Waratahs feature strongly in first Wallabies squad of 2022

Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 1:45 AM
Waratahs Media
by Waratahs Media

The NSW Waratahs are well represented in Wallabies coach Dave Rennie’s first squad of 2022, with a total of ten players selected in the 40-man squad which will assemble on the Gold Coast in early April.

There are eight uncapped players in the group, including Waratahs flyhalf Ben Donaldson and Reds fullback Jock Campbell.

Recently returned NSW Waratah Jed Holloway and Western Force speedster Toni Pulu have been called into the national fold for the first time under Dave Rennie, with the latter being coached by Rennie while at the Chiefs.

Brumbies lock Cadeyrn Neville and Waratahs hooker David Porecki return to the group after missing the 2021 Test season through injury and will have another chance to push their case in front of the national coaches in two weeks’ time.

Brumbies duo Nick Frost and Ryan Lonergan are the other two uncapped players, both having spent considerable time in the Wallabies environment in 2021.

After a strong start to the Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific season, Waratahs prop Harry Johnson-Holmes has forced his way back into the squad after missing out last season.

The mostly settled squad from last year will come together from April 3 with an average of 20-Test caps per player and an average age of 26.

The squad is comprised of 15 Brumbies, 10 Waratahs, eight Queensland Reds, four Melbourne Rebels and three from the Western Force.

The three-day camp will be used to prepare the side both on-and-off the field ahead of the International season, which is scheduled to kick off in the July Test window.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “The nucleus of this squad has performed well for us over the past couple of years and there are others selected based on strong form and potential.”

“Over the past two seasons we’ve built a foundation we can propel our game from, but we know we have a lot more in us.

“We’ll use this camp to ensure players head back to Super Rugby clear on their point of difference and the parts of their game that need to be better to put pressure on us to select them for the 2022 Test season.”

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Squad summary Total Test caps: 783 Average Test caps: 20 Average age: 26 Uncapped players: 8 Most capped: Michael Hooper (118 Tests) Youngest member: Angus Bell, 21 Oldest members: Cadeyrn Neville, Toni Pulu, 33 Breakdown: Brumbies 15, NSW Waratahs 10, Queensland Reds 8, Melbourne Rebels 4, Western Force 3

Wallabies camp squad (age, team, Tests played) Allan Alaalatoa (28, Brumbies, 53 Tests) Tom Banks (27, Brumbies, 19 Tests) Angus Bell (21, NSW Waratahs, 16 Tests) Jock Campbell (26, Queensland Reds, uncapped) Ben Donaldson (22, NSW Waratahs, uncapped) Folau Fainga'a (26, Brumbies, 25 Tests) Lalakai Foketi (27, NSW Waratahs, 1 Test) Nick Frost (22, Brumbies, uncapped) Jake Gordon (28, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests) Reece Hodge (27, Melbourne Rebels, 54 Tests) Michael Hooper (30, NSW Waratahs, 118 Tests) Jed Holloway (29, NSW Waratahs, uncapped) Len Ikitau (23, Brumbies, 13 Tests) Harry Johnson-Holmes (25, NSW Waratahs, 1 Test) Feleti Kaitu’u (27, Western Force, 3 Tests) Andrew Kellaway (26, Melbourne Rebels, 13 Tests) Rob Leota (25, Melbourne Rebels, 6 Tests) Noah Lolesio (22, Brumbies, 9 Tests) Lachlan Lonergan (22, Brumbies, 4 Tests) Ryan Lonergan (23, Brumbies, uncapped) Tate McDermott (23, Queensland Reds, 15 Tests) Fraser McReight (23, Queensland Reds, 2 Tests) Cadeyrn Neville (33, Brumbies, uncapped) James O’Connor (31, Queensland Reds, 61 Tests) Hunter Paisami (23, Queensland Reds, 15 Tests) Izaia Perese (24, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests) Jordan Petaia (22, Queensland Reds, 16 Tests) Matt Philip (28, Melbourne Rebels, 20 Tests) David Porecki (29, NSW Waratahs, uncapped) Toni Pulu (33, Western Force, uncapped) Izack Rodda (25, Western Force, 34 Tests) Pete Samu (30, Brumbies, 19 Tests) James Slipper (32, Brumbies, 114 Tests) Darcy Swain (24, Brumbies, 10 Tests) Lachlan Swinton (25, NSW Waratahs, 7 Tests) Taniela Tupou (25, Queensland Reds, 38 Tests) Rob Valetini (23, Brumbies, 18 Tests) Nic White (31, Brumbies, 47 Tests) Harry Wilson (22, Queensland Reds, 10 Tests) Tom Wright (24, Brumbies, 10 Tests)

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