Huge changes as greats pick next Wallabies team

01/05/2024 05:59

If the Wallabies were to play their first Test of the season this weekend, no more than eight of the starting 15 from their last Rugby World Cup match against Portugal would play.

That's according to former Wallabies Tim Horan and Cameron Shepherd who have picked their hypothetical starting sides.

Speaking on Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven, the pair put forward their teams based on current form after 10 weeks of Super Rugby Pacific.

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There are caveats in the selections, namely that the players are competing locally. That means players like Marika Koroibete, Richie Arnold, and Will Skelton have been left out.

Injured players were also not considered, leaving the likes of Angus Bell - who would otherwise be considered a shoo-in by most - out of the squad.

The team that Australia fielded against Portugal in its final 2023 Rugby World Cup pool appearance under then-head coach Eddie Jones is listed below for comparison.

WALLABIES vs PORTUGAL at RWC (1-15): Angus Bell, David Porecki, James Slipper, Nick Frost, Richie Arnold, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Marika Koroibete, Lalakai Foketi, Izaia Perese, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Andrew Kellaway

Names in bold in the selections below represent names that did not start in the Australia vs Portugal match.

MICHAEL SHEPHERD'S WALLABIES (1-15): James Slipper, Matt Faessler, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Darcy Swain, Izak Rodda, Liam Wright, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Tom Wright, Hunter Paisami, Len Ikitau, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Andrew Kellaway

TIM HORAN'S WALLABIES (1-15): James Slipper, Matt Faessler, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Swinton, Nick Frost, Rob Leota, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Tate McDermott, Noah Lolesio, Andrew Kellaway, Hunter Paisami, Len Ikitau, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Tom Wright

Horan elaborated on his picks, noting the change to the forward pack and how newly-appointed head coach Joe Schmidt might approach selections.

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"This weekend, that's the side I'd pick – and I tell you what, It's a big forward back," said Horan.

"It just depends on what Joe Schmidt is looking for. Does he want a really big forward pack? Does he want a mobile forward pack? 

"I think Taniela Tupou hasn't started a lot of matches for the Rebels."

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The selections that Horan and Shepherd agree on are James Slipper, Matt Faessler, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Noah Lolesio, Hunter Paisai, Len Ikitau, Mark Nawaqanitawase, and Tom Wright.

Wright, however, appears at fullback for Shepherd and on the wing for Horan.

"We both agree on Noah. I picked him at the start of the year that he's the player that has really got to stand up," said Horan.

"Where we only differ a little bit, I think Tom Wright is the form 15 for the Australian teams and I think Andrew Kellaway is a better winger than Tom Wright is as a winger." 

Shepherd added, "To add some thought to my selections, I really want to see Joe Schmidt create a back three that are completely interchangeable. 

"I want to see them being able to replace each other and I totally understand defensively in certain situations they're going to be where they're going to be. 

"The connection between those three has to be one of the most important parts of Australian rugby. 

"Kellaway's kicking game is slightly better than Tom Wright's and that's probably why I prefer him at 15."

Notwithstanding injuries and playing overseas, notable omissions from the Portugal match include David Porecki, Tom Hooper, Ben Donaldson, Lalakai Foketi, and Izaia Perese.

Beyond that, there are some key names missing, including Carter Gordon. Both Horan and Shepherd agreed Donaldson and Gordon are fighting for second place but are only just behind the top pick Lolesio after his stand-out season to date.

"What Noah has done this year, his goal-kicking has been superb," said Horan.

"You look back to when the (Brumbies) played the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium, his goal kicking at the end of the game was important. 

"Carter's goal kicking hasn't been great this year but his on-field play and his set piece around that set piece coming from behind the scrum or the line-out in behind that corridor has been really strong. 

"I think Noah has really stood up. There's not much between them. I'd probably go Noah as one, Carter as two, and Ben Donaldson as three. All three need to be in the wider squad."