Following the announcement of Eddie Jones’ 34-man Australia squad for the Rugby Championship, Planet Rugby picks out the winners and losers.
Winners
Out of form Waratahs
There is always at least one seemingly odd call in a Jones squad and this time it is the inclusion of fly-half Ben Donaldson, who has failed to really produce the goods for the Waratahs this season. Considering the options they have in the playmaking position, it is fascinating that the head coach has opted for Donaldson over the likes of Noah Lolesio and Bernard Foley. Jones likes his versatility as he can play full-back, but it is difficult to see how he can really challenge to be in the 23.
Donaldson’s team-mate, Izaia Perese, is another to not particularly hit the heights this season, and Jones will hope his immense talent will shine in the international arena. Perese is an outstanding athlete with an ability to beat defenders at will, but that has not always been in evidence in 2023. Some players thrive at the highest level, however, and perhaps playing for the Wallabies will get the best out of the centre.
Versatile Josh Kemeny
After a fine campaign for the Rebels, the lightning quick back-row gets into the squad where he will, in the eyes of Jones, provide versatility. Kemeny has only ever played on the blindside for the Melbourne outfit but, according to the head coach, he has the pace to play wing. Sekou Macalou has done that for France and, as ever, the former England boss is thinking outside the box with the make-up of the squad.
Richie over Rory
Out of the Arnold twins, Rory has always been seen as the more talented brother. He has played over 30 times for the Wallabies since making his debut in 2016 and was a star for both the Brumbies and Toulouse, but Jones did not like his supposed lack of commitment earlier this year. Rory chose to remain in Japan, despite his season being cancelled after the club he plays for, Hino Red Dolphins, were forced to withdraw from Japan’s domestic competition.
Jones felt Arnold could have sought out a new club but he decided not to, resulting in no game time ahead of the naming of the Wallabies’ squad. Richie, meanwhile, has been at the coalface of Toulouse’s run to the Top 14 final. He may be 32 and uncapped, but his hard work over the years has deservedly been rewarded as one of Jones’ ‘Giteau Law’ selections.
The other uncapped six
Richie Arnold and Kemeny are two of eight uncapped players in the squad. Considering there are only 34 individuals in the group, that is quite a significant number with the head coach looking to refresh the squad, despite it being under three months until the start of the World Cup. However, you could not really argue with any of Jones’ inclusions.
Up front, hooker Matt Faessler and tighthead prop Zane Nonggorr have impressed in the Reds front-row, while Brumbies lock Tom Hooper is an interesting addition. Capable of playing at lock or in the back-row, Hooper fits the versatility mould and had a good end to the season for the Canberra outfit.
Behind the scrum, Carter Gordon has been one of the shining lights in Australian rugby this season and he is joined by fellow half-back Ryan Lonergan, who has been consistently good for the Brumbies. Finally, Dylan Pietsch improved as the season went on and has the talent to make an impression in the Rugby Championship should he be selected in the 23.
Quade Cooper the man for Eddie
Jones has previously given a rather large hint that the 35-year-old is the person he wants as his fly-half for the World Cup and this squad confirmed it. He is the most experienced man there and the other two pivots, Donaldson and Gordon, are pretty raw at Test level. The latter was the man in form in Super Rugby Pacific and should be second choice in the Rugby Championship, but Cooper’s main rivals are basically out of the picture.
Losers
Noah Lolesio out in the cold
The big shock from the announcement was that the Brumbies fly-half was not named in either the main 34 or the 28-man ‘train on’ squad. Of the 72 players listed, which also included those not considered for selection due to injury or those in the ‘rehab group’, Lolesio was not there.
That is quite the decline for someone who has earned 20 caps and for a long time was seen as the fly-half that would be the Wallabies’ general at the 2023 World Cup and beyond. He was treated badly by Dave Rennie but, ultimately, his performances have not been good enough for Australia in the past or for the Brumbies this season.
“Carter Gordon?!”
This is brilliant. Brumbies out-half Noah Lolesio scores and calls out rival’s name.
Lolesio missed out on Eddie Jones’ first Wallabies squad as Gordon was included.
Lolesio’s Brumbies playing against Gordon’s Rebels here.
pic.twitter.com/vN0CE7ehSE— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) May 7, 2023
Harry Wilson Australia’s Zach Mercer?
Opposition coaches rave about him, including the revered Scott Robertson, and he more often than not makes an impact when he plays, but Jones remains unconvinced. The Reds number eight is in the ‘train on’ squad but his form in 2023 deserved more than that. However, there are possibly concerns over his physicality at the highest level and that could well be holding him back.
In some ways, he is similar to England’s Zach Mercer in terms of his footwork, athleticism and skill set but, like Mercer, that is not enough to get in a Jones squad. Mercer proved his game could suit the more power-based Top 14, which has now made him a genuine option for the Red Rose, so perhaps Wilson needs to do the same.
Hooker duo
Looking back to the end of last year and what would be Rennie’s final matches in charge, Folau Fainga’a and Lachlan Lonergan were key parts of the squad. Fainga’a started two of the five matches, coming off the bench in the other three, while Lonergan was a replacement for a couple of the Tests. However, they have both now dropped off the radar after missing out on the Rugby Championship squad.
We can understand Fainga’a’s omission, with the front-rower enduring an injury-disrupted season for Western Force, but Lonergan can feel hard done by. The 23-year-old has stepped into the first choice hooker role well at the Brumbies since Fainga’a’s move to the Force and would have added set-piece solidity and an outstanding work ethic in the loose to the Wallabies side.
Hunter Paisami pays price for injury
Another who was a regular starter under Rennie. The 25-year-old has earned 24 caps, starting in 22 of those, and played in four of their five Autumn Nations Series games last year. Paisami and Len Ikitau formed a good centre partnership last year, but the Reds man has not had much game time this season due to injury. He is in the 28-man ‘train on’ squad, however, and it wouldn’t be a surprise should he be elevated into the main group at some point over the next few weeks.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow a no go
The La Rochelle scrum-half stated last year that he would be willing to make himself available for the Wallabies, but Jones evidently doesn’t fancy calling up the ex-All Black. Kerr-Barlow qualifies thanks to World Rugby’s new eligibility laws having been born in Australia and last featured for New Zealand in 2017.
Kerr-Barlow has been, alongside Antoine Dupont of course, the best scrum-half in Europe this season and we feel he would be a great asset to Australian rugby, but Jones evidently thinks otherwise. His name wasn’t listed in either squad and the head coach seems to have decided that the half-back is not part of his plans.
READ MORE: Michael Hooper and James Slipper to captain Eddie Jones’ Wallabies
Article courtesy of
Source link
