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Beale and 13 new faces in Wallabies squad – but no NRL-bound stars
By Iain Payten
A former All Black, 35-year-old Kurtley Beale and 13 uncapped rising stars – but no NRL-bound players – are the features of Joe Schmidt’s first Wallabies squad, named ahead of Tests against Wales and Georgia in July.
The new Wallabies coach unveiled a 38-man squad on Friday and on inclusions and exclusions, there were no shortage of storylines.
In a squad that contains only 14 from the 33-man touring party Eddie Jones took to last year’s Rugby World Cup, Schmidt rewarded 13 uncapped stars for their form in Super Rugby: Tom Lynagh, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Angus Blyth, Charlie Cale, Alex Hodgman, Isaac Kailea, Ryan Smith, Jeremy Williams, David Feliuai, Billy Pollard and Darby Lancaster.
Hodgman played four Tests for the All Blacks in 2020 but switched to Queensland this season and is eligible for Australia.
Elsewhere, Beale returns to the Wallabies squad for the first time since 2021, while there were also recalls for Reds back-rowers Liam Wright and Harry Wilson, Brumbies backs Noah Lolesio and Tom Wright, Rebels lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and NSW halfback Jake Gordon.
As forecast, NRL-bound stars Carter Gordon and Mark Nawaqanitawase were omitted, and Schmidt also did not consider overseas-based players.
Some of the more interesting omissions included Jordan Petaia and Jordan Uelese, with question marks around both players’ futures, and the likes of players Josh Canham, Seru Uru and Ryan Lonergan and Darcy Swain, who were overlooked on form by Schmidt.
Along with Uelese, World Cup squad members Lakakai Foketi, Pone Fa’aumasili, Suliasi Vunivalu, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and England-bound Izzy Perese also missed the cut.
Flying Brumbies winger Corey Toole was left out and will be sent to the Australian sevens team for their Olympic Games campaign in Paris.
“There were some very tight selection calls, as there always are when selecting a national team,” Schmidt, who will explain his squad to media on Friday, said in a statement.
Kurtley Beale on the attack for the Force.Credit: Getty
“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.
“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.”
The squad will assemble in Brisbane on Sunday for a four-day camp as they begin preparations for their first Test of 2024 against Wales in Sydney on July 6.
More to come
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