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It’s the week we have all been waiting for, where World Cup squads around the world – including Australia – are starting to be revealed.
Slowly but surely, we have seen Eddie Jones’ 33-man squad come together and finally some combinations are arising.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RWC SQUADS AS THEY’RE NAMED
While Rugby Editor Christy Doran has predicted the squad Jones will pick for the tournament, I have named a 23 I would pick for a quarter final clash – plus the other 10 men who should make up the squad.
The QF 23
1. Angus Bell (VC)
2. Matt Faessler
3. Taniela Tupou
4. Nick Frost
5. Will Skelton
6. Tom Hooper
7. Fraser McReight
8. Rob Valetini
9. Tate McDermott (c)
10.Carter Gordon
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi (VC)
13. Len Ikitau
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase
15. Andrew Kellaway (VC)
Replacements
16. Dave Porecki
17. James Sliper (VC)
18. Pone Fa’amausili
19. Richie Arnold
20. Langi Gleeson
21. Ryan Lonergan (VC)
22. Quade Cooper
23. Jordan Petaia
Now we are searching for the 10 players that are not pulling on the jersey on game day.
Jones has always been clear not all those players outside the 23 will play, however he has also been clear about the fact that they have a job to do.
The job is holding both the standards and the mood of the matchday 23 up and driving both positivity and aspirations.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“Then the next group of players we pick is the bottom five. And the bottom five players are the five blokes who are going to be the best teammates. They’re the guys who might not even play a game at the World Cup or might play a cameo role, but the way they conduct themselves on and off the field is crucial to a World Cup campaign success,” Jones told the Evening Standard Rugby podcast in May
“You can’t have your third hooker or your third fly-half kicking stones, they are the ones who cause problems, so you need them to be good characters, positive characters.”
But I won’t be starting with the bottom five, we will start up front. In a tournament such as the World Cup you must be three deep in props and hookers.
At loosehead you would have to think it’s between non-capped Blake Schoupp and Tom Lambert who are both in the squad currently. However, Matt Gibbon had a good Super Rugby Pacific season, and has played at international level before.
The fact that this is even open for debate in a World Cup year is insanity but personally, a Gibbon or a Lambert gives you a ball running threat.
Jones, however, likes the “brick sh*thouse” that is Schoupp, but size matters and so untested Schoupp stays, and Gibbon goes, Lambert is an unknown quantity building for the future.
At tighthead, Zane Nonggorr has had a meteoric rise to the top after a solid season for an undermanned Queensland Reds side. The 22-year-old is building nicely but is still a year or so from being proper international standard.
I would bring in the experienced and versatile Sam Talakai, he can play both sides and even hooker at a pinch. He played a fast-paced game with the rebels all year and kept up.
Third place hooker will likely go to Jones’ passion project Jordan Uelese, but if it were up to me, I would bring in Brandon Paenga-Amosa.
This gets us to 26.
Moving into the locks, you need at least four genuine options, we have Matt Philip and Jed Holloway as premier candidates or perhaps Jones looks to a Lukhan Salakai-Loto who comes into discussion.
Jones has a lot of information players must digest so I can’t see him going outside the group for these positions. Philip and Holloway retain their spots as motivators and the men able to drive standards. Both are capable if called upon.
We are now at 28.
Now comes the backrow game of Tetris. Rob Letoa has done well to go from 10 months on the sidelines straight into the cauldron of international rugby.
However, if one was to be critical of form as one must be, especially in a world cup year; he has been prone to mistakes and has failed to do some basics well, lineout takes particularly.
Pete Samu was omitted from the most recent squad for reasons undisclosed by Jones. It would appear he is too short to play starting six and lacks some sting in defence, and yet not being a genuine seven. He can forget about starting as he won’t usurp the likes of Valetini, so where does he fit in if at all?
You take him for the same reason you take any utility player, you need a person who will hold the standards of the squad, can cover a variety of spots (even wing) and it’s something Samu can do.
Then comes the question the burning question, whether to carry injured co-captain and Wallabies legend Michael Hooper.
