Seven Wallabies that missed out as Jones wields RWC axe

Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones has swung the axe. He’s excluded Michael Hooper, Australia’s longstanding captain, from the 33-player World Cup squad and included a host of other shocks in his 33-man squad.

Hooper, the Wallabies’ fourth-most capped player with 125 appearances, was sidelined due to a calf injury sustained during training, causing him to miss the team’s last three Tests.

Will Skelton is designated as the captain by former England boss Jones. The squad features 25 World Cup debutants, with uncapped players Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Jorgensen, and Blake Schoupp being included.

Has Eddie lost it, or is it a stroke of genius?

“It’s a young squad, it’s an exciting squad and it will be a successful squad,” Jones, whose side are in Pool C alongside Wales, said in a press release. 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.

“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.

“I’ve backed the young blokes because they earned it. Simple as that. I haven’t handed it to them. They grabbed it.”

Here are seven Wallabies who have missed the cut for the Rugby World Cup and a list of other veterans that have been dumped in recent months.

Michael Hooper 
Maybe the biggest selection shock of the Rugby World Cup, the decorated Australian veteran has sensationally been axed from the squad despite being maybe the most influential Wallaby of the past decade. Was recovering from an ankle injury but the news still comes as a major shock, not least as Jones has selected 18-year-old Max Jorgensen in the back row.

Quade Cooper
Another Wallaby veteran who you would have bet your house would be heading to France. The 35-year-old has been a go-to for Jones since he returned to Australia but has been sacked off in favour of young talents like Carter Gordon, who is the only flyhalf listed in the squad. Ben Donaldson can play 10 and is listed as utility, although he’s only won 1 cap to date.

Jed Holloway
The big back rower who can cover lock was another selection call many didn’t see coming, not least since he featured for the Wallabies across the Rugby Championship.

Len Ikitau 
The young centre who was nursing a shoulder injury has also been cut from the squad. He misses out to a settled midfield department of Lalakai Foketi, Samu Kerevi, Izaia Perese and Jordan Petaia.

Ryan Lonergan
Another surprise omission, the 25-year-old Brumbies halfback has lost out to Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, an uncapped 27-year-old from the Western Force.

Pete Samu
Already deemed surplus to requirements after he featured against the Springboks in the opening round of the Rugby Championship, flanker Samu was another experienced operator who Jones has eschewed in favour of younger talents.

Matt Gibbon
Despite featuring against Boks from the bench in Pretoria, the prop wasn’t able to crack the World Cup squad.

OTHER WALLABIES THAT HAVE FACED THE CHOP UNDER JONES:

Ned Hanigan
The 28-year-old back row who can cover lock was unable to make a case for his inclusion despite being part of the wider training squad.

Darcy Swain
Although his discipline has been questionable, Swain was seen by some as leading the next generation of Australian locks. Jones clearly wasn’t a fan and Swain hasn’t seen time on the field despite being named in a training camp earlier this year.

Reece Hodge
Perennially in and out of Wallabies squads over the years, jack-of-all-trades Hodge didn’t make the plane despite being able to cover most of the backline and having a boot on him that’s the envy of most kickers.

Tom Wright
A shock cut from last month, Wright had been a form Wallaby in recent years but Eddie cut him to the surprise of many during the Rugby Championship.

James O’Connor 
Very much part of the Wallabies’ old guard, O’Connor never really got a look under Jones.