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What written judgement said about Alex Mann's role in gouging saga
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Ranking the Wallabies' depth ahead of the Autumn Nations Series
The Wallabies squad for the end-of-year tour (EOYT) has now been selected, with the door open to recent Wallabies who have now made their journey north to French and English clubs.
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However, we know with the “Giteau Law” now being scrapped, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has carte blanche of any Australia-eligible player in the entire world, but that doesn’t necessarily change his policy on ‘domestic players first.’
“…I do feel like the players who are based in Australia and playing well in Australia deserve the opportunity to keep their noses in front of guys who have chosen to go offshore, and that is still our bias,” Schmidt told reporters.
It has been a gruelling Test season to date for the Wallabies, with Fiji, followed by the British and Irish Lions series, and then straight into the Rugby Championship.
After all this rugby, the men in gold have just five more Tests in 2025, and these are vital Tests at that, which will impact Australia’s world rankings ahead of the home 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The Wallabies are currently positioned seventh but must finish the year in the top six to get a favourable pool composition; otherwise, their journey out of their group could get a lot harder.
The game against Japan on the 25th of October is vital, and could make or break the Wallabies’ world rankings ambitions before they even make it to Europe.
With all this in mind, it is prudent to take stock of the best players Australia has and look at how their depth is progressing.
Three players in each position will be picked, as well as a player to watch, and any player who is Australia-eligible will be considered.
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This is based on current and historic form so as to map depth, skill, and experience accordingly. Without further ado, here are the players selected.
Loosehead prop (No.1)
Top Three: Angus Bell, Aidan Ross, Tom Robertson
Player to watch: Lington Ieli
Bell is outright the best LHP. Everything from his devastating ball running to his scrummaging and work rate makes him, at just the tender age of 25, which is young for a Test prop, a world-class player.
Ross and Robertson are the elder statesmen, both with vast experience, but both have nothing on recently retired, 151 Test cap Wallaby James Slipper; the pair will have their work cut out for them.
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While the Wallabies scrum has been good so far in 2025, Slipper carried much of the load at scrum time and was almost in career-best form, so although Australia has experienced bodies to play, much is unknown about how this trio will operate as a unit.
Hookers (No.2)
Top three: Billy Pollard, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Matt Faessler
Player to watch: Folau Fainga’a
Pollard has shouldered a bulk of the minutes, and his explosiveness and quick feet make him a great asset for the Wallabies. However, as a hooker, you must nail your throws, and that has not been the case consistently enough for the young Brumby; nevertheless, he is the best all-rounder currently, so he gets the top seed.
BPA and Faessler are experienced campaigners, while the former has the bigger body and scrummaging prowess. Faessler’s form in 2024 was impeccable, scoring tries, nailing throws, and working tirelessly.
Josh Nasser has been picked ahead of BPA in the Wallabies squad but remains an unknown quantity at Test level, so it will be intriguing to watch his involvement on the EOYT.
Fainga’a, who recently signed with the NSW Waratahs, is another powerful, try-scoring hooker who has typically struggled with a consistent throw. His Test experience is the only asset that has him here ahead of other great Super Rugby Pacific performers.
Tighthead prop (No.3)
Top three: Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Zane Nonggorr
Player to watch: Massimo De Lutiis
Alaalatoa and Tupou are the best of both worlds; the former offers tireless work rate, leadership, and sting in defence as well as a strong scrummager. The latter is a physical presence that attracts defenders, breaks the line, and has the power to turn the tide at scrum time.
Nonggorr has been the big mover in 2025 after an underwhelming Super season. He’s showcased his growth under recently departed Wallabies coach Mike Cron. The young Queensland Red has held his own at scrum time and showcased the improved physicality required at the Test level.
Although there is a cohort of more experienced, older THPs, De Lutiis is the one to watch; his raw power, unmatched strength in the gym, and great build make him a sure Test weapon in the years to come.
