Eddie targets versatility in first Wallabies squad, Hooper and Slipper to co-captain

Eddie Jones emphasised the value of adaptability after naming Wallabies co-captains for the first time in history, and flagging the use of a rookie breakaway on the wing, as part of his opening squad for the Rugby Championship.

Michael Hooper and James Slipper were both named captains in a 34-man squad unveiled by Jones, which lived up to expectations the new Wallabies coach would make his mark with some left-field selections.

In what he labelled one of the hardest squads he’d picked, Jones included eight uncapped players, omitted some big names and picked five overseas-based players, via a Rugby Australia-sanctioned stretching of the Giteau Law.

“The back row was tight, stand-off was tight, halfbacks was tight. There was a few of them, so there’s been a few sleepless nights,” Jones said.

Melbourne duo Carter Gordon and Josh Kemeny were both named, along with Reds front-rowers Matt Faessler and Zane Nonggorr. NSW winger Dylan Pietsch also won a call-up, along with Brumbies lock Tom Hooper and halfback Ryan Lonergan.

France-based lock Richie Arnold was named for the first time as one of five “Giteau Law” selections. Jones sought approval for extra selections above three picks per series, as per the Rugby Australia policy, and was given the green light for Arnold and Quade Cooper. The nominated three were Marika Koroibete, Will Skelton and Samu Kerevi.

One of the biggest omissions was Japan-based No.10 Bernard Foley, who was the starting five-eighth for the Wallabies the last six Tests in 2022 and has been in camp for several weeks. Waratahs playmaker Ben Donaldson was named but was listed as a utility.

Foley’s omission pointed to Jones being limited to only two Giteau Law exemptions but the Wallabies coach said the team he’d submitted had been approved by Rugby Australia.

Taniela Tupou was listed among the forwards for the trip and though named in a rehab group, and Samu Kerevi (hamstring) also remains a chance to play in Pretoria on July 9, according to Jones. But the other injured players listed - Angus Bell, Langi Gleeson, Andrew Kellaway, Jordan Petaia and Matt Philip - will not.

Along with Foley, several Wallabies regulars of recent years missed out, including Caderyn Neville, Harry Wilson, James O’Connor, Jake Gordon and Lachlan Lonergan. They were instead included in a 28-man train-on squad.

Carter Gordon will duel with Quade Cooper for the no.10 jersey.Credit: Getty

While stressing it wasn’t yet a squad for the Rugby World Cup - the group will be revised in mid-July - Jones said he was building the structure of a team for the tournament in September. And that structure appears to be based on a combination of size, and versatility.

“We need to develop a team that is multi-dimensional, because of the fact that with HIA, with red cards, yellow cards, you need to be able to adapt on the field. So, nothing’s not possible. And we need to develop that adaptability in the team,” Jones said.

Jones listed Kemeny, Donaldson and Pietsch as neither back nor forward, but “utility”. And speaking to media on Sunday, the coach stressed he was serious about having Kemeny - an abrasive 105kg, 193cm flanker - cover the position of wing. As seen in previous World Cup squads (Radike Samo played wing in 2011) this can free up a coach to carry three hookers and/or halfbacks.

Josh Kemeny in action for the Rebels. Eddie Jones wants to train him to cover the wing.Credit: Getty

“We need a back rower who can play wing. I am serious about this,” Jones said.

“Hoops probably could have done it in his younger age, he was faster than most of the wingers. Now he is as fast, apart from Suli when he has got his cattle prod chasing him. And then Kemeny is quick enough to be a winger. He is a tall rangy guy, good in the air.”

In both the forwards and the backs, Jones picked multiple players with versatility, including uncapped Brumbies forward Tom Hooper, who impressed Jones with his “combative” attitude and ability to play across the backrow and at lock.

The absence of Foley reflects how much of an impression Carter Gordon has made on Jones. Cooper will be his first-choice five-eighth, but the young Melburnian is positioned as a back-up, with Reece Hodge and Donaldson also on hand.

Zane Nonggorr takes on the Melbourne Rebels defence in last season’s round one Super Rugby Pacific match at Suncorp Stadium.Credit: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“Quade is a different sort of player, and if we can get him back to his best he becomes a really competitive edge for us,” Jones said.

“Young Carter Gordon has done well, and Donaldson fills a utility role for us. There will be opportunities for Foles further down the track. We will have to wait and see.”

Though unprecedented, Jones said having the highly experienced Hooper and Slipper share the captaincy would also provide a “winning edge”. When both are on the field, the pair said they will work out who deals with the referee and makes the final decision.

Slipper took over the captaincy when Hooper stepped away in August last year, and held the job after Hooper returned on the Spring Tour.

Jones revealed he’d sought advice from Sydney Swans coach John Longmire about the merits of sharing the captaincy.

“We want to do this differently. We want to change the Wallabies, that’s the first thing,” Jones said.

“The combination of Slips and Hoops at the top gives us a very strong apex to the leadership. Underneath that, there is a group of players who are going to be very important to support them, but the combination of character and style between Hoops and Slips ... you don’t get two more experienced players in the world in Test rugby. That’s a big advantage for us.”

Wallabies train-on squad

Forwards

Charlie Cale

Josh Canham

Pone Fa’amausili

Folau Fainga’a

Charlie Gamble

Ned Hanigan

Tom Lambert    

Lachlan Lonergan            

Cadeyrn Neville                

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto

Blake Schoupp

Darcy Swain

Lachlan Swinton

Sam Talakai                        

Brad Wilkin

Harry Wilson

Backs

Lachlan Anderson                            

Jock Campbell    

Filipo Daugunu

Issak Fines-Leleiwasa

Josh Flook

Bernard Foley

Jake Gordon

James O’Connor

Hunter Paisami

James Tuttle                                      

Joey Walton      

Utility

Seru Uru

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