Who will make the cut for the Wallabies World Cup squad?
The Wallabies squad to travel to the World Cup in Japan will be named on Friday. Head coach Michael Cheika will already be able to pencil in the side that would run out in knockout matches, but it’s the players on the edge of the squad that he may still not be sure about.
Cheika and his fellow selectors have called upon 33 players to wear the gold jersey this year – and there are some men who haven’t taken the field but are likely to be included in the announcement on Friday.
So, who will be on the plane when it departs for Tokyo in less than a month’s time?
Hookers
Certainties: Tolu Latu, Folau Fainga’a
Possibilities: Jordan Uelese, Tatafu Polota-Nau
Taken to last World Cup: 2
Surprisingly, Michael Cheika will probably be quite happy with what he’s got available to him at hooker. Heading into the international season, the Wallabies had plenty of question marks over the 2 jersey.
Tolu Latu had discipline issues and Folau Fainga’a was still very wet behind the ears. Arguably those problems still exist – but neither of them caused issues during any of the Wallabies’ games to date.
These two are locked in for the World Cup, and it’s hard to see Cheika opting to take a third hooker. The only plausible rationale would be to get some more experience into the mix in the form of Tatafu Polota-Nau – but that scenario seems considerably less likely after the fairly assured performances of Latu and Fainga’a.
Props
Certainties: Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Scott Sio, James Slipper
Possibilities: Tom Robertson, Sekope Kepu
Taken to last World Cup: 5
The easiest way to describe the Wallabies propping stocks is ‘fine’. Don’t let their demolition at the hand of the All Blacks’ over the weekend dissuade you – they’re all decent scrummagers. They may just need to spend a bit more time adjusting to the new axial loading laws (although referees will all have different ideas of how to judge them). Around the field they’re also up to standard – especially perpetual impact player Taniela Tupou.
Allan Alaatoa, Taniela Tupou, Scott Sio and James Slipper all received ample game time during this year’s internationals and Cheika was quick to talk up Sekope Kepu at the press conference following this past weekend’s match. The only spanner in the works will be the availability of Tom Robertson – but his lack of game time will probably count against him.
Locks
Certainties: Rory Arnold, Izack Rodda
Possibilities: Rob Simmons, Luke Jones, Adam Coleman, Will Skelton
Taken to last World Cup: 3
Izack Rodda has started all four matches for Australia this year and Rory Arnold – who has been compared to Brodie Retallick – would have done the same if it weren’t for a minor injury keeping him out of the final Bledisloe Cup test.
Once Adam Coleman had overcome his own injuries, he slotted straight back into the team, suggesting he’s still very much in Cheika’s plans. Coleman’s inclusion should worry both Rob Simmons and Luke Jones, who each clocked up fewer than 80 minutes of game time over the four fixtures.
Will Skelton has also emerged as a contender for a spot, with Rugby Australia trying to lure him into signing on for an Australian Super Rugby side for next year. Skelton has rejected various approaches over the last 12 months, however, and will probably do the same in the coming days.
If Cheika opts for just three locks at this year’s World Cup, as he did in 2015, then it’s hard to go past the trio of Arnold, Rodda and Coleman. Luke Jones may come into consideration due to his ability to cover the loose forwards.
Loose Forwards
Certainties: Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Michael Hooper, Isi Naisarani
Possibilities: David Pocock, Liam Wright, Jack Dempsey, Rob Valetini, Pete Samu
Taken to last World Cup: 6
The trio of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Michael Hooper and Isi Naisarani have started all four matches together this year. They’ll all be taken to the World Cup. Salakaia-Loto is incredibly lucky that there aren’t any obvious alternatives for the blindside flank, because his performances have been far from impressive.
David Pocock is an absolute certainty – if he’s fit. There have been various assurances that the breakdown tyro will be available, but there have also been multiple false starts this year for the man who’s managed just 26 appearances in gold over the last four seasons.
Should Pocock not be on the plane to Japan then Liam Wright will likely travel. Wright’s been deemed the third-best openside flanker in Australia by Cheika and made his debut off the bench over the weekend. There’s a chance he could be a part of the squad even if Pocock is fit, due to the expectation that Pocock would slot in at the back of the scrum.
