The winners and losers from the Wallabies World Cup squad
Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika named his 31-man squad for next month’s World Cup on Friday morning, and the announcement will have brought with it a mix of joy and dejection for a variety of players across Australia.
Some players were always certainties to be etched into Cheika’s final team sheet, others were destined to be left at home.
While these players will be filled with contrasting emotions as their fate over the next six weeks has been sealed, it’s those who sat on the cusp of the side who will be really feeling the jubilation and disappointment of making or missing the cut.
Subsequently, Cheika’s squad announcement has produced plenty of winners and losers as the Wallabies prepare to challenge for a third World Cup title in Japan.
Winners:
Adam Ashley-Cooper
He may have only played in two tests since rejoining the side at the end of last year following a 27-month absence, but veteran utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper will be heading to his fourth World Cup next month.
With 118 tests to his name, he is Australia’s third most-capped player of all-time, and it’s clear that – despite his ageing body – Cheika and his fellow selectors value the vast experience and versatility that the 35-year-old offers.
Jordan Petaia
On the opposite end of the spectrum is uncapped 19-year-old utility back Jordan Petaia.
Ruled out for the majority of the Reds’ Super Rugby season after picking up a serious foot injury against the Crusaders in early March, the electric teenager has rebounded surprisingly to earn a shock call into the World Cup squad.
He becomes the youngest Wallaby ever to do so, with his positional flexibility, sublime physical attributes and limitless potential enough to win the nod of approval from the selectors.
David Pocock
As Australia’s best player, Pocock was absolute certainty to make it – provided that he was fit.
However, the star loose forward has been dogged by injuries all this year, which put his place on the plane to Japan in jeopardy in the lead-up to the squad announcement.
That hasn’t stopped the 31-year-old – who hasn’t played a test this year – from being included by Cheika and co, though, so expect him to wreak havoc at the breakdown once he completes his prolonged recovery.
Rob Simmons
The fact that Will Skelton couldn’t be lured back into the national set-up from Saracens looks to have worked in Simmons’ favour.
Also fortunate that the selectors have opted for four locks, which is one more than what they took to England four years ago.
The Wallabies will look to utilise his hefty experience at the tournament, where he should notch up his 100th test match.
Jordan Uelese
Has just three tests to his name since his international debut two years ago, and is yet to start for the Wallabies.
Such inexperience, which could be attributed to a bad run of injuries, may have been viewed as a hinderance to Australia’s hooking stocks, but the Melbourne Rebels youngster has been shown faith as he edges out veteran Tatafu Polota-Nau as the squad’s third-choice rake.
Jack Dempsey
Named in the initial 34-man Rugby Championship squad, but excluded from the Wallabies’ refined Bledisloe Cup side, Dempsey has made an unlikely comeback from a shoulder injury to squeeze the likes of Pete Samu, Liam Wright and Rob Valetini out of the selection frame.
Continue reading below…
Losers:
Tom Banks
The Brumbies fullback was in scintillating form for the Canberra-based club throughout Super Rugby, but the selection of Bernard Foley as a third-string first-five means there is no room for Banks among the outside backs.
Instead, Kurtley Beale and Dane Haylett-Petty will share duties in the No. 15 jersey, with Banks’ solid performance against the Springboks in Johannesburg not enough to secure him a place in the team.
Is one of five players invited to a 10-day training camp in New Caledonia, which indicates he will be one of the first to be called upon should injury strike.
Luke Jones
Unlucky to miss out to Simmons as the fourth-choice lock.
Some may have chosen Jones due to his ability to cover the side of the scrum in addition to the second row, but having 92 fewer caps than Simmons appears to be the 28-year-old’s downfall.
Will join Banks in the train-on squad in New Caledonia.
Jack Maddocks
Was named in the Rugby Championship squad, but was culled from the trimmed Bledisloe Cup squad, which is harsh for the Rebels flyer, who was in good form for the Melbourne franchise this year.
Able to cover wing and fullback, Maddocks wasn’t played in either match against Argentina or South Africa, and isn’t part of the train-on squad in New Caledonia, suggesting he’s fallen some way down the national pecking order.
Tatafu Polota-Nau
Signed with the Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership, Polota-Nau’s 89 test appearances made him eligible for selection, and it was that experience which was his main selling point for the third hooker spot.
There was speculation as to whether there would even be a third hooker position after the Wallabies only named two at the last World Cup, but the third hooking role has surprisingly gone to Uelese, which should bring the curtain down on Polota-Nau’s international career.
Joe Powell
Only two halfbacks have been named by Cheika as Nic White and Will Genia have been tasked with guiding the team around the park in tandem with Christian Lealiifano, Matt Toomua and Bernard Foley.
As a result, Powell is the omission from the Rugby Championship squad, which will be a hard pill to swallow for the 25-year-old, who hasn’t featured in national colours at all this year.
Tom Robertson
Australia’s core propping quartet of Taniela Tupou, Allan Alaalatoa, Scott Sio, James Slipper and Sekope Kepu have all received extensive game time throughout the Rugby Championship, so it seemed inevitable that all five would make the final cut.
That will still be a dagger for 24-test Robertson, who is probably the next cab off the rank and would have considered himself a good chance to travel to the World Cup.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben 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.
19 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.
7 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.
19 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?
9 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.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments