Eddie Jones has made several huge calls as he announces the 33-player Wallabies squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. Co-captain Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper are among the exclusions, with Jones naming lock Will Skelton as captain.
18-year-old Max Jorgensen is the major bolter, selected after a dream season with the Waratahs. Jorgensen missed the U20 World Championships and home Test series after a long-term MCL injury. He is one of three uncapped players in the squad, with Brumbies prop Blake Schoupp and Western Force scrumhalf Issak Fines-Leleiwasa also earning a call-up.
There was no place for co-captain Hooper, who failed to overcome a calf injury. Likewise, Brumbies centre Len Ikitau (scapula) will not travel to France, with Cooper amongst several from the Bledisloe Cup to miss the cut along with forward Jed Holloway, Ryan Lonergan and Dylan Pietsch.
"It’s a young squad, it’s an exciting squad and it will be a successful squad. We are making good progress. Our challenge is to continue to improve," Jones said in a statement.
"To get a little bit better every day in everything we do on and off the field. As I've said since I took over, in Australian rugby we have the talent, but we don't yet have the team. That's still the case. But we are getting there and I’m backing that we will surprise a few people.”
La Rochelle lock Skelton has emerged as the shock 87th captain of the Wallabies, with Reds scrumhalf Tate McDermott serving as his vice-captain after leading the side in the previous Bledisloe Test.
Rebels flyhalf Carter Gordon is the lone flyhalf in the squad, with Waratahs utility Ben Donaldson the other player in the squad with flyhalf experience at the Super Rugby level.
Donaldson is included as one of two utilities, with recent debutant Josh Kemeny earning a recall.
25 Wallabies are heading over for their first World Cup, starting with Georgia on September 10
"I’ve backed the young blokes because they earned it. Simple as that. I haven’t handed it to them. They grabbed it," Jones added.
"It’s exciting for me to go to work each day with these guys who are just busting to improve, to learn and to get better. They want to succeed, and they will succeed and that excitement is rubbing off on everyone. We're in a good place.
"The experts have written us off. No one believes we can do it, but we believe. The coaches believe, the players believe and that's all that matters."
Australian World Cup squad
Forwards
Props: Angus Bell, Pone Fa’amausili, Zane Nonggorr, Blake Schoupp, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou
Hookers: Matt Faessler, David Porecki, Jordan Uelese
Locks: Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, Matt Philip, Will Skelton (captain)
Back row: Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Rob Leota, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini
Backs
Scrumhalves: Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Tate McDermott, Nic White
Flyhalf: Carter Gordon
Centres: Lalakai Foketi, Samu Kerevi, Izaia Perese, Jordan Petaia
Outside backs: Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Marika Koroibete, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Suliasi Vunivalu
Utility: Ben Donaldson, Josh Kemeny
Wallaby fixtures
World Cup
Versus Georgia, Saturday, September 9 at Stade de France, Paris
Versus Fiji, Sunday, September 17 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Versus Wales, Sunday, September 24 at OL Stadium, Lyon
Versus Portugal, Sunday, October 1 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne