Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper and Len Ikitau have been omitted from the Wallabies World Cup squad named on Thursday.
Coach Eddie Jones also chose three uncapped players, including scrum-half Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 18-year-old back Max Jorgensen, and prop Blake Schoupp, for the tournament in France in September and October.
Only eight of the Wallabies on this team have played in the World Cup before. This is the least experienced Wallabies team in the history of the professional game.
“It’s a young squad, it’s an exciting squad and it will be a successful squad,” said former England boss Jones, who has lost all four Tests since being appointed in January.
“We are making good progress. Our challenge is to continue to improve. 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.”
Flanker Hooper is Australia’s most-capped captain. He has led the team in 69 of his 125 Tests. Last year, he took a two-month break from the game for his mental health.
He hurt his calf earlier this year and missed their last three Tests. He was reportedly eager to play and hoped to be ready for their World Cup opener against Georgia on September 9.
Jones instead trusted young players Fraser McReight and Tom Hooper, who stepped up when he wasn’t there.
Because Hooper wasn’t picked, it’s likely that his international career is over. He has said in the past that he would either retire after the World Cup, move abroad, or try out for their Sevens team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Cooper, who was thought to be on the plane, could have the same thing happen to him. In his absence, Australia has only Carter Gordon, a fly-half who has only played four Tests, as a known player.
Even though he had a shoulder injury, regular star centre Ikitau was also expected to make the cut.
“I’ve backed the young blokes because they earned it,” said Jones.
“Simple as that. I haven’t handed it to them. They grabbed it. 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.”
Giant lock Skelton, who plays rugby in France for La Rochelle, being named captain was also a surprise.
Before the Rugby Championship, Hooper and Slipper were named co-captains until the World Cup. In their last Test against New Zealand, scrum-half Tate McDermott filled in as captain.
“We just feel we need someone who can bring the squad together and make it a little bit tighter,” he said.
“He’s got all those attributes and he’s a really good team man.”
Full Australia squad:
Props: Angus Bell (NSW Waratahs), James Slipper (ACT Brumbies), Blake Schoupp (ACT Brumbies), Taniela Tupou (Queensland Reds), Pone Fa’amausili (Melbourne Rebels), Zane Nonggorr (Queensland Reds)
Hookers: David Porecki (NSW Waratahs), Jordan Uelese (Melbourne Rebels), Matt Faessler (Queensland Reds)
Locks: Richie Arnold (Stade Toulouse/FRA), Nick Frost (ACT Brumbies), Will Skelton (La Rochelle/FRA – capt), Matt Philip (Melbourne Rebels)
Back row: Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies), Rob Leota (Melbourne Rebels), Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds), Rob Valetini (ACT Brumbies), Langi Gleeson (NSW Waratahs)
Scrum-halves: Tate McDermott (Queensland Reds), Nic White (ACT Brumbies), Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (Western Force)
Fly-half: Carter Gordon (Melbourne Rebels)
Outside backs: Mark Nawaqanitawase (NSW Waratahs), Suliasi Vunivalu (Queensland Reds), Marika Koroibete (Saitama Wild Knights/JPN), Andrew Kellaway (Melbourne Rebels), Max Jorgensen (NSW Waratahs)
Centres: Samu Kerevi (Urayasu D-Rocks/JPN), Izaia Perese (NSW Waratahs), Lalakai Foketi (NSW Waratahs), Jordan Petaia (Queensland Reds)
Utility backs: Ben Donaldson (NSW Waratahs), Josh Kemeny (Melbourne Rebels)
Photo by EPA/KIM LUDBROOK