Currently the count is at 30 players, so only three players left. Hooper has not been in peak form in either international or Super Rugby Pacific. He was also severely outmuscled at Loftus Versfeld.
McReight and T Hooper are flying the flag for the workhorses, both getting through outrages amounts of tackles each game and more. What the young duo lack is M Hooper’s experience.
Experience in a World Cup counts for a heck of a lot, but one cannot help feeling the ambiguity surrounding his calf injury for even those closest to him may be so murky that he misses the flight to Paris and instead plays in the Barbarians teams abroad under Jones.
It’s either Samu or M Hooper, it feels like a basic but nonetheless a tough decision.
The count is still at 30, three spots open for the backs.
The backs would always be tight, but a specialist position like halfback must always be covered.
Jones may feel he can plug the Barbarians side in Europe with a few extra halfbacks like Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and a soldier like Ryan Lonergan and therefore save a spot for other positions.
But, if he picks three, Lonergan must be lining-up at customs headed for Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Count is now at 31.
The centres are tricky. Assuming as I have, Len Ikitau will be good to go for the tournament then who is next in line?
Lalakai Foketi is the only centre option in the squad that hasn’t played any minutes in Wallaby gold under Eddie. The fact he only covers 12 and 13 at a pinch may count against him as his main rival, Izaia Perese is a more damaging ball runner and covers jerseys 11-14.
However, if Kerevi is injured, Foketi may be thrust into the side as injury cover, at the time of writing this, all reports suggested Kerevi would be good for game 1.
Although it feels bizarre to be at the last spot for the squad and mentioning someone like Suliasi Vunivalu who Jones name dropped last week and hinted he was close to play in Bledisloe 2. Jones has so far stuck with his passion projects but were it up to me on form he wouldn’t be going.
The final squad member is difficult, as somehow, he feels more important than the previous 32. This player is by no means the 33rd most important member but being at the end of the line feels daunting for an armchair selector like myself.
Despite Tom Wright’s rocks and diamonds nature he is a great attacking threat, and he has played some serious minutes at fullback, all the while improving his defence.
If Jones is scarred, he could pick high IQ footballer Jock Campbell who is tactically sounder and has an elite kicking game as well as having played 10 for club and state on numerous occasions.
However, Jones won’t have time nor need to use precious stock to take another specialist fullback or 10 but he will need someone who has played both positions before at international level. This is where Reece Hodge should re-enter the fray.
Despite Jones having name dropped Ben Donaldson ever since he returned to Australia, the young Waratah is yet another player not seen under Eddie.
Hodge genuinely covers positions 10-15 as he’s lined up as a starter in those positions before. Many former and current players vouch for Hodge’s value as a team member and Mr Versatile will surely keep those men in the 23 accountable.
There you have it, my 33-man Wallabies squad to take on the world.
It’s not the players I would have picked a year ago and not at the close of last World Cup cycle.
Nevertheless, the matchday 23 have proven themselves to be willing to work hard for every inch and the other 10 players have experience and power to inject if called upon. Exciting times ahead.
John Ferguson’s 33-man Wallabies squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. (C and VC nominates captain options).
Props (6): Angus Bell (VC), Taniela Tupou, James Slipper (C), Pone Fa’amausili, Matt Gibbon, Sam Talakai
Hookers (3): Dave Porecki, Matt Faessler, Brandon Paenga-Amosa
Second row (5): Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Richie Arnold, Matt Philip, Jed Holloway
Backrow (6): Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Langi Gleeson, Pete Samu, Rob Leota
Halfbacks (3): Tate McDermott (C), Ryan Lonergan (VC), Nic White
Five-eighths (2): Carter Gordon, Quade Cooper
Centres (3): Samu Kerevi (VC), Len Ikitau, Izaia Perese
Outside backs (3): Marika Koroibete, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Andrew Kellaway (VC)
Backs utility (2): Jordan Petaia, Reece Hodge
20 forwards, 13 backs.
Official squad to be released on Thursday afternoon (August 10th).
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.