Rugby World Cup 2023: Wallabies team tracker, squad selection, draw, Eddie Jones

Power and speed are the keys to Rugby World Cup success, says Eddie Jones, with a ‘run-first’ approach to the game dead and buried.

Australian rugby’s golden age might have been built around an attack-first mentality, but the modern game demands an up-tempo style favouring quick ball and momentum.

“The game’s about being fast now,” Jones said last week. “You’ve got 75 per cent of tries being scored in three phases. So why would you keep the ball for 10 phases.

“That’s just stupid to even think like that anymore, and unfortunately there’s that thinking still in rugby.”

Jones also said he’ll lean heavily on the Pasifika playing group in Australia as he builds a fearsome backline.

“You just have a look at the Australian backline that we could pick, we’ve probably got the most powerful backline in the world,” he said.

Jones’ comments will have serious impact on the make up of the squad he selects, with power players like Samu Kerevi (once fit again), Marika Koroibete, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami and Jordan Petaia all fitting the bill.

RUGBY WORLD CUP WALLABIES TRACKER

Now, new coach Eddie Jones has precious little time to narrow a very long shortlist into a World Cup squad of 33.

Will Jones stamp his authority by making wholesale changes? Or will he stick with players who have represented Australia over the past couple of years? Who will captain the side? Who plays flyhalf?

Using Dave Rennie’s 44-man squad that trained on the Gold Coast in January and some of the players who appeared in Tests last year, CODE Sports takes a look at the players likely to be in the mix.

Here is the likely squad breakdown.

17 forwards: Five props, three hookers, four locks, five loose forwards

16 backs: Two or three halfbacks, two or three flyhalves, four centres, six outside backs

The list below will be updated, edited, altered and, probably, changed completely as the Super Rugby season progresses and new players emerge and others fall out of contention.

You can also have your say on team selections by voting below.

Is James O’Connor back in the mix?

His omission from Dave Rennie’s Wallabies training squad earlier this year left many thinking James O’Connor’s Test career was over, but the veteran playmaker’s performance for the Reds against the Brumbies in week three has changed all that.

The 32-year-old is very much back in business.

O’Connor returned from injury late in the week two win over the Western Force, but was truly influential against the Brumbies in the nation’s capital.

The Reds were a noticeably different side when O’Connor came on at halftime. With vision and authority in possession, O’Connor was able to spark the Queensland side’s attack.

It’s not that young Tom Lynagh - who has been impressive so far this season - was poor, but O’Connor’s experience is telling.

O’Connor’s deft chip for Jordan Petaia’s try was a highlight as the Reds nearly came back from a 13-0 halftime deficit, eventually losing 23-17.

Speaking in early March, Eddie Jones virtually confirmed Quade Cooper’s place in the Wallabies side for the World Cup, with Noah Lolesio another likely inclusion.

A few more performances like the one he delivered on Saturday, and O’Connor could be the third playmaker heading to France.

Did Eddie Jones leak his Test team during Super Round?

Did Eddie Jones leak his Wallabies preferences during Super Round?

One eagle-eyed fan in the stands reckons so.

The Wallabies coach was a constant presence at AAMI Park during Super Round in early March, and one rugby nut snapped a picture of Jones apparently jotting down some draft Test sides.

The tweet was deleted within an hour of being published, but by then, the news was out.

In one team, Jones’ pack consisted of: James Slipper, Dave Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Caydern Neville, Darcy Swain, Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper and Langi Gleeson.

Nic White and Noah Lolesio appear to be his preferred halves pairing, with Lalakai Foketi and Len Ikitau in the centres and Tom Wright at fullback.

The two bolters came on the wings, with Waratahs flyers Mark Nawaqanitawase and Max Jorgensen pencilled in.

Nawaqanitawase made his Test debut last year, while Jorgensen has scored three tries in the first two Super Rugby games of his career to date.

In what looks like a second Wallabies line-up, Jones included Tom Robertson, Folau Fainga’a, Pone Faamausili, Jed Holloway, Nick Frost, Pete Samu, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Ben Donaldson, Suliasi Vunivalu and Reece Hodge.

Although the picture was quickly deleted, it already had tongues wagging.

Some believe the team on the left will be Jones’ go-to side. Others question whether it’s just another case of the veteran media manipulator playing more mind games.

Gleeson continues to stake his claim

Waratahs No.8 Langi Gleeson continues to make a compelling case for Wallabies selection after a man-of-the-match performance against Fijian Drua.

Gleeson was benched for round one after a lacklustre return to pre-season, but was one of his side’s best in a loss to the Brumbies.

He stamped his mark on the game early on against the Drua, making a strong run and an even bigger tackle in the opening two minutes.

In a bruising encounter, Gleeson consistently ran well – particularly in the wide channels – and hit everything that moved.

He threw the last pass for Ben Donaldson’s second half try, before powering over the line himself to break a 17-17 deadlock.

It proved a turning point, as the valiant Drua faded in the final 20 minutes.

Gleeson only made his Super Rugby debut in February 2022, but impressed for Australia A and was rewarded with a call-up to the Wallabies’ end of year tour.

The 21-year-old made two starts off the bench, before earning his run-on debut against Wales in the last Test of the tour.

The Wallabies No.8 role shapes as an intriguing battle, but Gleeson is definitely right in the mix.

Angus Bell suffers long term injury in Super Rugby opener

Waratahs prop Angus Bell’s Super Rugby season is over after re-injuring the same toe that kept him sidelined for most of last year.

It’s a crushing blow for the Waratahs, but also for Bell’s chances of booking a ticket to France in September.

One of the country’s best front-rowers, Bell would generally be considered a fairly safe choice, but he’ll be sorely lacking in game time when Wallabies coach Eddie Jones must make his selections.

WALLABIES WORLD CUP POOL C FIXTURES

Sunday, September 10, 2am: Australia vs Georgia at Stade de France, Paris

Monday, September 18, 1.45am: Australia vs Fiji at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint Etienne

Monday, September 25, 5am: Australia vs Wales at OL Stadium, Lyon

Monday, October 2, 2.45am: Australia vs Portugal at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint Etienne

**All dates and times AEST

WALLABIES 2019 RWC SQUAD

Here’s the 33-player squad Michael Cheika took to Japan.

Props
Allan Alaalatoa, Sekope Kepu, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou

Hookers
Folau Fainga’a Tolu Latu, Jordan Uelese

Locks
Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda, Rob Simmons

Loose forwards
Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper (captain), Isi Naisarani, David Pocock, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto

Halfbacks
Will Genia, Nic White

Flyhalves
Bernard Foley, Christian Lealiifano, Matt Toomua

Centres/Outside backs
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, James O’Connor, Jordan Petaia

Brendan Bradford is a sports writer for CODE Sports. He primarily covers combat sports, league, union, cycling and athletics. Brendan has worked in sports media for a decade, covering world title fights, World Cups, Grand Slams and Spring Tours.