Eddie Jones’ first squad includes incredibly experienced players like James Slipper (127 caps) and Michael Hooper (124), but you know all about them.
So, in this article I’m looking at the uncapped forwards and seeing what they might bring if called upon. The five in question are Matt Faessler (hooker), Zane Nonggorr (prop), Richie Arnold (lock), Tom Hooper (lock), and Josh Kemeny (flanker).
I’ve written about Richie Arnold before for The Roar so I will keep this brief. He has had an exceptional season with Toulouse. He’s started 23 times as the French side reached the semi-finals in Europe and won the French league. Australia have a settled second-row with Cadeyrn Neville and Nick Frost but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Arnold come in as a starter there.
Matt Faessler has scored 11% of all the Reds’ tries and tops the league for tries scored from hooker.
However, he’s not just a try scorer. His all-round performance has been one of the best in the league regardless of position. His throw success is just under 90% which is more than good enough and his defence, both tackling and turning the ball over, has been elite.
Hooker is a spot where Australia are lacking experience. The only other hookers selected are Dave Porecki and Jordan Uelese who have just 25 caps between them. Given his season, Faessler has a genuine shot at not only being included but potentially starting.
Zane Nonggorr had only started once in 18 matches before this season for the Reds. But 2023 has been his year and he’s started 11 times out of the 15 matches he’s been involved in. That has led the 22-year-old tighthead prop directly into the Aussie squad. He plays like a forward and his carrying game is one of his biggest skills. However, as you might expect with a younger prop, his scrummaging isn’t yet at the elite level. He has been penalised a lot this year and that is normally an area of concern when looking at a prop’s stats. However, this is his first season starting and it is something which looks to be improving.
I don’t expect Nonggorr to be thrown in immediately, but he has more than enough about him to justify his spot in the squad and will benefit from the development opportunities he’s given.
Tom Hooper can play right the way across the backrow and that flexibility is something Eddie Jones has always valued. With England he took Courtney Lawes from a second row to a flanker and Maro Itoje made the journey back and forth between the back row and second row on numerous occasions. Australia have suffered from a seemingly random selection policy with their backs, but they would benefit from some players who can fill multiple roles in the forwards.
The squad is actually low on experience in the second and back row. Sure, players like Michael Hooper, and their buckets of caps help mask the issue, but the lack of experience is there.
Of the 11 players selected at second or back row, only three have more than 30 caps; Hooper plus Pete Samu and Rob Valetini. Tom Hooper’s selection looks to be one that has more than an eye on the future. There are a lot of ageing Australian players who are staring down the barrel of their last ever World Cup. Tom Hooper represents the future, and he has shown enough in his, admittedly limited, career to suggest the Aussies will have cover when Michael Hooper, Samu, Skelton, Arnold to eventually hang-up the boots.
Josh Kemeny has been excellent this year in a poor Rebels’ side. The backrower has contributed in every area he would be expected to excel; attack, defence, lineout. He has the most lineout steals for the Rebels and the third most lineout takes. But in addition, he’s made the third most carries and the most offloads among the Rebels’ forwards.
Josh Kemeny. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
This has been his breakout season, but the Rebels have given him playing time in his previous two seasons to make sure he is ready for this. That will bode well for Australia because although he is untested at international level, he has plenty of club experience to fall back on.
One concern is that he is quite light for a back row player. That may count against him if Eddie wants to play a low possession game where his forwards are expected to make tackle after tackle. Kemeny can do that, but he will be a lot better when he’s allowed to stretch his legs in the open field. I really feel that if Jones can give him those opportunities, then he could be an exceptional find for Australia.
There aren’t too many massive surprises for the forwards in the Australian squad. It is a group with some totemic players; Slipper, Hooper, and Allan Alaalatoa. But there are also very inexperienced players within the pack.
Not just inexperienced at international level, but at club level as well. It is going to be a challenge for Australia to gel those differing experience levels together. That is especially true when so many of the most experienced will be jetting off into the sunset after Rugby World Cup 2023.
If Eddie Jones can bring this squad together and crucially, get the younger recruits firing in The Rugby Championship, then not only does immediate success look likely but long-term success is guaranteed. That is easier said than done however.
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