Rugby Championship -9 Days out-Breaking down the squads

Rugby Championship -9 Days out-Breaking down the squads

The Rugby Championship is only nine days away. Every team has named their squad ahead of the tournament. Australia who ended last years tournament with the wooden spoon, will look to better their chances this year. Argentina on the other hand will look to shock the world by placing higher than their third place finish last year, and perhaps go all the.

All eyes will be on the All Blacks and Springboks no doubt, the latter of whom are defending and champions. New Zealand will be looking to retain the trophy under new head coach Soctt Robertson. Meanwhile South Africa will be looking to make it two trophies in the space of 12 months after finishing second in last years competition. 

Join us as we take a look at how each individual sqaud is looking ahead of the 2024 Rugby Championship

Australia

In the Wallaebies camp, Paris Olympian Corey Toole and West Australian junior Carlo Tizzano make up two of six uncapped players in the squad, which is comprised of 19 forwards and 17 backs.


Two-time John Eales Medallist Marika Koroibete has been selected in the group, with his 2023 Rugby World Cup teammates Angus Bell and Max Jorgensen also named in the national set up for the first time this year, as they continue their comebacks from injury.

Queensland’s Seru Uru and ACT Brumbies’ Luke Reimer join Tizzano and Bell as additions to the forwards from the July Tests, with Reds teammates Fraser McReight and Liam Wright ruled out with injury.


Wallabies squad (Wallaby number, first Australian Rugby club)
 
Forwards (19)

Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors), Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club), Angus Blyth (#974, Casuarina Beach Rugby Club), Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints), Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions), Tom Hooper (#964, Bathurst Bulldogs), Isaac Kailea (#975, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club), Josh Nasser (#979, Easts Rugby (Brisbane)), Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles), Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club), Luke Reimer (uncapped, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick), James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates), Carlo Tizzano (uncapped, University of Western Australia), Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby), Seru Uru (uncapped, Wests Rugby Club), Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club), Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers), Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils)

Backs (17)

Filipo Daugunu (#931, Wests Rugby Club), Ben Donaldson (#962, Clovelly Eagles), Josh Flook (#972, Brothers Rugby), Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors), Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings), Max Jorgensen (uncapped, Balmain Wolves), Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club), Marika Koroibete (#913, Nasinu Secondary School, Fiji*), Noah Lolesio (#934, Tuggeranong Vikings), Tom Lynagh (#977, University of Queensland), Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club), Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club), Dylan Pietsch (#978, Leeton Phantoms), Hamish Stewart (uncapped, Toowoomba Bears), Corey Toole (uncapped, Wagga Waratahs), Nic White (#875, Maitland Blacks), Tom Wright (#939, Clovelly Eagles)

Unavailable for selection

Kurtley Beale, Langi Gleeson, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Bayley Kuenzle, Rob Leota, Lachlan Lonergan, Fraser McReight, David Porecki, Blake Schoupp, Liam Wright

Argentina

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi announced his squad of 31 players that will feature six returning players along with a debutant to the national team: Lucio Cinti, Agustín Creevy, Juan Martín González, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Cruz Mallía and Joel Sclavi will return to the team after his participation in the 2023 World Cup in France, while Efraín Elías, captain of Los Pumitas in the recent World Cup of the category, will have his first experience with Los Pumas.

Los Pumas squad for the Rugby Championship 

On the other hand, Jerónimo de la Fuente, a player from Rosario who recently reached 80 caps with Los Pumas, will not participate in the 2024 Rugby Championship for personal reasons.

