New Wallabies era opens door for new wave of Super Rugby Pacific hopefuls

In a World Cup year, the coaches of Australia’s five provinces are as much on notice as the players

The first wave of final auditions for the Wallabies 2023 World Cup squad is about to begin, as Super Rugby Pacific kicks off on Friday with the ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs. With Australia seventh in the world rugby rankings, there’s plenty to do and not much time to do it - there is little more than six months until the first pool game in France on 8 September.

Already, new Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has likened the task to “a smash-and-grab job”. Luckily, Rugby Australia has hired the wiliest thief in the game: a man with an 82% win-rate at four World Cups, and a general who will stop at nothing to win the Webb Ellis Cup.