Wallabies team winners and losers as Joe Schmidt backs Eddie Jones’ ‘outcasts’ as ‘derailed’ career gets back on track against Wales
With Joe Schmidt having named his team for the opening Test match against Wales in Sydney, here are our winners and losers from the selection.
The Test marks a new era for the Wallabies as Schmidt takes charge of the side for the first time since Eddie Jones’ disastrous tenure as head coach.
He faces a familiar foe in Warren Gatland, with the pairing facing off countless times during Schmidt‘s time in charge of Ireland.
Here’s our winners and losers from the Wallabies squad selected.
Winners
Liam Wright
Injuries have derailed Liam Wright’s career to date as he earns just his sixth Test cap on Saturday after making his international debut in 2019.
The last of his caps came in 2020 with his absence almost exclusively down to fitness issues. The game against Wales not only marks his return to Gold and Green jersey but also sees him become the 89th player to lead his country.
The South African-born, Australian-raised back-rower is a natural leader, having captained the Reds since 2020 and Queensland U20s and Queensland Country in the National Rugby Championship.
While the decision from Schmidt to hand him the captain’s armband will have taken some by surprise, it is just reward for the hard-working back-rower, who at 26 still has a bright future on the international stage.
Seven debutants
There was always going to be an overhaul in the squad following Jones’ disastrous campaign, but that does not mean that any of the seven Wallabies debutants are not deserving of their first caps.
Jeremy Williams and Josh Flook earn their first caps in the starting XV with lock Williams impressing for the Western Force this season as the side’s skipper while centre Flook has been exceptional for the Reds for several seasons but overlooked by Dave Rennie and Jones.
There are further debuts from the bench for prop Isaac Kailea, lock Angus Blyth, back-rower Charlie Clare, fly-half Tom Lynagh and back Dylan Pietsch.
All have thoroughly deserved their opportunities through their Super Rugby form, while Clare is one to watch after a stunning breakthrough season for the Brumbies.
As for Lynagh, he follows in his father Michael’s footsteps in representing the Wallabies, while his brother Louis represents Italy instead.
Lukhan Salakai-Loto
For the first time since 2021, Lukhan Salakai-Loto earns a Wallabies cap and does so in the starting XV.
It’s been a real rollercoaster ride for the abrasive forward who had a stint with Northampton Saints before returning to Australia to join the Melbourne Rebels – who he skippered this season under turbulent circumstances with the team entering administration.
A talent like Salakai-Loto needs be on the big stage and it’s good to see the star forward make his return.
Jones’ snubbed half-backs return
Ex-head coach Jones overlooked both Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio last year despite some strong showings for the Waratahs and Brumbies in 2023.
In fact, Gordon reportedly considered leaving Australia for a deal in the Northern Hemisphere but now gets his chance to shine in the Wallabies jumper yet again, earning his 21st Test cap.
Lolesio has been superb for the Brumbies this year and earns a well-deserved start in the Wallabies 10 shirt, having been completely ignored by Jones, who favoured Carter Gordon – who is set to make the switch to rugby league.
Both players now get a shot at redemption.
Tom Wright
After just two Test matches, Tom Wright was outcasted from Jones’ squad last year despite impressing for Rennie the year before.
But the Brumbies back returns to the international fold after another strong Super Rugby Pacific season. Like many of the Wallabies’ squad, his story is one of resilience and dedication to get back to the pinnacle of the game.
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Losers
Nick Frost
Nick Frost was one of the few standouts for the Wallabies last year as a consistent starter and performer for Jones’ side but has not cracked Schmidt’s team.
He did drop to the Brumbies’ bench for the Super Rugby play-offs, and while he doesn’t crack the matchday 23 for the opening game, he is bound to play a role in the squad going forward.
Tom Hooper
Much like Frost, Tom Hooper was a standout for Australia in 2023, impressing on both sides of the scrum.
There is plenty of competition in the Wallabies’ loose forwards, and this time around, Hooper just misses out on the squad but is another who is bound to be in the mix at some stage this year.
Nic White
It was bound to happen that the experienced scrum-half would start to fall down the pecking order, and perhaps this is just the beginning of what is to come.
Nic White can still provide plenty of value to the Wallabies squad and has not earned his last Test cap yet as Schmidt gives Gordon and Tate McDermott the chance to shine as the pair are likely to still be in the mix come the 2027 World Cup.
Len Ikitau
A cruel injury before the 2023 Rugby World Cup ended Len Ikitau’s hopes of representing his country in France.
The classy Brumbies centre was in outstanding form at the time and was a key cog in the backline both on attack and defence.
This time around, it is yet another injury that denies him the chance of pulling on the Wallabies jumper as he sustained a hamstring issue that sees him miss at least the opening Test match.