Eddie Jones looks set to make one of his biggest selection calls since returning as Wallabies coach, with fullback Tom Wright looming as a major casualty for next week’s Bledisloe opener against the All Blacks.
Sources have told The Roar that Wright, who started in the No.15 jersey for the Wallabies in their opening two defeats of The Rugby Championship, is in the firing line ahead of the MCG opener on July 29 when Jones named his Bledisloe squad on Thursday.
It comes after Wright endured a difficult ending in the Wallabies’ 34-31 loss to Argentina last Saturday.
Tom Wright is on the chopping block following the Wallabies’ last-minute loss to Argentina at CommBank Stadium on July 15, 2023 in Sydney. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
The 25-year-old, who has played 25 Tests since scoring on debut with his first touch against the All Blacks in Brisbane, made three crucial errors in a costly 10-minute period.
First, having dropped Fraser McReight’s tough inside pass in close quarters, Wright pushed Matias Moroni in the 64th minute which led to Jaco Peyper reversing a penalty with the Wallabies trailing 20-17. Jones was caught on broadcast in a tangle with his headphones after expressing his frustration after the incident.
Three minutes later, Wright dropped a tricky grubber kick. The opportunity allowed Los Pumas to set up camp near the Wallabies’ 22-metre line, as Mateo Carreras got on the outside of Dave Porecki to score.
Capping off a forgettable period, Wright then put Carter Gordon under pressure with a late pass back to the short side as the fullback attempted to ignite the Wallabies’ attack.
Having clawed their way back to 27-24, the moment should have killed the Wallabies off, but a Mark Nawaqanitawase intercept saved the home side from their blushes as the winger scored a stunning length of the field try.
While Wright played his part in the Wallabies’ flying start against Argentina and also made a stunning trysaving tackle early in the second half, Jones has seemingly lost faith in the fullback to make the right decision and be a rock at the back of the field.
It also comes a month after Wright, who was one of Australian rugby’s best throughout Super Rugby, struggled in the Brumbies’ semi-final loss against the Chiefs, as his decision-making came back to haunt him.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones is set to name his squad for the Bledisloe series. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Who replaces him remains to be seen, but the fit-again Andrew Kellaway looks set to return after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in training last month.
He’s not the only back likely to return to the selection frame, with Jordan Petaia building his way back from wrist surgery.
But given both players are underdone, it would be a huge ask to throw either player in against the All Blacks.
Whether specialist fullback Jock Campbell receives a call-up remains to be seen, while Ben Donaldson as well as Suliasi Vunivalu are set to keep their spots in the wider squad.
Fit-again Andrew Kellaway and Jordan Petaia are the favourites to wear the No.15 jersey against the All Blacks should Tom Wright be left out. (Photo by Getty Images)
Jones has another decision to make in the midfield following Len Ikitau’s fractured scapula.
But at least the Wallabies have options, with Waratahs pair Izaia Perese and Lalakai Foketi in the squad. Petaia is also a midfield option.
Jones will name his Bledisloe squad on Thursday, but on Wednesday spoke about the importance of putting the All Blacks under stress early in the match following their blistering starts that led to opening wins against Argentina and South Africa.
“We’ve got the Kiwis coming up and obviously they’ve got out of the blocks pretty quickly,” Jones said at the unveiling of the Wallabies’ highly anticipated schedule against the Lions in 2025.
“It’s a bit different for them in a World Cup year.
“Usually they have a much more moderated start and build up to the World Cup, but I think because of the change in the coach post the World Cup they’ve said ‘stuff this we’re going to hard right from the first minute.’
“They haven’t been put under pressure yet, and our job is to put them under pressure.
“You look at their first 20 minutes against South Africa, it was almost perfect rugby. Every kick they won in the air, they were good on the gain line, very smart about the way they played.
“If we’re able to match that in the first 20 minutes and put a bit of pressure on them, which they haven’t had this year, then funny things can happen.”
Olly
Roar Rookie
I agree. We need to give players with potential time in positions and develop them as we simply don't have a perfect fullback to call on. I always look at Chris Latham. He was error prone until he matured into fullback.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Who was that other rising talent, Hurles?
Guess
Roar Rookie
You being triggered by that word doesn't make it dumb :stoked:
Guess
Roar Rookie
Lol gordon hasn't been given a chance. And he's still done more than messiah
Guess
Roar Rookie
I won? Yay :happy: What if the truth is he's Messiah? :laughing: You talk about debate and all yet instead of answering what's so special about him derailed it yourself. You're holier than others aren't you?