Loosehead lock (No.4)
Top three: Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams, Josh Canham
Player to watch: N/A
Frost is miles ahead of the other two; his experience, his motor, and improving physicality on either side of the ball have made the Brumby, at just 26 years old, one of the best LH locks in the world.
Williams has been used as TH lock alongside Frost, but the fact is at Test level, he doesn’t yet have the weight or build to be an enforcer, so he has been selected in the elite group of LH locks. He, too, has a massive motor.
Canham is an interesting case, not sighted in Wallaby gold since August 2024, but Schmidt sees something in the white headgear-wearing Queensland Red, and hopefully Canham showcases these values in his game for Australia A on Saturday, 18, when they play Japan XV.
Tighthead lock (No.5)
Top three: Will Skelton, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Darcy Swain
Player to watch: Miles Amatosero
Skelton is in a league of his own when it comes to physicality and game nous. His ability to disrupt opposition rucks, mauls, and tackles is second to none. The only drawback is also his greatest asset; he is too big to be a regular lineout option.
LSL is Skelton without the extra weight, very destructive in the maul and carry, but is still figuring out how to use his enormous frame to be a pest like Skelton, and is prone to occasional unforced penalties. He is the Wallabies’ most experienced lock at Test level, and it shows with his great work at the lineout.
Swain is a defensive-type player who whacks blokes and is similar to Skelton in knowing how to disrupt rucks. He has now gotten that part of his game down to an art, and should he work on his mobility, he could soon be back in Wallaby gold.
Amatosero is going from strength to strength, and if he can get his accuracy and efficiency to a higher standard, he is a certainty to end up in a Wallabies jersey. His raw dimensions and physicality on either side of the ball are too great to ignore.
Blindside flanker (No.6)
Top three: Tom Hooper, Rob Valetini, Seru Uru
Player to watch: Leafi Talataina
It is hard to imagine Valetini being dethroned as the premier forward in the Wallabies’ pack, let alone at his position at no.6, but Hooper’s form and complete game skills have pushed him into the first position.
His height of 199cm has him as a great lineout option, particularly when the non-jumping Skelton has featured, so Hooper’s inclusion has almost been a necessity. He is now a fully fledged Test player with the young 24-year-old only set to get bigger and more rugged.
There’s no question that Valetini is a world-class player, but the injury run this year means he just hasn’t been at his destructive best.
Uru and Talataina are both physical and skilful players, with the young Talataina showing some genuine line-bending ability, while Uru is best in the loose with his Fijian offloading game coming to the fore.
Openside flanker (No.7)
Top three: Fraser McReight, Carlo Tizzano, Luke Reimer
Player to watch: Charlie Gamble
There is almost nothing between McReight and Tizzano; their games are so different, and yet the impact felt on the field is so big from both.
McReight has shown his pilfering skill to be world-class this Test season, and his tackling success rate has been impeccable, but Tizzano has shown he offers a lot with ball in hand, and that has resulted in a couple of Test tries for his trouble.
The pair is locked in an epic duel with other no.7s on the outside looking in. Gamble had a mega season for the Waratahs, which peaked against the Lions for First Nations x Pasifika. It remains to be seen if he makes it to Test level, but he has the skillset to do so.
No.8
Top three: Harry Wilson, N/A, Langi Gleeson
Player to watch: Joe Brial
Wilson is truly alone with the players that are playing No.8 week in week out for club, and he has had the position locked down as he has been holding the captain’s armband.
Although Gleeson had a stellar season for the Tahs, he now heads to Montpellier in the French Top 14 and hasn’t played all that many Tests since injuring his heel. His going abroad is not an end to his Test selection, but it hasn’t helped it either.
Valentini and Hooper can play there, but from a depth perspective, this doesn’t help the cause; however, young Reds’ brawler Joe Brial has been impressive and will hope he can continue to impress for Australia A this weekend.
Halfback (No.9)
Top three: Jake Gordon, Tate McDermott, Ryan Lonergan
Player to watch: Kalani Thomas
Gordon is the most complete and experienced player out of the top three, but Lonergan has been touted as a future leader in Wallaby gold, and his skillset is not far behind Gordon’s.
