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Let go by the Waratahs, Ben Donaldson has been named in Eddie Jones’ 34-man squad to take on the Springboks in Pretoria on July 9.
It’s an extraordinary selection following an underwhelming season. But all year Jones has continually namedropped Donaldson, whose ability to play fly-half and fullback can’t be underestimated in a tournament nature, and said the 24-year-old has something about him that he likes.
Jones has named eight uncapped players in his squad, including Toulouse-based lock Richie Arnold who is one of four overseas players named. Bernard Foley, who won the Japanese League One competition with Kubota, has not been named, with Quade Cooper and Carter Gordon selected.
The other overseas players included are lock Will Skelton and winger Marika Koroibete, while world class centre Samu Kerevi is one of six who have been named in a rehab group along with Angus Bell and Andrew Kellaway.
Jones later clarified Kerevi is the only player in the rehab squad who could yet take the field in Pretoria.
While the 28-man “train-on” squad named, featuring Foley, Cadeyrn Neville and Harry Wilson, will be left to their own devices before making up the bulk of the Australia A team to take on Tonga next month.
Ben Donaldson (C) has been named in Eddie Jones’ 34-man Wallabies squad. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP) (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)
Veteran forwards James Slipper and Michael Hooper have been named as co-captains.
“We want to do things differently but better,” Jones told reporters on Sunday.
“One of the things about any great team is that the head’s experienced, and we want experience up there because if you’ve played 120 tests, or you’ve captained your country for 65 Tests, you’ve seen it all. You’ve got an idea of what you should do, and we don’t want to lose that. That’s what great teams are about.
“Hoops this week at Coogee has been absolutely outstanding. We put the players in some difficult situations where we played 15 versus 13, 13 verse 15, and the teams had to work it out on the run what they were going to do, and Hoops just showed the experience that he’s had as a captain and, therefore, the two of them together is a powerful force for us. Like, it’s a winning edge for us, guys, a winning edge.”
Michael Hooper (L) has been named as a co-captain alongside James Slipper, while Quade Cooper (C) is set to wear the No.10 jersey against the Springboks. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The veteran duo received a phone-call on Saturday night from Jones to ask them to captain the side.
“It’s an absolute honour to lead the squad alongside Slips,” Hooper said.
“We’ve been having great discussions as a leadership group and wider squad throughout the year and there’s a really optimistic mindset as a collective heading into what’s a massive four months.”
Slipper added: “I’m really proud to lead my country and am looking forward to working with Hoops and Eddie to bring this group together and win trophies.”
Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones addressed the media with co-captains James Slipper and Michael Hooper during the Wallabies Rugby Championship squad announcement at Sanctuary Cove on June 25, 2023. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Five props have been included in the Wallabies’ squad, with Taniela Tupou named despite not playing a match since November 20.
The Wallabies had been optimistic over the past week that Tupou would feature despite only just returning to scrum. It would be a huge risk to throw him out against the Springboks, who boast arguably the best tight-five in world rugby.
If he doesn’t play, rising Reds tight-head prop Zane Nonggorr is set to make his debut off the bench with Allan Alaalatoa likely to start.
Slipper said he was confident the 22-year-old could stand up and do a job if selected.
“He’s not there to make up the numbers, he’s there to perform, and that he will,” Slipper said.
“I’ll back anyone in the squad, no matter the position. You’re right, tight-five is a hard position and being a young guy playing against the South Africans is going to be tough, but every player’s been picked in this squad for a reason.”
As predicted, Brumbies utility forward Tom Hooper and Rebels back-rower Josh Kemeny have been named.
Josh Kemeny is one of eight uncapped players included in Eddie Jones’ squad. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Jones said Kemeny had been selected as a utility and could even find himself on the wing.
“I think it’s premature to go down those selection combinations now,” Jones said, when asked where Fraser McReight stood in the selection picture given he had said Hooper was an “80-minute player”.
“We’ll have two guys competing for seven, and we want Kemeny to play 7. We want Kemeny to play 7,6 and play on the wing. He’s quick enough to play on the wing. That’s why he’s down as a utility player.
