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International

Tom Wright dropped as Eddie Jones confirms key changes to Wallabies squad

By Finn Morton

19 Jul 2023

Tom Wright of the Wallabies (C) looks on following The Rugby Championship match between the Australia Wallabies and Argentina at CommBank Stadium on July 15, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)

Coach Eddie Jones has confirmed some significant changes to the Wallabies’ squad ahead of their two-match Bledisloe Cup series with the All Blacks, including the omission of Tom Wright.

Wright started at fullback against both South Africa and Argentina, but has made way with some key players returning from injury – including Andrew Kellaway and Jordan Petaia.

Backrower Langi Gleeson and prop Taniela Tupou are also back in the selection mix ahead of the match against the All Blacks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground later this month.

“We’re very disappointed with the results during stage one of our campaign,” Jones said in a statement.

“We need to find more in stage two and Melbourne will be the ground where we will find our best.”

Along with Tom Wright, Jones has also swung the axe with backrower Pete Samu and utility back Reece Hodge also missing out on selection.

Hodge was named in the starting side to take on the Springboks earlier this month, while Samu played almost 50 minutes off the bench in Pretoria.

Hooker Matt Faessler, prop Blake Schoupp, scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan and ‘utility’ David Pietsch are the four uncapped players in the 34-man squad.

Co-captain Michael Hooper is the only player listed under the rehab group, with the flanker sustaining an injury in the leadup to the Test against Michael Cheika’s Pumas in Sydney.

Wallabies squad

Forwards

Allan Alaalatoa

Angus Bell

Blake Schoupp

David Porecki

Fraser McReight

James Slipper (cc)

Jed Holloway

Jordan Uelese

Langi Gleeson

Matt Faessler

Matt Philip

Nick Frost

Pone Fa’amausili

Richie Arnold

Rob Leota

Rob Valetini

Taniela Tupou

Tom Hooper

Will Skelton

Backs

Andrew Kellaway

Carter Gordon

Izaia Perese

Jordan Petaia

Lalakai Foketi

Marika Koroibete

Mark Nawaqanitawase

Nic White

Quade Cooper

Ryan Lonergan

Samu Kerevi

Suliasi Vunivalu

Tate McDermott

Utility

Ben Donaldson

Dylan Pietsch

Rehab Group

Michael Hooper (cc)

Not considered due to injury

Izack Rodda

Len Ikitau

Max Jorgensen

Tom Robertson

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 6 minutes ago

Five changes for the All Blacks, including the return of Sam Cane

This is not an under strength selection and should be far too strong for the 6th ranked ( Northern) Italians

1 Go to comments

Bull Shark 8 minutes ago

Johan Ackermann returns to SA in new coaching role

Fabulous News. He can swan about here for a while until the England job opens up.

1 Go to comments

Bull Shark 13 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

You're outta here!

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 14 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Yellow for you. Timeout.

Low risk of danger, so there won't be a bunker review.

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 18 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

LOL. Tinfoil meet head.

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 27 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Not true. I'm a South African and I absolutely loved seeing the Wallabies beating England. And miss the Wallabies of old who were a devastating force with some of the greatest players of all time.

I hear quite regularly that Australians prefer Aussie rules, league, and cricket over rugby.

So again, seems like Australians are to blame for the state of the game in Australia?

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 35 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I find Ben Smith to be an emotionally driven hysteric. So I question everything he writes.

He launched into the year about the ABs being back this year. For a "journalist" his opinions are based on the flavour of the month.

He's at least gone quiet about how sh1t the boks actually are. Although I suspect he's working on an outrageous article to that effect as we speak, to drive engagement after the end of the Autumn series, as we'll all be taking a break until the 6N. Reading his drivel in between extended periods of alcohol and mince pie consumption, and low grade depression related to the lack of international rugby. Leading to more alcohol and mince pies.

22 Go to comments

Chesterfield 37 minutes ago

Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

The dominant pack should be enforcing their superiority with maximum points and the psychological advantage of taking the lead.

You don’t get that by saying we’ll settle for three and try again you get it by scoring seven and trying again. Doesn’t come off every time?

No.

But if you’ve asserted dominance letting the opposition off and not trying to build a double score difference is wrong minded.

All blacks have traditionally played to build the unassailable lead not meekly win a single point victory.

11 Go to comments

Arnold 40 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Aaah. Ben Smith. Ever the unbiased, objective rugby scribe......NOT.

Unable to give credit where it's due, other than for the ABs, especially when it comes to the Boks. His contempt for them is tangible. If you want to " Get Real" about these ABs Ben, consider when they last beat the Boks??? For us Bok fans, beating the ABs is the only true measure.

22 Go to comments

Reader76 59 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

"they [All Blacks] are nuggety and resourceful and don’t wilt. They are prepared to win the hard way, accumulating points by any means necessary."

Sounds like you're describing your arch-nemesis Ben 😁

22 Go to comments

CM 1 hour ago

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

This article only shows a part of SBs failings as England Coach. Firstly his reputation st Leicester was false, his SA and Welsh players won the matches not his coaching prowess. He has Wigglesworth as attack coach, someone who rarely attacked when playing. His player selection is awful, ignoring form players and sticking with failed internationals. He picks players that he knows and will be easy to manage for him. What on earth is Slade doing when even for Exeter he does not make line breaks with steppping, pace or guile, why on earth are Cole,George,Steward,Ford,Iseweke and a few other anywhere near the Team. Borthwick is awful as Head Coach of England.

1 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 1 hour ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Good to be writing about a WB team that has beaten two 6 N sides in successive weeks, Brett.

Lolesio indeed is looking very comfortable under Schmidt coaching. He must feel as confident now as he was feeling in his spell at Toulon last year. It will be interesting to see how he does against Finn Russell.

30 Go to comments

J Marc 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Your unterstanding of the relation FFR LNR, is far better than the one in the article. For Meafou, there is an article on Skelton saying he is totally indispensable in the australian game.

In France they are often compared, and french game is often, but not always ,based on this kind of number 5. But , there are a lot of kind of play in France and in the world, and it's a blessing, because otherwise, the game would be boring.

On my other post ,which you replied, my intention was to explain with some historics facts the main importance, in France, of the championship.

But ,once again, I would prefer 3 games in NZ , with the better french players.

289 Go to comments

Ninjin 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I said before the November tests that the AB's should go smash some Nh teams to find their feet and it seems that is just what they did bar France. Could have should have always sucks. Better to look to the future.

22 Go to comments