Dylan got his dream World Cup call-up. Then Eddie Jones changed his mind

One of the toughest blows to take as an Australian rugby player is missing the cut for a Wallabies World Cup squad.

That was the case for Waratahs winger Dylan Pietsch, who, along with Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper and Len Ikitau, learned on August 10 last year that he wasn’t wanted by Eddie Jones – despite having been included in Wallabies squads throughout the season.

Jones did not call players on time that day because he was coming back from overseas.

But what’s worse than not being picked? When the coach changes his mind after you’ve broken the news to your family, thinking a gold jersey might be in reach.

On September 20 last year, three days after Australia’s first loss to Fiji in 69 years, Max Jorgensen went down at Wallabies training in Saint-Etienne with a fractured fibula. The rising teenage star was yet to make his international debut but was in the mix for selection against Wales.

Pietsch was about 800 kilometres away in Bristol with a Barbarians squad made up of predominantly Australian players. On the team bus, he received a phone call from Wallabies team manager Chris Webb.

Dylan Pietsch poses during a Wallabies photo session last year. Credit: Getty Images

Pietsch was told to pack his bags for France and get on the next available flight. As injury cover for Jorgensen, he was one step closer to becoming Australia’s 15th Indigenous Wallaby and the first since Matt Hodgson.

As word filtered through the Barbarians bus, thrilled teammates congratulated the 25-year-old on the late call-up. Pietsch rang his parents, and the news began filtering out that Pietsch had been told he was the next man up.

Then came another phone call. Don’t bother, was the message. Jones had changed his mind, Pietsch was told.

The Wallabies were beaten Wales 40-6 by Wales, effectively knocking them out of the World Cup. The Wallabies never did call in a replacement for Jorgensen.

Dylan Pietsch at Waratahs training.Credit: Steven Siewert

“It was a weird period,” Pietsch told this masthead. “It was a yes then a no. I went from a high to a low. I was straight off the bus, called the family and packed my bags straight away.

“Even at the time, to be fair, I was like, ‘You’re out with a prop and a lock’, you’d think you’d take a prop or a lock because Kells [Andrew Kellaway] and Jordy [Petaia] can play all these different positions. I think they assessed that again and said they’d put me on standby. I said, ‘Righto’.

“They said they’d wait until after the Wales game to decide.”

Pietsch’s experience is emblematic of the chaotic environment within the Wallabies camp in France, which will be examined in a new Stan documentary airing on February 22.

As one of three utility players picked in Jones’ preliminary Wallabies squad in June, Pietsch thought he was in with a chance of going to France.

“Obviously I didn’t get a chance to play [in Tests before the World Cup], so I was like, ‘If I make it, I make it’,” Pietsch said. “I was pretty confident and all the chats I had with Eddie were positive. He was really excited for me to be playing international rugby and be at that level.

“Obviously what happened, happened. It is what it is. There were plenty of world-class wingers in there, too, so I understood the mentality of having Jordy [Petaia] and Kells [Andrew Kellaway] playing multiple positions.

“Being in the squad before the World Cup, the boys were training so hard. I’ve never seen such an intensity and workload. For that to not come to fruition was pretty sad to see. You could see it on their faces. They just couldn’t get it done.”

A fresh World Cup cycle begins later this month when the Waratahs travel to Brisbane for their opening Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Queensland Reds. Much has changed since the World Cup.

Jones quit in late October after this masthead revealed he had taken part in a secret job interview with Japan.

Meanwhile, Webb, who finished up with Rugby Australia last year, was spotted next to Jones – now in charge of Japan – at a Six Nations game between England and Italy earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Pietsch is eager to impress new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt with consistent performances for the Waratahs in his third season at NSW.

“The first two years I’ve been trying to find my way … this year it’s all about backing myself really and having fun,” Pietsch said.

“My ball-carrying has always been my biggest strength, so it’s about mixing that up. A bit of kicking as well. I’m just trying to be more comfortable.”

All three episodes of the brand new Stan Original Documentary Series The Wallabies - Inside Rugby World Cup 2023 premiere February 22, only on Stan.