Isi Naisarani and Tevita Kuridrani shock omissions from Dave Rennie's 44-man Wallabies squad
Dave Rennie looks intent on ushering in a new generation of Wallabies after naming just 16 of the 31 picked for last year’s World Cup in his first squad on Sunday.
The new coach included eight Super Rugby rookies but, in an expanded 44-man squad, there was no room for Jack Dempsey, Isi Naisarani or Tevita Kuridani.
No.8 Naisarani had been one of the Rebels best this season, while centre Kuridrani had been in and out of the Brumbies’ top side this season.
Dempsey is the other World Cup tourist still playing in Australia omitted, while Waratahs teammate Karmichael Hunt was another notable absence.
Retirement and player movement abroad has also contributed to the clean-out that will see 16 uncapped players compete for spots to play the All Blacks in two New Zealand Tests next month before a Rugby Championship on home soil.
Australia has stolen #TheRugbyChampionship hosting rights from under the nose of their New Zealand counterparts.https://t.co/yiEXo8acjF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 11, 2020
The squad, so large because biosecurity measures, will prohibit any late additions, has an average age of just 24 and includes prospects like Queensland Reds No.8 Harry Wilson (20), who has shone in his first Super Rugby season.
He is one of 11 Reds selected alongside 13 from the league-leading Brumbies, 11 Waratahs and nine Rebels.
Lachie Swinton, Fraser McReight, Hunter Paisami, Pone Fa’amausili and James Ramm are other fresh faces gunning for their maiden Test cap.
Lock Rob Simmons (31) has retained his place in the side and is the only man to have played 100 Tests in the squad, while incumbent captain Michael Hooper and 96-Test prop will also face challenges from their younger squad members.
Rebels trio Matt Toomua (groin), Dane Haylett-Petty (groin) and Jordan Uelese (shoulder) have all been included as they await scans on their respective injuries suffered in Saturday’s qualifying final loss to the Reds.
The full squad will convene next Monday following the Super Rugby AU Final between the Brumbies and Queensland Reds on Saturday night.
Space has also been left for two overseas-based player s in his side not previously eligible under Rugby Australia’s qualification laws to play after a tweak to the rules last week.
“This is a really exciting day for us,” Rennie said.
“We’ve picked this squad on form and on potential and I know the whole group are chomping at the bit to get stuck in and push their case for a Wallaby jersey.
“There’s a big game to come on Saturday night down in Canberra but personally, I’m really looking forward to getting out on the grass in a week’s time to start putting in the work together.”
WALLABIES SQUAD: Jermaine Ainsley, Allan Alaalatoa, Tom Banks, Angus Bell*, Filipo Daugunu*, Pone Fa’amausili*, Folau Fainga’a, Jake Gordon, Ned Hanigan, Will Harrison*, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Michael Hooper, Tom Horton*, Trevor Hosea*, Len Ikitau*, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio* , Jack Maddocks, Tate McDermott*, Fraser McReight*, James O’Connor, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Hunter Paisami*, Jorda n Petaia, Matt Philip, Joe Powell, James Ramm*, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Pete Samu, Rob Simmons, Irae Simone*,Scott Sio, James Slipper, Lachie Swinton*,Matt To’omua,Taniela Tupou, Jordan Uelese, Rob Valetini,Nic White, Harry Wilson*, Liam Wright,Tom Wright*. (* denotes uncapped player)
– Murray Wenzel
Comments on RugbyPass
Je suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
25 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
25 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to comments