The only reason McDermott retains his spot despite his season-ending injury is that he has dominated the reserve halfback jersey now for the entirety of Schmidt’s tenure as coach. He is an elite player who is still working on refining his skills.
Flyhalf (No.10)
Top three: James O’Connor, Tane Edmed, Carter Gordon
Player to watch: Noah Lolesio
O’Connor is the first choice as he is the No.10 with the most games under his belt in 2025 in the fly-half position.
His game management has been the most consistent in 2025, and despite some horror moments, overall, his experience has shone through for the Wallabies.
Edmed is the clear first choice currently, with players like Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh not making the Wallabies cut, and although both have done handy jobs in 2025, they have not been able to stay on the field. Gordon is there for his exciting skill set, speed, and toughness.
Lolesio is still on the list because had he not suffered a season-ending neck injury, he would likely still be the Wallabies’ first choice no.10 as he was for the entirety of 2024 under Schmidt, as well as for the Fiji Test in July.
Inside centre (No.12)
Top three: Hunter Paisami, N/A, N/A
Player to watch: Dre Pakeho
Although Len Ikitau has been the mainstay in the Wallabies’ No.12 jersey since Paisami injured himself midway through last year, he has been dubbed one of the best No.13s in the world by two-time World Cup-winning All Black Sonny Bill Williams.
Therefore, Paisami, who is likely to wear the no.12 jersey against Japan, is at the top of this list. After him, there are few that have looked close to Test level from a physicality perspective, and this is a worry for the Wallabies should either Paisami or Ikitau be injured long term.
Pakeho is an abrasive character and is already showing signs of dominating opposition. If his 2026 season follows his 2025 season’s trajectory, then we could see a quick rise in his stock.
Rugby Championship
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
South Africa
6
4
2
0
19
2
New Zealand
6
4
2
0
19
3
Australia
6
2
4
0
11
4
Argentina
6
2
4
0
10
Outside centre (No.13)
Top three: Len Iktiau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, N/A
Player to watch: Ollie Sapsford
Ikitau, as mentioned, is world-class, and even with Suaalii delivering some special moments and tries in his first 12 months of rugby, Ikitau is streets ahead of him in the tricky No.13 jersey.
Defence is mostly where this difference can be observed, with Suaalii still learning the intricacies of the position, and this may see the league convert shift elsewhere as Schmidt tries to teach him the game.
Sapsford is one of those players who is experienced and is hard to fault, as well as having a great all-around skillset. He’s all you want from someone who will come in at a pinch, plus he can cover anywhere from 12-14.
Wings (No.11 and No.14)
Top five: Max Jorgensen, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Filipo Daugunu, Corey Toole
Player to watch: N/A
Jorgensen is in a league of his own, like some other players; his attacking stats, defensive improvements, and ability under the high ball have at times been game-changing.
He, alongside Skelton, has been the biggest difference maker in Wallaby gold, and that’s saying something with some players being great in the Test calendar to date.
Pietsch has been in stellar form when he hasn’t been injured, offering abrasiveness as well as try-scoring ability, not to mention sting in defence. Daugunu has been similar, with both adding muscle to a smaller outside back stock.
Potter and Toole have parts of their game they must work on if they want to squeeze into a gameday 23, but they have still been elite.
Fullback (No.15)
Top three: Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, N/A
Player to watch: Mac Grealy
It is clear now that Wright is up in first by some distance/ He has combined his experience with his electric running ability and sidestep. The only thing that is a worry is how he recovers from his ACL injury suffered in South Africa in August.
Kellaway isn’t getting any quicker, but he still runs some of the best lines in Australia and is a good kicker of the ball, as well as good in the air. He is the clear Wallabies’ No.15 with Wright sidelined for so long.
After these two, there is daylight, but Grealy has an opportunity to woo Schmidt when he pulls on the No.15 jersey for Australia against Japan XV on Saturday, 18 October.
