The winners and losers of the 35-man Wallabies squad to face England
Dave Rennie unveiled his first Wallabies squad of the year on Sunday, picking 35 players from Super Rugby Pacific and Japan Rugby League One to take on England in July.
The bulk of players chosen in Rennie’s squad featured at some point in their 2021 campaign as the Wallabies look to build stability and cohesion in preparation for next year’s World Cup. Selectors have not been afraid to give opportunities to a number of players who have found form in Super Rugby Pacific.
The re-introduction of the Australia A program certainly played a part in selection, and the inclusions of Japan-based trio Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete add a huge boost to the Wallabies backline.
While the reception from Wallabies fans has been largely positive, there will always be debate about who deserves to be picked. Here is a list of players who have forced themselves into the team and those who just missed the cut.
Winners
Suliasi Vunivalu
With limited game time since signing with the Reds leading into the 2021 campaign, the try-scoring league convert finally put a string of games together for his Queensland side in their run to the finals. He recently penned a one-year extension keeping him around for the 2023 World Cup. If anyone has seen his highlights, you will be aware of his potential and Rennie will be banking that Vunivalu will bring his A-game when the time comes to play international rugby.
Jed Holloway
The Waratahs lock has come back from Japan a new man this season and has left his ego at the door. In 2022, he has become a team leader at Waratahs headquarters and is finally fulfilling his potential under the watchful eye of Darren Coleman. His inclusion into the Wallabies is down to his ability in the lineout and his versatility in switching from lock to the back row seamlessly.
Nick Frost
A beneficiary of the incredible all-round form of the Brumbies forward pack, Frost created a formidable combination with Darcy Swain and Caderyn Neville. Was set to sign with a club in Japan, but thanks to negotiations with the Brumbies and Wallabies, backflipped on the deal to stay in Australia and push his case for a World Cup. His work at the lineout and his ability to break the defensive line will be attractive qualities for Rennie as he looks for impact off the bench.
Dave Porecki
A stand-out for the Waratahs this year, he has risen to the top of the hooker pecking order in Australia. A big, mobile unit who has a reliable throw, Porecki checks all the boxes for Rennie. At 29, he is one of the older members of the squad and he has had experience playing in England, so it will be interesting to see if he is prepared for international duty.
The trio of Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete
The introduction of selection policy changes that allowed the Wallabies to pick three overseas players had big upsides and big downsides last year. The injection of Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi (and to a lesser extent Sean McMahon, Rory Arnold and Will Skelton) proved to be influential for the Wallabies, but when negotiations broke down between Rugby Australia, the players and their clubs, it laid bare the risks of picking players outside of Super Rugby Pacific. Now back in the national fold against England, the inclusion of Cooper, Kerevi and Koroibete will undoubtedly be pivotal to the Wallabies success in the series.
Losers
Fraser McReight
Perhaps the most controversial omission of Dave Rennie’s squad. If it wasn’t for a guy named Michael Hooper, you would think the 23-year-old would be a nailed-on starter. McReight lead the regular season of Super Rugby Pacific with 17 turnovers, more than any other back rower selected in the Wallabies squad combined. Unfortunately for McReight, he is a traditional seven and on-ball fetcher, and Rennie has opted for versatility across his back rowers. Will certainly feature for Australia A, if not captain the side.
Feleti Kaitu’u
Was capped last year as the Wallabies searched for a starting hooker that could be relied on. Unfortunately, his form this year has slipped and had many appearances off the bench despite being named captain for the 2022 season. The hooker has all the attributes for international rugby but didn’t grasp his chances at test level when they were on offer.
Irae Simone
Was one of the best inside centres in Super Rugby Pacific this year, and had a dominant finals campaign. His ability to carry directly through the middle, in addition to his short-kicking game, was a huge asset to the Canberra franchise. His combination with Noah Lolesio and Len Ikitau worked wonders for the Brumbies. It appears his decision to sign with Clermont for next year, and the inclusion of Kerevi, has worked against him.
Jock Campbell
The nippy Reds fullback’s form has been good enough this year to shut down plans to move Jordan Petaia to the back for his Queensland side. Just as comfortable on the wing, Campbell has that uncanny ability to make the first defender miss every time. The 27-year-old has been a mainstay at the Reds for a couple of years now, and calls out of Queensland suggested that this was going to be his year. It is strange to leave him out considering the Wallabies aren’t exactly flowing with depth in the fullback department.
Reece Hodge
A sign of the times perhaps. The Rebels veteran by no means had a poor season, but after another disappointing Rebels campaign that featured a lot of Wallabies in the backline, heads had to roll. It may be that at this stage in his career, Hodge’s versatility may be counting against him. At 27, he still has plenty to offer the Wallabies, especially at fullback.
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