Michael Cheika is set to name his Wallabies squad in less than 24 hours... So who are going to be the lucky 31?
With less than 24 hours until the Wallabies selectors unveil their 31-man World Cup Squad, I’ve given some consideration towards what the selection panel of Michael Cheika, Scott Johnson and Michael O’Connor may actually come up with.
Props
Scott Sio (ACT Brumbies); James Slipper (ACT Brumbies); Alan Alaalatoa (ACT Brumbies); Taniela Tupou (QLD Reds); Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs).
Considering the constraints of a 31-man squad, I can’t see the selectors selecting any more than five props in the party. The five listed pretty much select themselves. Harry Johnson-Holmes, Tom Robertson and Jermain Ainsley will likely miss out. Robertson, who is not long back from an ACL injury may consider himself unlucky and I suggest he will be in the shadow squad and will be the first called up if there is a serious injury to any of the initial props selected.
Hookers
Tolo Latu (NSW Waratahs); Folau Fainga’a (ACT Brumbies); Jordan Uelese (Melbourne Rebels).
All World Cup squads should carry three specialist hookers. I can see the Wallabies departing for Japan with Latu, Fainga’a and Uelese, who are all still competing for the starting 2 jersey. It will be interesting to see if there is a preferred starter or whether selections will be based upon opponents. I tend to think if the Wallabies do start with both Hooper and Pocock in the back row, the selectors may opt for Fainga’a or Uelese. However, if they chose to go with only one of Hooper or Pocock, Latu – who is quite effective over the ball – may come into starting contention.
Locks
Izack Rodda (QLD Reds); Rory Arnold (ACT Brumbies); Adam Coleman (Melbourne Rebels); Will Skelton (Sacacens / TBC).
I’m tipping that Will Skelton will be on the plane. It’s no secret Rugby Australia have been courting the former Waratah to return for this campaign. The ‘Big Man’ is back in Sydney which fuels further speculation he and his management will somehow agree terms with Rugby Australia, thus allowing Wallabies Coach Michael Cheika to unleash ‘Skelton 2.0’ on those who await the Wallabies. He certainly would add absolute ‘X-factor’ to the Wallabies. It would be a daunting task having Skelton charging at you with Samu Kerevi on one side and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto the other in support. If he is included, I would think veteran Rob Simmons would make way for him.
Back-Row
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (QLD Reds); Luke Jones (Melbourne Rebels); Isa Naisarani (Melbourne Rebels); Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs); David Pocock (ACT Brumbies).
Similar to the front row I think these names select themselves. Isa Naisarani is warming to international rugby nicely and will only improve with more match time. I expect the selectors will persist with Salakaia-Loto, who needs to improve his body height in contact more consistently. He can be found wanting for speed on the fringes in defence which will be a concern. When he decides to go forward with intent, however, he is a particularly difficult customer to stop. Luke Jones should travel as it does not appear Jack Dempsey, Ned Hannigan or Pete Samu have done enough to convince the selectors otherwise.
Half Backs
Nic White (TBC); Will Genia (Melbourne Rebels); Joe Powell (ACT Brumbies).
The return of Nic White to Australian rugby has been in many ways ‘wind-in-the-sails for the good ship Wallabies’. Both he and veteran Will Genia will be on the plane and I anticipate so too will Joe Powell, who will edge out Nick Phipps, Jake Gordon and bolter Tate McDermott. Those backups should all train with the shadow squad. Similar to the hooking role, Australia appears to have some genuine depth in the 9 jersey but, like hookers, only three should travel.
Fly Halfs
Christian Lealiifano (ACT Brumbies); Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs).
Akin to the return of Nic White, Christian Lealiifano is the best story in Australian rugby for some time. He clearly is the premier fly-half in the land and will be accompanied by Bernard Foley, who will no doubt be doing everything possible to get back into the staring 23. I can’t see a place for Quade Cooper on the plane and it would appear Matt To’omua may be the next in line if required. That being said, Cooper may yet be Australia’s ‘Steven Donald’. Who knows?
Outside Backs
Samu Kerevi (QLD Reds); James O’Connor (QLD Reds); Tevita Kuridrani (ACT Brumbies); Jordan Petaia (QLD Reds); Matt To’omua (Melbourne Rebels); Reece Hodge (Melbourne Rebels); Marika Koroibete (Melbourne Rebels); Dane Haylett-Petty (Melbourne Rebels); Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs).
I suspect young Queensland Red Jordan Petaia will be the ‘bolter’ in the squad. Struck down by a fractured foot early in this year’s Super Rugby campaign, Petaia has been back playing rugby for about a month now, and I tend to think the selectors will choose him over a Jack Maddocks, Tom Banks or Henry Speight. A fit Petaia is precisely what the Wallabies backline has been looking for in the 13 jersey. He is strong, aggressive, runs at space and operates with prowess in confined spaces. Maddocks appears to have fallen out of favour, as has Speight and Banks.
Now for the waiting…
Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
55 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
55 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
55 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
55 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
55 Go to comments