Australia Rugby Championship Squad 2022

Who has Dave Rennie selected for this week's match?

Cadeyrn Neville has been recalled to the starting XV (Getty Images)

Australia Rugby Championship Squad 2022

Dave Rennie has made two changes to his starting line-up for Australia’s final Rugby Championship of the year against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday.

Cadeyrn Neville comes into the second row in place of Matt Philip and Harry Wilson starts in a rejigged back row, with Rob Valentini moved to blindside, after Rob Leota was injured in last week’s match against the All Blacks.

That match in Melbourne was full of drama, with the Wallabies leading with less than a minute to go only to be penalised for time-wasting and the All Blacks to score from the resulting scrum.

Australia can still lift the Rugby Championship trophy, but they would need a bonus-point win at Eden Park, with the All Blacks not picking up a bonus point, as well as Argentina to beat South Africa and deny the Boks a losing bonus point. If they win on Saturday, they will be the first Wallabies team to win in Auckland since 1986.

“The side parked the disappointment of the last Test early in the week and we have plenty to play for in Auckland on Saturday night,” said Rennie.

“New Zealand supporters have an expectation that the All Blacks win at Eden Park and we’re excited to get another crack at them at their spiritual home.”

Australia team to play New Zealand – Saturday 24 September

Andrew Kellaway; Tom Wright, Len Ikitau, Lalakai Foketi, Marika Koroibete; Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon; James Slipper (captain), David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Jed Holloway, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Pete Samu, Harry Wilson.

Replacements: Folau Fainga’a, Angus Bell, Pone Fa’amausili, Nick Frost, Fraser McReight, Nic White, Reece Hodge, Jordan Petaia.

Australia team to play New Zealand – Thursday 15 September

Replacements: Folau Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Pone Fa’amausili, Darcy Swain, Fraser McReight, Nic White, Reece Hodge, Jordan Petaia.

Australia team to play South Africa – Saturday 3 September

Reece Hodge; Tom Wright, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Marika Koroibete; Noah Lolesio, Nic White; James Slipper (captain), Folau Fainga’a, Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Matt Philip, Jed Holloway, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini.

Replacements: David Porecki, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Darcy Swain, Rob Leota, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Andrew Kellaway.

Australia team to play South Africa – Saturday 27 August

Replacements: David Porecki, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Darcy Swain, Rob Leota, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, Andrew Kellaway.

Australia team to play Argentina – Saturday 13 August

Tom Wright; Jordan Petaia, Len Ikitau, Lalakai Foketi, Marika Koroibete; James O’Connor, Nic White; James Slipper (captain), Folau Fainga’a, Taniela Tupou, Rory Arnold, Darcy Swain, Jed Holloway, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini.

Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Matt Gibbon, Pone Fa’amausili, Nick Frost, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, Irae Simone Reece Hodge.

Australia team to play Argentina – Saturday 6 August

Tom Wright; Jordan Petaia, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Marika Koroibete; Quade Cooper, Nic White; James Slipper (captain), Folau Fainga’a, Allan Alaalatoa, Darcy Swain, Matt Philip, Jed Holloway, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini.

Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Matt Gibbon, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Rob Leota, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Reece Hodge.

Michael Hooper withdraws from Australia squad

Michael Hooper has withdrawn from the Wallabies team to face Argentina in the opening round of the Rugby Championship and is returning to Australia.

The long-time Wallabies captain said he was not in the right “mindset” at present to lead the team and represent his country.

Hooper said: “While this decision did not come easily I know it is the right one for me and the team at this point in time.

“My whole career I’ve looked to put the team first and I don’t feel I am able to fulfill my responsibilities at the moment in my current mindset.”

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie added: “Michael’s one of the most professional and impressive men I’ve coached I know this has been a difficult decision for him.

“He’s shown true courage by acknowledging where he is at and acting on it. We will support him in any way we can.”

There are four uncapped players in Australia’s 36-player squad for the opening Rugby Championship games against the Pumas in Argentina in early August.

Dave Rennie has selected Reds full-back Jock Campbell, versatile Waratahs forward Jed Holloway, and Rebels props Matt Gibbon and Pone Fa’amausili.

Lock Rory Arnold also comes into the Wallabies squad for the first time this year as one of the three overseas-based player picks permitted, with Quade Cooper and Marika Koroibete the others. But they are without the likes of Cadeyrn Neville, Andrew Kellaway and Izaia Perese due to injury.

The Wallabies go into the back-to-back Tests against the Pumas – now coached by former Australia coach Michael Cheika – on the back of a 2-1 series defeat by England.

Rennie said: “We were massively disappointed but we’re only three matches into a 14-Test season so we need to take the lessons on board quickly and learn from them.

“We’re well aware of how tough the challenge is of playing Argentina two weeks in a row on their home soil and they’ll be full of confidence after their series win over Scotland.”

(age, team)

Forwards

Allan Alaalatoa (28, Brumbies)

Rory Arnold (32, TBC)

Pone Fa’amausili (25, Melbourne Rebels)

Folau Fainga’a (27, Brumbies)

Nick Frost (22, Brumbies)

Matt Gibbon (27, Melbourne Rebels)

Michael Hooper (captain, 30, NSW Waratahs)

Jed Holloway (29, NSW Waratahs)

Rob Leota (25, Melbourne Rebels)

Lachlan Lonergan (22, Brumbies)

Fraser McReight (23, Queensland Reds)

Matt Philip (28, Melbourne Rebels)

David Porecki (29, NSW Waratahs)

Pete Samu (30, Brumbies)

Scott Sio (30, Brumbies)

James Slipper (33, Brumbies)

Darcy Swain (25, Brumbies)

Taniela Tupou (26, Queensland Reds)

Rob Valetini (23, Brumbies)

Harry Wilson (22, Queensland Reds)

Backs

Jock Campbell (27, Queensland Reds)

Quade Cooper (34, Kintetsu Liners)

Lalakai Foketi (27, NSW Waratahs)

Jake Gordon (29, NSW Waratahs)

Reece Hodge (27, Melbourne Rebels)

Len Ikitau (23, Brumbies)

Marika Koroibete (29, Saitama Wild Knights)

Noah Lolesio (22, Brumbies)

Tate McDermott (23, Queensland Reds)

James O’Connor (32, Queensland Reds)

Hunter Paisami (24, Queensland Reds)

Jordan Petaia (22, Queensland Reds)

Irae Simone (27, Brumbies)

Suliasi Vunivalu (26, Queensland Reds)

Nic White (32, Brumbies)

Tom Wright (24, Brumbies)

Australia Rugby Championship Fixtures 2022

Sat 6 Aug Argentina 26-41 Australia

Sat 13 Aug Argentina 48-17 Australia

Sat 27 Aug Australia 25-17 South Africa

Sat 3 Sep Australia 8-24 South Africa

Thu 15 Sep Australia 37-39 New Zealand

Sat 24 Aug New Zealand v Australia (8.05am, Eden Park, Auckland) Live on Sky Sports

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