did was with purpose. Pace was the order of the day. Walking wasn’t allowed. Burpees were regular, as the backs and forwards were divided between halves before playing 15 on 15.
Foley sliced and diced his way through and regularly addressed the backs. It’s believed he is the seventh member of Eddie Jones’ leadership group.
Cooper’s aura was also on show.
Carter Gordon showed his skill set, regularly running onto the ball with pace.
Dylan Pietsch regularly saw the ball and was busy on the fringes and on the kick return, while Ben Donaldson also showed off his long kick days after running the water for Randwick’s first-grade side on Saturday.
Suliasi Vunivalu cut a striking figure on the field and later caught box kick after box kick from Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and Tate McDermott, as kicking coach Berrick Barnes put the pair through drills. Former AFL coach Neil Craig watched the Reds winger tower into the air and catch the ball effortlessly like Israel Folau once did.
Lean and light, Jock Campbell made everything look easy. His Reds teammate Josh Flook also looked at home.
Koroibete looked in incredible shape and roved.
Izack Rodda’s return has given Eddie Jones another second-row option. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Izack Rodda training hard was a welcome sight after his frustrating two seasons spent largely on the sidelines. His hands let him down once. It resulted in him banging the ground with his right-hand.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, fresh from arriving home from England, burst onto the ball, too, showing he hadn’t lost any of his strong lines.
While James O’Connor bounced around lively in the midfield his teammate Harry Wilson showed off his skill set by making tough passes look better by taking them.
Josh Kemeny was a notable sight on the field, Lachie Swinton carried the ball with vigour.
Young props Zane Nonggorr and Tom Lambert were on hand, while Pone Fa’amausli looked like he wanted to be there, breaking the line at times.
Andrew Kellaway, Reece Hodge and Pone Fa’amausili were all on deck at Coogee Oval on Monday as the Wallabies trained ahead of Sunday’s Rugby Championship squad announcement. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Jones, meanwhile, surveyed and roamed, a little word here and there, as he cast his eye over the bulk of players present that would make up his squad.
The clock is ticking, the final countdown is on.
Jones is set to name his first official Wallabies squad on Sunday, with 33 players as well as a couple of extras on the comeback from injury to be included for The Rugby Championship.
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.