A Wallabies squad full of touching personal stories leaves the fans buzzing
Michael Cheika has named his 31-man Australia squad to go to the World Cup next month in Japan and it is loaded with interesting stories. There are players across the squad that have overcome adversity and others that have been given a chance by the head coach.
James O’Connor has made it after his six-year exile from the national team, and after playing in the northern hemisphere with the Sale Sharks only a matter of months ago.
The 35-year-old Adam Ashley-Cooper also returns for his fourth World Cup after his Test career looked over after two seasons with Bordeaux. David Pocock, too, makes the team after missing the majority of the Super Rugby season and all of the Rugby Championship with a calf problem.
However, the most remarkable story is Christian Leali’ifano’s inclusion in the squad after overcoming leukemia in 2016. Many would have thought that his rugby career was over with such a diagnosis, but a short stint with Ulster marked his comeback before he returned with the Brumbies.
After guiding the ACT to the Super Rugby semi-finals this season calls for the 31-year-old’s return to the Test set-up intensified. What is even more impressive is that he is now heading to Japan probably as the Wallabies first choice fly-half after a decent Rugby Championship.
Lights, camera, action! Your #Wallabies squad to travel to Japan for #RWC2019!
Full squad: https://t.co/lk6t0BTQCk #BeATeammate: https://t.co/2R9ELYxtNp #GoldBlooded #TeamRugbyWorld Cup Squad Film
CD: Kannon Rajah | Film: James Joel | Edit: Alvin Dang | Assist: Chris Cao pic.twitter.com/UXuWLpOC2f— Wallabies (@wallabies) August 23, 2019
His international career will end after the World Cup, as he will move to Japan, so it will be his swansong to an incredible story.
Fans on social media are talking about Leali’ifano’s comeback story, describing it as “inspirational” as it is something that transcends rugby and is an impressive feat in any walk of life.
Another story talked about on Twitter is uncapped 19-year-old Jordan Petaia’s rise to fame and inclusion in the squad. The centre played just two Super Rugby games in 2019 before a foot injury ended his season, but he had clearly done enough to impress Cheika after being on the European tour in 2018.
His only full 80 minutes of the season against the Highlanders in February was a breathtaking performance where the New Zealand outfit simply could not handle him. Despite missing almost the entirety of the Super Rugby season and being still without a Test cap, there is so much hype around him.
The teenager’s rise to fame is yet another compelling story in this Wallabies squad. This is what has been said:
Lealiifano’s journey – wow. Inspirational
— Philip Bredin (@philbredin) August 22, 2019
It’s one hell of a story, isn’t it. Extraordinary & inspiring
— Dominic Ward (@DominicWard14) August 23, 2019
Christian Lealiifano's story from battling cancer to the rugby world cup is a touching one…. The wallabies team.https://t.co/Eiv0q3hP4q
— Ruben Kihumuro Steyne (@kihumuroruben) August 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/seasallen/status/1164675548326457344?s=20
Largely expected except for the teenage phenom Petaia whose got me excited. https://t.co/1iV82XdGm4
— Chippi (@getfitwchippi) August 23, 2019
Great to see Petaia included. An investment in the present and the future. AAC won’t let anybody down. His wealth of talent, knowledge and experience will be a great asset.
— Matt Ward (@mward1246) August 23, 2019
There was not a lot of hope among Wallabies fans a few months ago for their chances at the World Cup, but a dominant victory over the All Blacks two weeks ago in Perth has suddenly given a glimmer of hope for Cheika’s team.
Despite losing heavily to the All Blacks a week later at Eden Park, there were enough signs in the Championship to show that Australia can be a threat in Japan.
WATCH: Captain Michael Hooper talks after Michael Cheika announced the Australian World Cup squad
Comments on RugbyPass
Hard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
2 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to comments