Australia primed for 2023 Rugby Championship and World Cup

Australia are primed for 2023. The Wallabies will begin their year on Saturday, July 08 on the road against South Africa. Seven days later Australia will play at home against Argentina in Sydney. The Rugby Championship will be stage one of Rugby World Cup year.

The Wallabies start the year with a new look. Eddie Jones is back as head coach. The Australian coached Australia from 2001-2005. Under Jones, the Wallabies reached the Rugby World Cup 2003 Final. He coached Japan from 2012-2015 and England from 2016-2022. He coached England to the Rugby World Cup 2019 Final and Japan to the biggest shock in RWC history against South Africa.

Australia’s road to Rugby World Cup 2023 begins with a 34-man roster. Jones’ squad is without four injured players. Max Jorgensen, Tom Robertson, Izack Rodda, and Corey Toole. On the flip side, veteran Michael Hooper is back and has been named co-captain alongside prop James Slipper. The average player age is 27 while the average number of caps is 25.

Slipper has 127 caps, making him Australia’s third most capped player. He is closing in on Stephen Moore (129 caps) and George Gregan (139 caps). No Argentine has reached the mark of 100. Agustín Creevy has 97 caps. Uruguay’s Diego Magno is the only player to have 100 or more caps for a country from the Americas.

Hooper and Slipper are joined by new blood; Jones has selected eight uncapped players on the roster. Carter Gordon and Josh Kemeny of rat Melbourne Rebels, Queensland Reds forwards Matt Faessler and Zane Nonggorr ACT Brumbies Tom Hooper and Ryan Lonergan and NSW Waratahs’ speedster Dylan Pietsch has been called-up.

The seven uncapped Australian-based players will be joined by Toulouse’s Richie Arnold. Having won the 2023 Top 14 title, Arnold now joins his country’s test team less than three months out from France hosting the World Cup.

Arnold is one name included under Australia’s Overseas Players Selection Policy. Jones is able to select up to three players based outside of Australia. However, under extenuating circumstances the coach is entitled to more. Jones has five: Arnold, Will Skelton, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete and Quade Cooper.

2023 RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – AUSTRALIA ROSTER

PROP
Allan Alaalatoa (ACT Brumbies – 64 caps)
Matt Gibbon (Melbourne Rebels – 5 caps)
Zane Nonggorr (Queensland Reds – uncapped)
James Slipper (ACT Brumbies – 127 caps)
Taniela Tupou (Queensland Reds – 47 caps)

HOOKER
Matt Faessler (Queensland Reds – uncapped)
David Porecki (NSW Waratahs – 10 caps)
Jordan Uelese (Melbourne Rebels – 15 caps)

SECOND-ROW
Richie Arnold (Toulouse, FR – uncapped)
Nick Frost (ACT Brumbies – 9 caps)
Jed Holloway (NSW Waratahs – 10 caps)
Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies – uncapped)
Will Skelton (La Rochelle, FR – 24 caps)

FLANKER
Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs – 124 caps)
Josh Kemeny (Melbourne Rebels – uncapped)
Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds – 10 caps)
Rob Valetini (ACT Brumbies – 30 caps)

N8
Rob Leota (Melbourne Rebels – 13 caps)
Pete Samu (ACT Brumbies – 32 caps)

SCRUM-HALF
Ryan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies – uncapped)
Tate McDermott (Queensland Reds – 21 caps)
Nic White (ACT Brumbies – 59 caps)

FLY HALF
Quade Cooper (Kintetsu Liners, JP – 76 caps)
Carter Gordon (Melbourne Rebels – uncapped)

CENTER
Lalakai Foketi (NSW Waratahs – 5 caps)
Len Ikitau (ACT Brumbies – 26 caps)
Izaia Perese (NSW Waratahs – 3 caps)

WING
Marika Koroibete (Saitama Wild Knights, JP – 51 caps)
Mark Nawaqanitawase (NSW Waratahs – 3 caps)
Dylan Pietsch (NSW Waratahs – uncapped)
Suliasi Vunivalu (Queensland Reds –  1 cap)
Tom Wright (ACT Brumbies – 23 caps)

FULLBACK
Reece Hodge (Melbourne Rebels – 54 Tests)
Ben Donaldson (NSW Waratahs -2 caps)