Tony Harper
Editor, The Roar

Josh Canham’s tear-stained face will go down as an enduring memory of his hometown club’s heartbreaking Super Rugby farewell, but the young lock’s big-hearted performances have put him a step closer to a Wallabies debut under Joe Schmidt.

Canham, to no one’s surprise, is one of a dozen Rebels who The Roar believes are required to keep training with the Wallabies in mind after the club bowed out last weekend. The 23-year-old Melburnian played for Australia A last year and has been a big improver this season.

One of those selected was Carter Gordon, who was at the training ground on Wednesday morning before the bombshell announcement that he was off to the NRL next year. That’s the end of the line as far as Wallabies selection goes.

Emerging prop Isaac Kailea has been rewarded for some strong showings in Super Rugby by being named.

Kailea and fellow loosehead Matt Gibbon, as well as tighthead super star Taniela Tupou, were on the list, according to sources.

It’s believed that Brad Wilkin and Pone Fa’amausili were not named.

Queensland players were also given their assignments – and it’s understood young hooker Josh Nasser and former All Black Alex Hodgman are on their list.

For reasons only known to Rugby Australia, the Wallabies have opted not to lean into the feel good stories around this train on squad selection, preferring a combination of secrecy and external leaks.

The Rebels have a couple of those in Kailea and Samoan David Feliuai – who had forged a strong combination as No.12 to Gordon’s No.10 this season.

Feliuai, a late comer to Super Rugby before being given a shot by Nick Stiles, was raised in Brisbane and his first senior rugby was with Kafiga Samoa in the 2019 Global Rapid Rugby Showcase.

He then headed to Romania, leading CSM Baia Mare to back-to-back premierships in Romania, returning home to play for Sunnybank in 2021. He was signed by the Rebels last year and is contracted through to the end of 2025.

The Australian No.12 position is not especially well stocked behind Hunter Paisami, giving an opportunity for a bolter to force their way in.

Kailea has made a rapid rise in a problematic position for Australian rugby. Angus Bell’s ongoing injury concerns coupled with James Slipper’s ageing body means Schmidt could do with more options as he builds towards the World Cup.

Along with Canham, Feliuai and Kailea as uncapped call ups, are former sevens and Australia under 20s flyers Lachie Anderson and Darby Lancaster.

Rebels with Wallabies experience who have been asked to continue training are: Andrew Kellaway, Filipo Daugunu, Rob Leota, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Gibbon, Tupou and Jordan Uelese.

The Reds and Rebels join 16 players who were already required to train from the Waratahs and Force.

Schmidt could be spoiled for choice for wingers with Dylan Pietsch, Anderson and Lancaster potentially joined by Corey Toole, Tim Ryan and Andy Muirhead in Test calculations. The future of Suliasi Vunivalu is less certain after his recent fall from grace under Les Kiss.

Former Wallaby Cam Shepherd tipped Lancaster as a potential Test bolter this season.

“He’s really solid, does the simple things well. He’s quick, he’s big, he’s strong, he’s good when the ball’s in the air,” Shepherd said on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.

“And he seems to just adapt in situations. Not always easy assignments out on the wing for the Rebels this year and I thought he did brilliantly.”

Test great Tim Horan agreed: “The games I saw him play, he came off the wing at the right time but he also stayed on his wing at the right time as well in those sort of situations to be there to score.

“Sometimes you find that some wingers, if they roam too much, they’re not there when the cross field kick happens.”

Schmidt’s first squad is expected to be announced soon after the Brumbies exit the competition. That could be as early as next week.