The Wallabies have arrived in the French city of Saint Etienne, about an hour’s drive from Lyon, for their spring tour.
It’s also where the team will base itself in the lead-up to next year’s Rugby World Cup.
But what happens over the next five weeks in Europe could heavily influence who gets the opportunity to wear a gold jersey at the World Cup in just over 10 months.
Coach Dave Rennie is likely to give most of his squad game time at some stage during Tests against Scotland, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
Let’s cast an eye over who has the most to gain – and lose – from the Wallabies’ first five-Test tour of Europe since 2016.
MOST TO GAIN
Dave Rennie
If the Wallabies win all five games on the tour, which would mean beating the world’s two highest ranked sides in Ireland and France, Rennie’s future beyond the World Cup is likely to be secure.
Andrew Kellaway (left) and Dave Rennie (right).Credit:Getty
Rugby Australia has said Rennie will coach the team through to the World Cup but there will be discussions over the coming months about who will be in charge for 2024 and beyond.
The easiest way to guarantee an extension would be to win four or five tour matches. Rennie can force RA’s hand, and already has to an extent by suggesting he wants to make a call on his future by early next year.
The rookie class of 2022
There are five uncapped players in Australia’s 36-man squad; Jock Campbell, Ben Donaldson, Langi Gleeson, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Sam Talakai.
All five are genuine chances of debuting on the tour and have everything to gain while away.
The experience will be invaluable and it’s a perfect chance for the quintet to impress coaches.
Mark Nawaqanitawase speaks to media this week before Australia’s departure to Europe.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
Given they won’t play every match, they can enjoy the tour. Maybe a few ales before a rest day if Rennie and the coaches are feeling generous? The Guinness Storehouse is a hit with tourists in Dublin.
Michael Hooper
The 121-Test veteran has nothing to lose as he attempts to get back on the field for the first time since Australia’s final Test against England in July.
There is no pressure on Hooper to play every minute of this tour, and rightly so. A cameo off the bench is the most likely way he will be eased back into international rugby.
His confidence will grow with every Test. As George Gregan pointed out this week, his transition back into the team should be seamless. The short break could even revitalise Hooper before, potentially, his last year in Test rugby depending on what he wants to do.
Michael Hooper has returned to the Wallabies fold.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
Bernard Foley
With Quade Cooper out of the picture until next year and Noah Lolesio hardly solidifying his spot, Bernard Foley has four Tests – he will miss the last against Wales – to make the No.10 jersey his own.
Foley was sharp against the All Blacks in Melbourne after a three-year international hiatus but was below par in Auckland. He’d be the first to admit that.
Fun fact: Foley’s last spring tour match was in 2018 against England but on that day he lined up at inside-centre, playing outside No.10 Matt To’omua.
MOST TO LOSE
Dave Rennie
A loss to Scotland, for the second year in a row, would be a horrible way to begin the tour, particularly with a strong French side waiting in week two. Rennie will want to rest some of his stars for the middle Italy game but two losses to begin the trip would make that difficult to justify.
The Wallabies have won three of nine Tests (33 per cent) under Rennie in 2022. In 2018, Michael Cheika came within a whisker of being sacked after a year that yielded four wins from 13 Tests (30.8 per cent win record). It was the Wallabies’ worst year since 1958.
On this trip, if the Wallabies win just one of their five matches, their 2022 win record would be 28.57 per cent. Two wins would get them to 35.7 per cent. Five victories would get them in the black at 57 per cent.
Will Skelton
The towering second-rower, described by Rennie as a “massive man who has a big impact”, had an underwhelming spring tour last year but it didn’t help that he was named on the bench for all three matches.
The hype is real for Skelton in the northern hemisphere but he hasn’t fulfilled his potential in a gold jersey.
Will Skelton trains with the Wallabies in Edinburgh last year. Credit:Andrew Phan/Wallabies Media
Overseas picks, in the event Rugby Australia doesn’t open the floodgates, will become even more important next year and Skelton has three Tests here – against France, Italy and Ireland – to cement a spot at the World Cup.
Noah Lolesio
A little known fact is that Wallabies selectors were considering not taking Lolesio on the spring tour. A few days before the squad was announced, Lolesio was a “50-50” chance of being included, according to sources with knowledge of discussions. The reason why is unclear.
Lolesio, 22, is still learning his game and hasn’t nailed his opportunities at Test level. Foley will get first crack at No.10 but if Lolesio doesn’t rise to the occasion when he gets a chance, it might put him on the outer for good in 2023.
Tom Wright
Wright does the basics well and is a very solid footballer. He has been given ample opportunity but is yet to shoot the lights out at Test level.
There is no shortage of wingers putting pressure on Wright, and Rennie will be eager for consistency at the selection table when it comes to his back three.
2022 spring tour fixtures
- Wallabies v Scotland, October 30, 3:30am AEDT at BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
- Wallabies v France, November 6, 7am AEDT at Stade de France, Paris
- Wallabies v Italy, November 13, 12am AEDT at Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
- Wallabies v Ireland, November 20, 7am AEDT at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- Wallabies v Wales, November 27, 2:15am AEDT at Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Watch all the action from the Wallabies’ spring tour with every match streaming ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport. Kicks off this Sunday with Scotland v Wallabies from 3:10am AEDT.
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