Eddie Jones' surprise 'utility' picks ready to take on the Springboks
Josh Kemeny and Dylan Pietsch were as surprised as anyone to be listed as utilities in the Wallabies squad to tackle South Africa but will happily wear any number on their back if it means a Test debut.
Coach Eddie Jones talked up the versatility of his players chosen for next month’s Pretoria Test, saying he wants “multi-dimensional” men in this year’s Rugby World Cup squad.
For Pietsch it’s not a stretch, with the 25-year-old saying he was always a flanker before being turned into a winger on joining the NSW Waratahs two years ago from the Olympic Sevens program.
“I’ve been a backrower my whole life, so it’s something I’m pretty comfortable with,” said Pietsch, who is aiming to be the 15th Indigenous Wallaby, and the first since 2010.
“Initially my reaction was ‘I don’t really know what utility is’, but I don’t really care because I was so happy I’m in the squad. Since I was a little kid I’ve always wanted to be Wallaby
“Eddie sat me down and said I was an option and to get my head around the line-outs.”
Jones has said Kemeny, normally a backrower, could be used on a wing if needed. The 194cm, 110kg Kemeny has never played as a winger, but has always topped the Melbourne Rebels forwards in fitness drills.
Sporting a black eye as he fronted the media on Monday, he didn’t quite have the look of an outside back.
“I was probably even more confused than Dyl (Pietsch) because we played back-row together a few years ago, so he’s more versed in that position than I am out on the wing,” said the 24-year-old, originally from Sydney.
“It’s news to me but to be part of the squad and add impact wherever I can is what I want to do.
“It’s not necessarily something that I’ve done as a junior or that I’ve been chasing to do, but if it’s going to add some value to the team I’m happy to do that.”
The pair were former teammates in a NSW schoolboys side in year 12, with Pietsch at open-side flanker and Kemeny blind-side.
While Kemeny was included in a Wallabies training squad in 2021 by then coach Dave Rennie, he didn’t feel time was on his side ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup.
He suffered a serious knee in July that year, which meant 16 months out following complications from a tendon graft after surgery.
Kemeny started the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season in round one but spent three weeks on the sidelines from round 11 with a dangerous tackle ban.
“It was a long rehab,” Kemeny said.
“To find some confidence and stay on the park this year was my goal and everything that’s come with it has been a massive bonus.
“I was absolutely gutted for Rebels (when suspended) but 100 per cent I was gutted (for myself). I thought I’d really knocked myself back a few pegs by missing those weeks but I just made sure that when I got back out there for the last few games I put my best foot forward.
“To get my foot through the door and my name on the list, that was all I cared about and I’m just going to work from there.”
Comments on RugbyPass
wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
4 Go to commentsHard 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.
4 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.
4 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