Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has announced his initial Wallaby train-on squad for the test season. Twenty-two players from the Rebels, Force, and Reds were named and will assemble in Brisbane on Monday 22 June. Another twenty-three players from the Brumbies and Waratahs will be added to the squad when their Super Rugby campaigns finish, for a total of forty-five. Cheika added that overseas players like Matt Giteau will not be considered for the train-on squad, but are in contention for the Rugby Championship group, likely to be thirty-five strong.
Exclusions
A few things can be read into the squad. Jake Schatz, Nathan Charles, Kyle Godwin, and Lopeti Timani were all excluded. While the usual bromides about “No player being out of consideration” have been trotted out, all four will need a spate of injuries to make it to the World Cup.
Schatz was always going to up against it in a very competitive No 8 slot, particularly with his lack of physical presence.
Charles has clearly slipped well down the pecking order at hooker.
The much-touted Godwin has failed to impress in a pretty anodyne Force backline this year. But the same cannot be said for the impressive Timani, who essentially loses out to teammates Sean McMahon and Luke Jones. I for one thought he’d make the cut, with his versatility meaning he’d at least get an initial look-in.
Of the more fringe candidates, Mitch Inman is a bit of a favourite on this site and he didn’t make it. The coaching staff are eager to have a gander at Samu Kerevi as a straight-running centre, which means the big, hard-hitting Inman misses out. Angus Cottrell, Dom Shipperley, Dane Haylett-Petty, Luke Morahan, Nick Frisby, Mike Harris, Pat Leafa, Nic Stirzaker, Luke Burgess, Lachie Turner, and more will all be disappointed. Frankly, I’m surprised I didn’t get the call this morning, though I am currently based overseas and fancy later inclusion.
Tea Leaves
A few things can be read into the squad, even at this early stage.
Karmichael Hunt has done very little to suggest he is a Wallaby in waiting this year, which will doubtless lend yet more fuel to the claims that code hoppers with fat ARU top-ups get preferential treatment. It’s hard to think of a real reason why he is in the squad, based on on-field performance.
Tetera Faulkner was fortunate to get a call-up. With Sekope Kepu, Paul Alo-Emile, Ben Alexander, and Greg Holmes either already included or certain to be so, it looks like no fewer than 5 specialist tight-heads will be included – or Alexander is about to get dropped. Faulkner did little last year to suggest he’s much more than a band-aid at this stage, but we’ll wait and see.
Toby Smith received a deserved call-up. I suspect that in years to come more Kiwis will follow in his footsteps and look for career fulfillment in the much less competitive Australian set-up. Angus Ta’avao has already signed on with the Tahs for next year, is immediately eligible for national selection, and looks a savvy signing.
Both James Hanson and Saia Faingaa were included. Logic suggests that only four hookers will be in a 45 man squad, which means Tolu Latu’s ill-discipline might have cost him big time.
The absence of Nick Frisby is both sad and a touch puzzling. Called up to play at 10 for most of the year, the classy Frisby has done his best for his team and finds himself not in the 45 in his preferred scrum-half slot. But neither is the very promising Stirzaker, nor the experienced Burgess. This suggests there will only be three 9s in camp: Genia, Nic White, and Nick Phipps. Given three need to be taken to the World Cup, surely getting four schooled in Wallaby team patterns would be the smart policy. But I guess that’s what happens when you pick a zillion tight-heads.
Matt Hodgson made the squad, though it’s very hard to see him making the World Cup without two of David Pocock, Michael Hooper, and Liam Gill getting injured. In all likelihood, he’s there just to contribute to team culture; he has a fantastic reputation as the ultimate team player, with all the values others might lack.
James Horwill made the cut. It’ll be fascinating to see if Cheika, like a snake charmer, can coax the big man out of whatever hole he’s been in recently. Certainly, Harlequins’ three year punt on the big fella looks like a bit of a gamble based on this season’s form, though European rugby is much slower than the Southern Hemisphere game.
Three Final Points
It’s interesting to note the number of players included by team. Five each from the Rebels and Force, twelve from the Reds. This says a lot about how bad the Reds have been this year given the players at their disposal. It also probably says something about the biases of the national selectors. It’s true that adding the Force and the Rebels as franchises (hate that word) has greatly strengthened the depth available at the top level. But it’s also true that it is that much harder to get noticed playing for one of the non-marquee teams. Would Angus Cottrell have made the squad if he played in a better time zone? Dane Haylett-Petty? Quite possibly.
No mention was made on the captaincy front. There are a number of contenders. Michael Hooper and David Pocock would both be in contention, but picking a captain who isn’t a lock for his spot would be a bit silly. If Cheika has decided that Moore has the wood on TPN at hooker, then it’s likely he’ll get the gig. If he hasn’t, Scott Fardy is probably the only guy who is a lock for his spot, close to the action, and commands respect. Heard it here first.
Finally, 23 spots for Tahs and Brumbies might sound like a fair few. But when I jot down the guys in the Dead Certainty or Very Likely category, I come up with just about that number. Injuries permitting, of course, this means if there’s a bolter or two some well-established guy is going to get cut early in the process. For the record, that list probably contains Robinson, TPN, Kepu, Skelton, Hooper, Palu, Phipps, Foley, Beale, AAC, Folau, Horne, Sio, Moore, Alexander, Fardy, Pocock, White, Toomua, Lealiifano, Kuridrani, Speight, Tomane. That’s 23. So unless some of these guys get overlooked, there’s no place for Ita Vaea, Dave Dennis, Rory Arnold, not to mention longer shots like Naiyaravoro. Clearly some surprises and raised eyebrows to come.
Rebels
Paul Alo-Emile
Scott Higginbotham
Luke Jones
Sean McMahon
Toby Smith
Reds
Quade Cooper
Saia Fainga’a
Will Genia
Liam Gill
James Hanson
James Horwill
Greg Holmes
Karmichael Hunt
Samu Kerevi
James O’Connor
Rob Simmons
James Slipper
Force
Adam Coleman
Nick Cummins
Tetera Faulkner
Ben McCalman
Matt Hodgson
