Dissecting Joe Schmidt’s surprising Wallabies selections

Joe Schmidt has finally unveiled his first-ever Wallabies squad and it has not come without some surprises, but considering the circumstances most of them make sense.

21 forwards, 17 backs, and 12 uncapped players named along with Alex Hodgman who is a four Test All Black and could become just the fourth player ever to represent both Australia and New Zealand; these are Schmidt’s Wallabies for the July Tests.

Schmidt has made it abundantly clear; people who are not committed to rugby in Australia will not be selected for the July Tests and he has kept his word.

The number of uncapped players announced is less shocking considering how many experienced players are heading overseas or rugby league, Schmidt has had to take a punt on the untested.

The 38 players have been announced along with seven players who are listed as ‘recovering from injury’ and Corey Toole who has been asked to help the mens’ Sevens team at the Paris Olympics.

Recovering from injury: Angus Bell, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Max Jorgensen, Rob Leota, Lachlan Lonergan, David Porecki, Blake Schoupp

Australia Sevens: Corey Toole

Seemingly, these eight players would’ve been firmly in the selection mix had it not been for injury, making selections for Schmidt and his team even harder.

“The coaching group has looked hard at on-field performances and had ongoing discussions with Super Rugby coaches. We’ve combined the observations we’ve made, with some candid discussion and feel that we have some very good players to start working with, while also acknowledging that there are some good players who have missed selection,” Schmidt said.

“We have a short runway into our first Test, so we’re just keen to get to work and make as much progress as we can over the four days we have in Brisbane.”

Some of those “good players who have missed selection” appear to be the likes of Western Force-bound lock Darcy Swain and Brumby halfback Ryan Lonergan.

While both players enjoyed solid seasons, it was not a year of consistency for the pair. While some have been left out, others have jumped into the Wallabies fray, seemingly without notice.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of injuries, and overseas exits is perhaps Queensland Reds’ lock Angus Blyth who has three starts and two bench appearances for a total of 230 minutes played in 2024.

At first glance it appears at odds with Schmidt’s mantra about being consistent but with Wallaby lock Izack Rodda departing for France, perhaps Schmidt sees good, mouldable raw qualities in Blyth.

There are not many locks in Australia who stand at 205cm, and the 26-year-old is coming into the right age bracket for a Test-level lock, so this selection may be more on potential than anything else.

Another player who can count themselves fortunate is Waratahs’ wrecking ball Langi Gleeson, who has had a mediocre season.

Gleeson’s potential is evident for all to see, his acceleration and bulk are unique in Australia but his ball-handling skills in 2024 have been dreadful.

A question mark also remains around the youngster’s fitness but that can always be improved, so for now, Gleeson appears to sneak in on promise.

The tight-five is where the Wallabies’ depth will be thinnest for this July window where they will face Wales and Georgia.

Lacking the most experience is the hooking stocks with all three having less than 10 caps amongst them.

Matt Faessler has the most caps and has been in good form all year for the Reds while his clubman Josh Nasser benefits from Melbourne Rebels’ and Wallaby rake Jordan Uelese deciding to head to France.

Nasser, as well as Billy Pollard, have both had good seasons with decent lineout and scrummaging performances, but there’s no hiding they are extremely inexperienced.

Rebels’ youngster Isaac Kailea has rocketed into the Wallabies squad out of nowhere, seemingly leapfrogging his Melbourne teammate and capped Wallaby Matt Gibbon, to secure a spot in Schmidt’s group.

Despite being very young for a Test-level loosehead prop, his strength in the scrum and in the carry has been impressive, but his raw bulk may have him well positioned to assist the securing of the Wallabies scrum.

Fellow club young-gun Josh Canham however was not selected which left many people across the Australian rugby ecosystem scratching their head.

The young lock has many great qualities; size, athleticism, speed, vision and a little bit of mongrel about him.

Despite this promise, the 23-year-old is only just now finding his feet in Super Rugby Pacific, going head-to-head with Test-locks like Scott Barrett, Eben Etzebeth or Tommas Lavenini is a different ballgame altogether.

Another youngster which many fans would’ve loved to see in gold was the ‘Junkyard Dog’ Tim Ryan, but Schmidt tempered those calls, methodically explaining that Ryan was not ready yet for Test-match rugby.

“One of the things you’ve got to be just a little bit wary of is to be tempted by the excitement of a young kid who plays really well. And then the reality of a readiness to play at that level and the sort of players that he’s going to come up against,” Schmidt said.

While there was no shortage of bolters in the forwards, perhaps the one which stood out the most in the backline was Rebels’ centre David Feliuai, known as the ‘Romanian Rumbler’.

The omission of Lalakai Foketi saw the need to bring in a specialist inside centre in case injury struck the inform and apparent front runner; Hunter Paisami.

Feliuai’s physicality reportedly caught Schmidt’s eye and at 95kg, 185cm, with good acceleration, could act as a good foil for any of the young flyhalves.

Inexperience is rife throughout the squad and the crucial position of five-eighth is no exception.

The most experienced of the three selected playmakers is 24-year-old Noah Lolesio, who has 17 Wallabies caps to his name.

Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh, son of Wallaby great Michael Lynagh, are the other playmakers who have been picked alongside Test veteran and utility back Kurtley Beale.

Beale’s inclusion shocked many but after considering the roster’s inexperience, his inclusion is logical.

Wing is another position where uncapped players reigned supreme; Sevens flyer Darby Lancaster has snagged himself a spot as well as power winger Dylan Pietsch.

Schmidt has been impressed by Lancaster’s speed and defence and Pietsch is a very similar player who also runs great lines in attack.

A final note goes to addressing the selection of Western Force’s captain Jeremy Williams and stalwart inside centre Hamish Stewart.

Williams has played predominantly lock for the Perth-based side, but at 195cm and 111kg, he is small for a Test lock, seeing how he fits into a gameday 23, and who he is competing with for a matchday spot will be fascinating.

Stewart’s reliability, maturity as well as impressive defensive numbers are hard to ignore, but a similar question haunts him; is he robust enough for the Test arena?

JOHN FERGUSON’S WALLABIES TEAM TO BEAT WALES ON JULY 6:

1. James Slipper

2. Matt Faessler

3. Allan Alaalatoa (C)

4. Ryan Smith*

5. Lukhan Salakai-Loto

6. Liam Wright

7. Fraser McReight

8. Rob Valetini

9. Jake Gordon

10. Noah Lolesio

11. Dylan Pietsch

12. Hunter Paisami

13. Len Ikitau

14. Andrew Kellaway

15. Tom Wright

Reserves

16. Josh Nasser*

17. Alex Hodgman**

18. Taniela Tupou

19. Nick Frost

20. Charlie Cale*

21. Tate McDermott

22. Hamish Stewart*

23. Ben Donaldson

*Denotes uncapped

**Denotes Wallabies uncapped

Four uncapped in the 23.

8 Queensland Reds

8 ACT Brumbies

3 Melbourne Rebels

2 Western Force

2 NSW Waratahs