Rennie backs young guns in first Wallabies squad
Five Waratahs players including Will Harrison, James Ramm and Angus Bell have been named in their first official Wallabies squad but coach Dave Rennie could find no room for last year’s World Cup representatives Isi Naisarani, Jack Dempsey or Tevita Kuridrani in a 44-man group announced on Sunday afternoon.
A total of 16 uncapped players have earned selection in a larger than normal Wallabies squad and the big bolter of the group is Brumbies centre Len Ikitau.
Isi Naisarani in action at last year's Rugby World Cup. Credit:Getty
In what is the first glimpse of Wallabies life under Rennie, the Kiwi coach has assembled a larger squad of players that could still include two overseas-based players as part of changes to the Giteau Law announced earlier this week.
The Brumbies have the biggest representation in the squad with 13 players, ahead of the NSW Waratahs (11), Queensland (11) and Melbourne Rebels (9). No Western Force players were named.
The major shocks are that of Naisarani and Dempsey, with Rennie clearly wanting to go in a different direction by naming the likes of Lachie Swinton, Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight in their first Wallabies squads.
As for Kuridrani, the 29-year-old’s Test career could be up in smoke after missing out on a wider group that will travel together for eight Tests this year in New Zealand and then Australia.
For the Waratahs, Harrison, Ramm, Bell, Tom Horton and Lachie Swinton have all earned call-ups for the first time, along with Jake Gordon, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jack Maddocks and Rob Simmons.
There was no room for prop Tom Robertson or centre Karmichael Hunt.
Meanwhile, Queensland Reds hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and centre Hunter Paisami have forced their way into the group after missing out on last month’s players of national interest squad.
The average age of the squad if 24 years old, while those selected have played an average of 17 Tests.
In a statement, Rennie said: “We’ve picked this squad on form and on potential and I know the whole group are chomping at the bit to get stuck in and push their case for a Wallaby jersey.”
More to come
By the numbers
- Brumbies - 13
- Waratahs - 11
- Reds - 11
- Rebels - 9
- Force - 0
(Total: 44 players)
Wallabies squad for 2020 Test season
Jermaine Ainsley (3 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 25)
Allan Alaalatoa (37 Tests, Brumbies, 26)
Tom Banks (6 Tests, Brumbies, 26)
Angus Bell* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 19)
Filipo Daugunu* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 25)
Pone Fa’amausili* (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 23)
Folau Fainga'a (12 Tests, Brumbies, 25)
Jake Gordon (1 Test, NSW Waratahs, 27)
Ned Hanigan (20 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 25)
Will Harrison* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 21)
Dane Haylett-Petty (37 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 31)
Reece Hodge (39 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Michael Hooper (99 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 28)
Tom Horton* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Trevor Hosea* (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 20)
Len Ikitau* (uncapped, Brumbies, 21)
Harry Johnson-Holmes (1 Test, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Marika Koroibete (28 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 28)
Noah Lolesio* (uncapped, Brumbies, 20)
Jack Maddocks (7 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Tate McDermott* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 21)
Fraser McReight* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 21)
James O'Connor (52 Tests, Queensland Reds, 30)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (4 Tests, Queensland Reds, 24)
Hunter Paisami* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 22)
Jordan Petaia (3 Tests, Queensland Reds, 20)
Matt Philip (3 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Joe Powell (4 Tests, Brumbies, 26)
James Ramm* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 22)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (21 Tests, Queensland Reds, 23)
Pete Samu (9 Tests, Brumbies, 28)
Rob Simmons (100 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 31)
Irae Simone* (uncapped, Brumbies, 25)
Scott Sio (63 Tests, Brumbies, 28)
James Slipper (96 Tests, Brumbies, 31)
Lachie Swinton* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Matt To’omua (52 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 30)
Taniela Tupou (19 Tests, Queensland Reds, 24)
Jordan Uelese (9 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 23)
Rob Valetini (1 Test, Brumbies, 22)
Nic White (31 Tests, Brumbies, 30)
Harry Wilson* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 20)
Liam Wright (2 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
Tom Wright* (uncapped, Brumbies, 23)
*Denotes uncapped player