Veteran flanker Michael Hooper and Brumbies prop James Slipper are set to lead Australia in the Rugby World Cup after being named as co-captains by Eddie Jones for the Rugby Championship.
Jones has selected five overseas-based players in his Rugby Championship squad – more than the three usually permitted by Rugby Australia – with potential debutant Richie Arnold joining Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Will Skelton and Quade Cooper.
There’s no room for five-eighth Bernard Foley, with Jones instead opting for Melbourne starlet Carter Gordon and outside back utilities Ben Donaldson and Reece Hodge.
Hooper, who boasts Australia’s most caps as skipper, didn’t captain the side on his return late last year after a three-month mental health break.
He’ll now team with the man who filled in for him in Slipper, the duo sharing a combined 251 Wallabies caps.
Jones has picked eight uncapped players for the squad to face South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina, the biggest bolter being Brumbies lock Tom Hooper, who enjoyed an impressive end to the Super Rugby Pacific season on return from a foot injury.
Queensland duo Matt Faessler and Zane Nonggorr, NSW flyer Dylan Pietsch and Melbourne utility Josh Kemeny are also in line for their first caps along with Ryan Lonergan, Gordon and Arnold.
Tate McDermott has been recalled after Jones left him out of his April training camp squad, joining Lonergan and Nic White as the halfbacks.
ACT five-eighth Noah Lolesio has again been overlooked, the 12-cap youngster not in Jones’ plans with the coach preferring Gordon and Cooper as his key playmakers.
Jones said Slipper and Hooper were the perfect players to lead the side on a “smash and grab mission” to pinch the World Cup later this year.
“Michael and James are both world-class players, strong leaders and embody what it means to be a Wallaby,” he said.
“They have worked hard with the leadership group since January, and it will be important they continue to have strong support from the players around them.
“Getting selected in the squad is just the start, we’ve got to build the team now and that will require hard work and getting a little bit more out of everyone involved.”
The squad will meet on the Gold Coast on Sunday, with their first match in less than two weeks against the Springboks in Pretoria on July 8.
A rehabilitation group includes Waratahs hulk Angus Bell, Rebels fullback Andrew Kellaway and Queensland prospect Jordan Petaia.
Four players were listed as not being considered for selection due to injury, including NSW young gun Max Jorgensen and ACT speedster Corey Toole.
A train-on squad includes some of the more notable omissions in Foley, Queensland utility back James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami, Jake Gordon and Lachie Lonergan.
WALLABIES SQUAD
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Richie Arnold, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Matt Gibbon, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper, Tom Hooper, Rob Leota, Fraser McReight, Zane Nonggorr, David Porecki,Pete Samu, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Jordan Uelese, Rob Valetini. Backs: Quade Cooper, Lalakai Foketi, Carter Gordon, Reece Hodge, Len Ikitau, Marika Koroibete, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Izaia Perese, Suliasi Vunivalu, Nic White, Tom Wright, Ben Donaldson, Josh Kemeny, Dylan Pietsch.
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
