Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has confirmed a 36-man squad that will tour Argentina for the opening two matches of the 2022 eToro Rugby Championship.
Rennie has brought in a number of fresh faces who missed the England Series, with Australia A representatives Jock Campbell, Matt Gibbon, Lalakai Foketi and Fraser McReight all called upon following strong performances in the Pacific Nations Cup in Fiji.
Reds fullback Campbell and Melbourne prop Gibbon are two of four uncapped players in the group, with Rebels powerhouse Pone Fa’amausili and Waratahs versatile forward Jed Holloway also in contention for their first Tests on the tour.
Overseas-based lock Rory Arnold re-joins the group for the first time in 2022 after three starts on last year’s Spring Tour, while two-Test inside centre Irae Simone is also back in the national frame after a standout Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the Brumbies.
The balance of the squad is made up of those who were involved in the eToro England Series, with the group to play Los Pumas on the 6th and 13th of August (local time) in Mendoza and San Juan respectively.
The squad will assemble on the Gold Coast on Tuesday before travelling to Argentina on Friday.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “We were massively disappointed on the weekend 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.”
“To be able to pick guys who have performed well in the Australia A program against quality International opposition is a massive positive and we’re looking
forward to welcoming them to the mob next week.
“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.”
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Squad summary
Total Test caps: 962 Average Test caps: 27 Average age: 27
Uncapped players: 4 (Jock Campbell, Matt Gibbon, Pone Fa’amausili, Jed Holloway)
Most capped: Michael Hooper (121 Tests) Youngest member: Jordan Petaia, 22
Oldest member: Quade Cooper, 34
Breakdown: Brumbies 14, Queensland Reds 9, NSW Waratahs 5, Melbourne Rebels 5, Overseas clubs 3
Wallabies squad to tour Argentina (age, team, Tests played)
Allan Alaalatoa (28, Brumbies, 55 Tests)
Rory Arnold (32, TBC, 29 Tests)
Jock Campbell (27, Queensland Reds, uncapped)
Quade Cooper (34, Kintetsu Liners, 75 Tests)
Pone Fa’amausili (25, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)
Folau Fainga’a (27, Brumbies, 28 Tests)
Lalakai Foketi (27, NSW Waratahs, 1 Test)
Nick Frost (22, Brumbies, 2 Tests)
Matt Gibbon (27, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)
Jake Gordon (29, NSW Waratahs, 12 Tests)
Reece Hodge (27, Melbourne Rebels, 55 Tests)
Michael Hooper (c) (30, NSW Waratahs, 121 Tests)
Jed Holloway (29, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)
Len Ikitau (23, Brumbies, 15 Tests)
Marika Koroibete (29, Saitama Wild Knights, 45 Tests)
Rob Leota (25, Melbourne Rebels, 9 Tests)
Noah Lolesio (22, Brumbies, 12 Tests)
Lachlan Lonergan (22, Brumbies, 4 Tests)
Tate McDermott (23, Queensland Reds, 16 Tests)
Fraser McReight (23, Queensland Reds, 2 Tests)
James O’Connor (32, Queensland Reds, 63 Tests)
Hunter Paisami (24, Queensland Reds, 17 Tests)
Jordan Petaia (22, Queensland Reds, 18 Tests)
Matt Philip (28, Melbourne Rebels, 23 Tests)
David Porecki (29, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)
Pete Samu (30, Brumbies, 22 Tests)
Irae Simone (27, Brumbies, 2 Tests)
Scott Sio (30, Brumbies, 70 Tests)
James Slipper (33, Brumbies, 117 Tests)
Darcy Swain (25, Brumbies, 11 Tests)
Taniela Tupou (26, Queensland Reds, 40 Tests)
Rob Valetini (23, Brumbies, 21 Tests)
Suliasi Vunivalu (26, Queensland Reds, 1 Test)
Nic White (32, Brumbies, 50 Tests)
Harry Wilson (22, Queensland Reds, 11 Tests)
Tom Wright (24, Brumbies, 12 Tests)
2022 eToro Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Fixtures
Wallabies v Argentina, Sunday 7 August, 5:10am AEST at Estadio Malvinas, Mendoza
Wallabies v Argentina, Sunday 13 August, 5:10am AEST at Estadio del Bicentenario, San Juan
Wallabies v South Africa, Saturday 27 August, 3:00pm ACST at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Wallabies v South Africa, Saturday 3 September, 7:30pm AEST at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v New Zealand, Thursday 15 September, 7:45pm AEST at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Wallabies v New Zealand, Saturday 24 September, 5:05pm AEST at Eden Park,
Auckland
