Eddie's first Wallabies squad

[.X.]

Eddie's brutal message for first Wallabies squad

Story by Sam Worthington

Wide World of Sports

Teenage Waratahs sensation Max Jorgensen, in-form Rebels five-eighth Carter Gordon and little-known Brumbies prop Blake Schoupp headline Eddie Jones' first Wallabies squad in his second act as coach.

The trio are among six uncapped players in a 33-man squad, with Reds outside back Josh Flook, Rebels captain Brad Wilkin and Brumbies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan the others.

Among the big names to miss out are Brumbies playmaker Noah Lolesio, Reds co-captain Tate McDermott and Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon.

Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson are the two specialist No.10s included for a three-day camp on the Gold Coast this month.

There is also only room for two scrumhalves in Brumbies teammates Lonergan and Nic White.

Jones likened the upcoming training camp to the start of a Formula 1 campaign.

"Every pre-season testing in Formula 1 is a fresh start," Jones said.

"New ideas, new cars, new drivers, new support staff. It's the same for us. This is a new squad, with new standards and new expectations for a new challenge. I hope the players who have this first chance understand the privilege, have their tyres pumped up and they're ready to go."

Reds winger Suliasi Vunivalu is also included after falling out of favour under previous coach Dave Rennie.

"It's no secret what I've been looking for and in the players selected for this first camp they've delivered on workrate, effort and intent.

"What they haven't delivered on in Super Rugby is winning, particularly against New Zealand teams. Competitive doesn't cut it.

"We will build a winner's mindset in the Wallabies players, and we will win games. That will come from confidence and belief that comes through effort and sacrifice.

"I've said it a million times. We have the talent in Australia but not the team. This first camp and this first squad is the first step to building a winning team."

Jones did not name a captain and it is unclear whether incumbent James Slipper will retain the position for the Rugby World Cup.

"This is not the squad for Rugby World Cup. It's the first squad for the first camp. If you are in it, the challenge is to stay in it. If you are not in it, how do you get in it? Players select themselves," Jones said.

"Going to win a Bledisloe Cup and a Rugby World Cup with the Wallabies is a rare privilege in a player's career. Thousands try, few succeed. We saw a first-class game last night between the Brumbies and Waratahs with players really working hard for each other on both sides. It was encouraging.

"All I'll say is, let's see more of that and let's see it every week. No excuses. Make it impossible for me to leave you out."

Wallabies camp squad (age, team, Tests played)

Allan Alaalatoa (29, ACT Brumbies, 64 Tests)

Ben Donaldson (23, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)

Pone Fa'amausili (26, Melbourne Rebels, 3 Tests)

Josh Flook (21, Queensland Reds, uncapped)

Lalakai Foketi (28, NSW Waratahs, 5 Tests)

Nick Frost (23, ACT Brumbies, 9 Tests)

Langi Gleeson (21, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)

Carter Gordon (22, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)

Ned Hanigan (27, NSW Waratahs, 28 Tests)

Reece Hodge (28, Melbourne Rebels, 54 Tests)

Michael Hooper (31, NSW Waratahs, 124 Tests)

Jed Holloway (30, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests)

Len Ikitau (24, ACT Brumbies, 26 Tests)

Max Jorgensen (18, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)

Andrew Kellaway (27, Melbourne Rebels, 21 Tests)

Lachlan Lonergan (23, ACT Brumbies, 8 Tests)

Ryan Lonergan (24, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)

Fraser McReight (24, Queensland Reds, 10 Tests)

Mark Nawaqanitawase (22, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)

Cadeyrn Neville (34, ACT Brumbies, 8 Tests)

Jordan Petaia (23, Queensland Reds, 25 Tests)

David Porecki (30, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests)

Tom Robertson (28, Western Force, 31 Tests)

Pete Samu (31, ACT Brumbies, 32 Tests)

Blake Schoupp (23, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)

James Slipper (33, ACT Brumbies, 127 Tests)

Darcy Swain (25, ACT Brumbies, 17 Tests)

Jordan Uelese (26, Melbourne Rebels, 15 Tests)

Rob Valetini (24, ACT Brumbies, 30 Tests)

Suliasi Vunivalu (27, Queensland Reds, 1 Test)

Nic White (32, ACT Brumbies, 59 Tests)

Brad Wilkin (27, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)

Tom Wright (26, ACT Brumbies, 23 Tests)

Rehab group

Angus Bell, Rob Leota, Taniela Tupou

Overseas based players to join via Zoom

Richie Arnold, Tom Banks (TBC), Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi (TBC), Will Skelton

Not considered for selection due to injury

Folau Fainga'a, Tom Lynagh, Alex Mafi, Hunter Paisami, Matt Philip, Izack Rodda

[Tazzmania]