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
Didn't know about 'His inventiveness to knee the ball over top which he got called for dropping it and is now outlawed.' I only played to second tier club so not over far up the ladder with great players. I be honest I liked being at the bottom of a ruck and ferreting for the ball - also now illegal. I did fear opposition Fijian clothes lining though. Question - who else would be a better label for the AB's as a Hot and Cold - Rocks and Diamonds player for you.
Christy Doran
Editor
15 pushed 23 into Valetini, who pushed him over. Started with Wright. Wallabies would have picked that up post game even though not obvious in the Stan coverage.
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
Good. He will never play another test again. Some players can’t make the jump from provincial to test level. Like Loliseo this guy is the same. He should head to France and take the $$$.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
Campbell scored a try, and started a length of the field try were assisted twice, it was nominated as one of the trie of the year. Wallabies just missed winning. All people remember was that missed tackle, not the rest of his performance.
Lebowski
Roar Rookie
100%. I'm beginning to think it'll never change. Particularly with the recent decisions at national level that just suggest history repeating.
BeginAgain
Roar Rookie
That is cool, I just looked it up. Great news for Perth. Thanks for the heads up. Mark it in your calendar :happy:
BeginAgain
Roar Rookie
Agree with all of that. The failure to develop certain players is a serious problem especially when depth is such a problem. I don't think it ought to happen at Wallably level, but it most definintely should be happening at the level immediately below. That is an area the SR teams in Australia could all do better in.
BeginAgain
Roar Rookie
Hey Rogue. I agree he had tremendous natural talent. I thought he was ahead of where most players were with his creating of gaps and then throwing the ball into the gap for a loose forward to run onto, which they inevitably dropped. These days players have better catching skills. I would love to have had the privilege of playing with someone like that, you just run off him all day. His inventiveness to knee the ball over top which he got called for dropping it and is now outlawed. His vision and ability to create space in and around the contact area was second to none in my view. And watching him live you gained an appreciation of just how well he positioned himself. Even when they started rotating him to fullback in defence wasn't to hide him, but enable the Blues to exit well as he could kick distance and run and setup players like Jonah. But yeah he was crueled with injury early on which meant he wasn't able to nail down a position in the AB's and when he came back he didn't have the same confidence in kicking from the tee and Merhts had the wood on him. Also the pressure of goal kicking when he wasn't kicking well would then tell on the rest of his kicking game and confidence. I remember watching a game when Auckland was playing Canterbury and they were kicking it to each other a metre from the sideline one 22 tothe other waiting for a mistake (games within games). Also it is worth noting when Carlos was identified by Graham Henry in a Ranfurly shield game where he showed off his talent against Auckland at only 19 and played his first test for the AB's at 23 against Argentina where he scored 33 points. I just don't see Tom Wright in the same class I guess as a player who would go from zero to top speed in a couple of strides (which made him such a threat in tight spaces), hammies are always going to be an issue, even for someone as solid and powerful an athlete as he was. For me he was a phenomonally gifted rugby player and there wouldn't be too many sides in the world today he wouldn't be an automatic choice when in top form. But as you say we all see things differently, but we can all appreciate talent when we see it :happy:
Lebowski
Roar Rookie
He had quite a good game against France on the EOYT but people blamed him for the last try even though Hodge gave the French an attacking chance from a really poor exit and our winger (Wright) I think missed the first tackle. I find it interesting that people give 100 chances to known duds or think wingers can be fullbacks when the other option was to train a known full back in increasing his defence ability and putting on a few kilos in the off season. But Campbell is a journeyman, not an U20s graduate and not a rugby league player so he doesn't get many chances. They want to bring kellaway back from injury against the ABs in a position he barely players. That's Australian rugby decision making to a T.
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
I'm referring to the start of their careers - not what the end result was BeginAgain. I wouldn't say he was one of the most skillful players in the world on my list comparing to others - but we all see differently. I agree that Carlos was a good player with great natural talent but I personally thought injuries and coaches tamed him too much. I never said he wasn't good to watch. I remember his angled hard runs at the opposition back line and breaking through provincially - I remember this as a kid for Auckland. I felt like his on field kicking game let him down at times in the AB's early on. I think Carlos suffered without playing consistency due to a lot of injuries - that must have been hard on him. I found the injuries weird because (and still today) he is just so dam physically beefed. I always wonder what he would have been like at fullback for NZ.
Go you good thing
Roar Rookie
So true. This site is constantly on the take down. Next week it will be Kells , Marky mark, or kbets not up to scratch - it’s laughable. Wright is 100 % needed by the squad. Time will tell where.
Go you good thing
Roar Rookie
So true.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Not that sorta rest Jack. Not a break between bourbons.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Close to my thoughts Tony. Confidence players need confidence. Mature confidence players make their own confidence.
Olly
Roar Rookie
As I said, why is he not in the picture since we are naming all the other wingers as potential 15s....