Other options include Pete Samu and Rob Valetini. Samu missed out on the Bledisloe Cup squad but that may well have been due to the injury that kept him out of the earlier Rugby Championship games. Valetini was given no opportunities during this year’s internationals and it would be a bit of a surprise if he gets the nod.
Jack Dempsey, who was part of the initial Rugby Championship squad but missed out on the refined Bledisloe team, would also be a somewhat shock selection. It’s one that Cheika is evidently still considering making, given that the flanker was namedropped upon the Wallabies’ return to Sydney after the thumping at Eden Park.
Perhaps the versatile Luke Jones will be called upon during the pool stages of the tournament.
Halfbacks
Certainties: Will Genia, Nic White
Possibilities: Joe Powell
Taken to last World Cup: 2
Will Genia and Nic White have shared time on the park this year, with Joe Powell not taking the field at all, despite being in the squad for all four matches.
It’s hard to imagine a situation where Cheika opts for more than two halfbacks at the World Cup – and Genia and White have their spots locked down.
First Fives
Certainties: Christian Lealiifano, Matt To’omua
Possibilities: Bernard Foley
Taken to last World Cup: 2
It would be an absolutely huge call for the Wallabies to not take Bernard Foley to the World Cup.
Foley has been a major player for the side since his debut in the latter stages of 2014 and Cheika, his former Waratahs coach, has been a big fan. Even when the Wallabies have trialled other players at 10, Foley has sometimes been wedged into the team at second five.
With Scott Johnson coming on board as a selector, it looks like Foley has lost favour and Christian Lealiifano has seemingly eclipsed him as the side’s best first five. Matt To’omu has been preferred for the bench spot, too, which make Foley the third-best option in the squad.
If the Wallabies opt for just a pair of 10s, then it’s likely Foley will be the unlucky man.
Centres
Certainties: Samu Kerevi, James O’Connor, Tevita Kuridrani
Possibilities: Jordan Petaia
Taken to last World Cup: 4
The biggest concern that Cheika will have in the midfield is finding the right balance. Samu Kerevi has been one of the Wallabies’ best performers this year and will be the go-to second five for the World Cup. Tevita Kuridrani offers a similar playstyle but from the 13 jersey. Their combo has been tried a number of times without ever really clicking.
James O’Connor’s return to Australia has allowed him to slot in alongside Kerevi against the All Blacks and he looked like one of the most assured players on the park in both outings.
That leaves perhaps one midfield berth remaining – and that gives Cheika the opportunity to try out wunderkind Jordan Petaia, who is still yet to make his debut for the Wallabies. There’s a chance that Petaia may be seen as too high a risk, but the pool stages of the tournament are as good a springboard into test rugby as any other occasion.
With the likes of Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale and possibly Adam Ashley-Cooper all likely to be included, there’ll be plenty of cover should things fall through.
Outside Backs
Certainties: Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Kurtley Beale
Possibilities: Dane Haylett-Petty, Tom Banks, Adam Ashley-Cooper
Taken to last World Cup: 6
Only two players have spent all 320 minutes of the Wallabies’ season on the park: captain Michael Hooper and utility Reece Hodge.
Hodge looks like the selectors’ favourite to camp out on the left wing for the World Cup with the right wing likely to be contested between Marika Koroibete and Dane Haylett-Petty. Haylett-Petty was given the first opportunity of the year – courtesy of Koroibete being unavailable due to the birth of his child – but failed to flatter in a weak performance against the Springboks. Haylett-Petty’s 30 caps should ensure he’s on the plane to Japan.
Kurtley Beale will start at fullback in the big matches but Hodge, Haylett-Petty or even Tom Banks could also be used at 15.
There aren’t a whole lot of other options for the Wallabies in the outside backs. Adam Ashley-Cooper could be in the squad due to his experience, but he hasn’t exactly returned to Australia rejuvenated. Jack Maddocks was also in the original squad for this year but was dropped for the Bledisloe series – meaning his chances of making the Wallabies World Cup squad are slim at best.
Comments on RugbyPass
Results probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe 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 getting 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.
8 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.
56 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.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to comments