Almost half the squad from teams outside of finals spot on the current super rugby table, interesting selections

[andrewM]

ACT Brumbies 13..Tahs 7..Rebels 6..Red 4

I'd suggest that 7 Tahs is probably 5 too many based on current form. Rebels..maybe 4 at most? If I could be bothered I'd check who is vying for what position but I'm a bit indifferent atm. We won't hear the end of it from the Rebel camp

(*EDIT: notwithstanding Saturdays Tah vs Brumbies game)

[andrewM]

I think GAGR has hit the nail on the head
https://greenandgoldrugby.com/monday...y-news-2-4-23/

[GIGS20]

ACT Brumbies 13..Tahs 7..Rebels 6..Red 4

I'd suggest that 7 Tahs is probably 5 too many based on current form. Rebels..maybe 4 at most? If I could be bothered I'd check who is vying for what position but I'm a bit indifferent atm. We won't hear the end of it from the Rebel camp

(*EDIT: notwithstanding Saturdays Tah vs Brumbies game)

I thought I saw 9?

Checking again

Yeah it was 9, is it still 5 too many?

[GIGS20]

We won't hear the end of it from the Rebel camp

Gordon, Kellaway and Wilkin ar hard to argue with for an initial camp,

especially when Gordon has played rings around Donaldson who somehow magically gets a go. (not suggestign the fact that he plays for Randwick had anything to do with it)

[SteveWA]

I think GAGR has hit the nail on the head

Except for the gratuitous reference to "Farce players". Let's hope it was a typo.

[palitu]

Except for the gratuitous reference to "Farce players". Let's hope it was a typo.

it was not :-/

[palitu]

So, who do we think would have been good to see in the squad from the Force?

contenders (and eligible) for playing well:
- Anstee
- Spink
- Thrush
- Horton?
- Tiatia

It is hard to pull out specific players! I think kiribige and hegarty is not eligible. Not one from the second row is really peaking, despite having decent set piece play. Fines has been good when he gets on and i think Strachan has the ability to be a great 10, his passing and vision have been crisp, but not enough game time to really show it, especially coming off the bench. I want to see him start.

[Sheikh]

I think kiribige and hegarty is not eligible.

Kibirige is English and has represented England at both U20 and sevens. He's not eligible.

Hegarty is eligible, though. Born and raised in Brisbane.

[chiraag]

Spink is english, so highly doubt he's eligible. Thrush is capped for NZ also, and wouldn't be anywhere near getting selected. Tiatia is a Kiwi and also eligible for Samoa apparently, but not the Wallabies.

We really don't have many contenders, that's for sure.
Anstee probably the main one, with Williams, Kuenzle, Stewart, Folau Fainga'a doing OK, but not really worthy of selection at this point.

[palitu]

Spink is english, so highly doubt he's eligible. Thrush is capped for NZ also, and wouldn't be anywhere near getting selected. Tiatia is a Kiwi and also eligible for Samoa apparently, but not the Wallabies.

We really don't have many contenders, that's for sure.
Anstee probably the main one, with Williams, Kuenzle, Stewart, Folau Fainga'a doing OK, but not really worthy of selection at this point.

I was confusing Spink for Stewarts, and where they came from!

Thrush was definitely tongue in cheek!

Williams was the one I couldn't think of, and i do not think Kuenzle or stewart are there yet. But i agree, that there is a bunch people putting in for the team, but not a lot of them are standouts for their position.

[GIGS20]

So, who do we think would have been good to see in the squad from the Force?

contenders (and eligible) for playing well:
- Anstee
- Spink
- Thrush
- Horton?
- Tiatia

It is hard to pull out specific players! I think kiribige and hegarty is not eligible. Not one from the second row is really peaking, despite having decent set piece play. Fines has been good when he gets on and i think Strachan has the ability to be a great 10, his passing and vision have been crisp, but not enough game time to really show it, especially coming off the bench. I want to see him start.

Spink not eligible
Thrush not eligible and retired from professional rugby - actually, might be eligible for a country change, but that can't be for residency i think it has to be country of birth of ... parents? maybe grandparents.
Horton, behind both our hookers when everybody's fit, so not really on the radar nationally
Tiatia - hasn't he played for NZ Maori? does that make him ineligible?

Anstee, would be the one in that list who may be worth looking at and I can absolutely understand why not with the logjam of good flankers in the country at the moment.

[GIGS20]

should read to the bottom of the thread before replying

[palitu]

should read to the bottom of the thread before replying

yeah - would have loved someone to jump out at me shouting that XYZ should be on the list. but it was pretty quiet sadly.