There was a clear emphasis on youth when Eddie Jones unveiled a 33-player Wallabies squad on Thursday afternoon.
Twenty-five squad members had never been to a World Cup before, with an average of 19 Tests per player, making it Australia’s least experienced World Cup touring party in the professional era.
Australia has yet to muster a victory since Jones was appointed head coach earlier this year, losing four consecutive Rugby Championship Tests and finishing bottom of the ladder.
The Wallabies, who recently dropped to eighth on the world rankings, have gathered in the Northern Territory for a four-day training camp before flying out to Europe next week. After a warm-up match against France on August 28, the Australians will get their World Cup campaign against Georgia on September 10.
“It’s a young squad, it’s an exciting squad and it will be a successful squad. We are making good progress. Our challenge is to continue to improve,” Jones said in a statement.
“To get a little bit better every day in everything we do on and off the field. As I‘ve said since I took over, in Australian rugby we have the talent, but we don’t yet have the team. That’s still the case. But we are getting there and I’m backing that we will surprise a few people.”
WINNERS
Max Jorgensen
Jorgensen, the most intriguing bolter in the Wallabies squad, could become the youngest Australian in history to debut at a World Cup later this year.
The uncapped teenager, who turns 19 next month, made headlines after scoring a double on Super Rugby debut for New South Wales in February, later becoming the first Waratahs player to score in his first three matches.
Jorgensen was selected in Jones’ April training camp squad before partially rupturing his ACL during a Super Rugby game against the Crusaders in Christchurch. He hasn’t played a professional match since the injury setback in May.
The Sydney University winger missed the U20 World Championships and home Test series after sustaining the knee injury, but Jones, to the surprise of many, has backed him for the marquee tournament in France.
Carter Gordon
The mulleted fly-half’s meteoric rise continues.
Gordon, who made his Test debut a month ago, will don the No. 10 jersey in France, leapfrogging the experienced Quade Cooper after a handful of impressive performances in the Rugby Championship.
The Rebels playmaker, with four Test caps to his name, is the lone specialist fly-half in the squad. Coming off the bench, he scored a cracking try against the Springboks on debut before being elevated to a starting position for the Bledisloe Cup.
Gordon effectively combined with halfback Tate McDermott against the All Blacks last weekend, and it was enough evidence for Jones to give him the coveted No. 10 jersey.
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
The uncapped Western Force halfback has edged out slick-passing Ryan Lonergan for the World Cup, joining vice-captain Tate McDermott and the experienced Nic White in France.
Fines-Leleiwasa, one of three uncapped players in the squad, returned to the Force last year after a stint with the ACT Brumbies, but has only recently earned regular minutes at halfback.
However, his performance off the bench for Australia A against Tonga last month seemingly caught Jones’ attention.
“This is absolutely well deserved for Issak. He got the game minutes for the Force this season to show what he’s capable of,” former Force coach Tim Sampson said.
“He’s got a point of difference that we probably haven’t seen in Australian halfbacks for a while with his speed around the base to be a constant running threat and the strength he has.”
Suliasi Vunivalu
Jones’ love affair with the former NRL star continues.
Vunivalu was one of the many names that raised eyebrows during Thursday afternoon’s squad reveal, with the 27-year-old failing to impress in two Test appearances to date.
The NRL convert was less than convincing on his starting debut against South Africa last month, but Jones has backed the Queensland Reds winger to shine in France.
“Suli has the potential to be a Test match-winner,” Jones said.
“I’m really pleased with how he’s been progressing through Super Rugby.”
Vunivalu joins Ben Donaldson, Fraser McReight and Blake Schoupp in a list of surprise names to feature in the Wallabies squad.
LOSERS
Quade Cooper
One month ago, Quade Cooper was the Wallabies’ first-choice No. 10.
Now, the 35-year-old’s Test career is all but over.
Cooper’s vulnerability in defence was exposed throughout the Rugby Championship, with rising star Carter Gordon outclassing him across the four-team competition.
His accurate kicking remains a valuable weapon, but last weekend’s costly drop in the dying minutes of the Bledisloe Cup contest against the All Blacks seemingly sealed his fate.
Michael Hooper
One of the most celebrated figures in Australian rugby won’t be travelling to France this year.
Hooper, who sustained a calf injury during last month’s Rugby Championship contest against the Springboks, has missed out on a third World Cup campaign, putting his Test career in jeopardy.
The 31-year-old had an underwhelming 2023 campaign with the NSW Waratahs, but still received an eighth Matthew Burke Cup earlier this week.
The 125-Test stalwart, who missed Australia’s last three Tests with injury, wasn’t picked for the World Cup due to fitness concerns, but still might play the warm-up match against France two weeks before the marquee tournament begins.
Len Ikitau
It’s believed that Ikitau is two to three weeks away from returning from his shoulder injury, but the star centre has been omitted from the World Cup squad.
Ikitau, who has made 28 Wallabies appearances since his Test debut in 2021, has become a regular member of the national squad, but has been usurped by Waratahs centre Lalakai Foketi ahead of the marquee tournament in France.
The 24-year-old broke his shoulder during last month’s Rugby Championship clash against Argentina, but Samu Kerevi and Max Jorgensen have both selected selection despite nursing injuries of their own.
Jed Holloway
Another notable omission from the World Cup squad, loose forward Holloway has missed out on a plane ticket to France.
The 30-year-old only played one Test during the Rugby Championship, handed an opportunity to make the blindside flanker position his own last month against Argentina. However, after a gut-wrenching loss to the Pumas, the Waratahs forward was also ignored by Jones for the World Cup.
Hollway joins Tom Wright, Ryan Lonergan, Pete Samu and Reece Hodge in a list of Wallabies players to cop the axe.
Australia’s World Cup Squad
Forwards: Angus Bell, Pone Fa‘amausili, Zane Nonggorr, Blake Schoupp, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, David Porecki, Jordan Uelese, Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, Matt Philip, Will Skelton (capt), Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Rob Leota, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini.
Backs: Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Tate McDermott (vc), Nic White, Carter Gordon, Lalakai Foketi, Samu Kerevi, Izaia Perese, Jordan Petaia, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Marika Koroibete, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Suliasi Vunivalu, Ben Donaldson, Josh Kemeny.