“We need to develop a team that is multi-dimensional because of the fact that with HIA, with red cards, yellow cards, you need to be able to adapt on the field. So, nothing’s not possible. And we need to develop that adaptability in the team.”
Reds hooker Matt Faessler has been selected ahead of Lachlan Lonergan, with Jordan Uelese also named alongside the experienced Dave Porecki.
Ryan Lonergan has been included as one of three halfbacks along with Nic White and Tate McDermott.
One-Test winger Suliasi Vunivalu has been named alongside Mark Nawaqanitawase and former Australian Sevens star Dylan Pietsch, who impressed all week at training and has all the tools to succeed in the international game.
Centre Izaia Perese is another who impressed at training and could feature if Kerevi fails to get back in time from injury.
Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa (29, ACT Brumbies, 64 Tests)
Richie Arnold (32, Stade Toulousain, uncapped)
Matt Faessler (24, Queensland Reds, uncapped)
Nick Frost (23, ACT Brumbies, 9 Tests)
Matt Gibbon (28, Melbourne Rebels, 5 Tests)
Jed Holloway (30, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests)
Michael Hooper (co-captain) (31, NSW Waratahs, 124 Tests)
Tom Hooper (22, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)
Rob Leota (26, Melbourne Rebels, 13 Tests)
Fraser McReight (24, Queensland Reds, 10 Tests)
Zane Nonggorr (22, Queensland Reds, uncapped)
David Porecki (30, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests)
Pete Samu (31, ACT Brumbies, 32 Tests)
Will Skelton (31, La Rochelle, 24 Tests)
James Slipper (co-captain) (34, ACT Brumbies, 127 Tests)
Taniela Tupou (27, Queensland Reds, 47 Tests)
Jordan Uelese (26, Melbourne Rebels, 15 Tests)
Rob Valetini (24, ACT Brumbies, 30 Tests)
Backs
Quade Cooper (35, Kintetsu Liners, 76 Tests)
Lalakai Foketi (28, NSW Waratahs, 5 Tests)
Carter Gordon (22, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)
Reece Hodge (28, Melbourne Rebels, 54 Tests)
Len Ikitau (24, ACT Brumbies, 26 Tests)
Marika Koroibete (30, Saitama Wild Knights, 51 Tests)
Ryan Lonergan (25, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)
Tate McDermott (24, Queensland Reds, 21 Tests)
Mark Nawaqanitawase (22, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)
Izaia Perese (26, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)
Suliasi Vunivalu (27, Queensland Reds, 1 Test)
Nic White (33, ACT Brumbies, 59 Tests)
Tom Wright (26, ACT Brumbies, 23 Tests)
Utility
Ben Donaldson (23, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)
Josh Kemeny (24, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)
Dylan Pietsch (25, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)
Rehab Group
Angus Bell (22, NSW Waratahs, 20 Tests)
Langi Gleeson (21, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)
Andrew Kellaway (27, Melbourne Rebels, 21 Tests)
Samu Kerevi (29, Urayasu D-Rocks, 41 Tests)
Jordan Petaia (23, Queensland Reds, 25 Tests)
Matt Philip (29, Melbourne Rebels, 27 Tests)
Not considered for selection due to injury
Max Jorgensen
Tom Robertson
Izack Rodda
Corey Toole
2023 Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Fixtures
Wallabies v South Africa, 5:05pm SAST/1:05am AEST, Saturday 8 July at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Wallabies v Argentina, 7:45pm AEST, Saturday 15 July at CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v New Zealand, 7:45pm AEST, Saturday 29 July at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Wallabies v New Zealand, 2:35pm NZST/12:35pm AEST Saturday 5 August at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Train-On Squad
Forwards
Charlie Cale
Josh Canham
Pone Fa’amausili
Folau Fainga’a
Charlie Gamble
Ned Hanigan
Tom Lambert
Lachlan Lonergan
Cadeyrn Neville
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Blake Schoupp
Darcy Swain
Lachlan Swinton
Sam Talakai
Brad Wilkin
Harry Wilson
Backs
Lachlan Anderson
Jock Campbell
Filipo Daugunu
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
Josh Flook
Bernard Foley
Jake Gordon
James O’Connor
Hunter Paisami
James Tuttle
Joey Walton
Utility
Seru Uru
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