1. BATHROOM, Thomas (8 caps), 2. BAZAN VELEZ , Lautaro (15 caps), 3. BELLO , Eduardo (24 caps) 4. BERTRANOU , Gonzalo (60 caps) 5. BOGADO, Martin (4 caps), 6. RACES , Matthew (20 caps), 7. RACES , Santiago (45 caps), 8. CHOCOBARES , Santiago (21 caps), 9. CINTI , Lucio (23 caps), 10. LAMB, Santiago (52 caps), 11. CREEVY , Agustin (108 caps), 12. DELGUY, Bautista (27 caps), 13. ELIAS, Ephraim (Without caps), 14. GALLO, Thomas (26 caps), 15. GARCÍA , Gonzalo (4 caps), 16. GONZALEZ, Juan Martin (31 caps), 17. KREMER , Marcos (67 caps), 18. LAVANINI , Tomás (86 caps), 19. MALLÍA , Juan Cruz (33 caps), 20. MATERA , Pablo (101 caps), 21. MOLINA , Franco (3 caps), 22. MONTOYA , Julian (97 caps), 23. MORONI , Matías (82 caps), 24. ORLANDO , Matías (61 caps), 25. OVIEDO , Joaquín (5 caps), 26. PEDEMONTE , Baptist (1 chapter), 27. RUBIOLO , Pedro (12 caps), 28. RUIZ , Ignacio (10 caps), 29. SCLAVI , Joel (18 caps), 30. SORDONI , Lucio (7 caps), 31. VIVAS , Mayco (24 caps)

South Africa

The Springboks have a named a sqaud boasting with experience, and a good balance of young blood ahead of The Rugby Championship.

22 of the 33 players are Rugby World Cup-winners, while five 2024 debutants are included in the squad in Jan-Hendrik Wessels (utility forward), Johan Grobbelaar (hooker), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (utility back), Ben-Jason Dixon (utility forward) and Morne van den Berg (scrumhalf).

Ruan Nortje is the only newcomer having made his Springbok debut against Wales in 2022 and represented the SA ‘A’ side in November that year. All the other players featured in the team’s opening four Tests of the season against Wales at Twickenham or during the Castle Lager Incoming Series.

Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship (in alphabetical order):

Forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).

Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

New Zealand

Uncapped Hurricanes and Wellington back Ruben Love and 95 Test loose forward Sam Cane highlight the youth and experience that features in the All Blacks 36-strong Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship squad named for six Tests against Argentina, South Africa and Australia. Darry is the fourth lock in the squad alongside Captain Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaai’i and Patrick Tuipulotu, who remained in New Zealand for a rest week while the team travelled to San Diego. Chiefs and Taranaki lock Josh Lord has been named as injury cover for Scott Barrett, who is being monitored after suffering a finger injury against Fiji and having surgery after returning to New Zealand.

The defending Champions New Zealand announced earlier today that they will be releasing 12 players. The players will return to their provinces for the upcoming National Provincial Championship (NPC).


All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship (age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps)* denotes new cap

Forwards (20)

Hookers
Asafo Aumua (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 9)
Codie Taylor (33 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 87)
George Bell (22 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 1)

Props                                                                                                                                       
Ethan De Groot (26 / Highlanders / Southland / 25)
Tyrel Lomax (28 / Hurricanes / Tasman / 34)
Fletcher Newell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 16)
Pasilio Tosi (26 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 1)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (32 / Blues / Northland / 59)
Tamaiti Williams (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 8)

Locks
Scott Barrett (30 / Crusaders / Taranaki / 72) (Captain)
Tupou Vaa’i (24 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 28)
Patrick Tuipulotu (31 / Blues / Auckland / 45)
Sam Darry (24 / Blues / Canterbury / 1)

Loose Forwards
Ethan Blackadder (29 / Crusaders / Tasman / 11)
Sam Cane (32 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 95)
Samipeni Finau (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 3)
Luke Jacobson (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 21)
Dalton Papali’i (26 / Blues / Counties Manukau / 34)
Ardie Savea (30 / Moana Pasifika / Wellington / 84) (Vice Captain)
Wallace Sititi (21 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 1)


Backs (16)

Halfbacks
Noah Hotham (21 / Crusaders / Tasman / 1)
TJ Perenara (32 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 81)
Cortez Ratima (23 / Chiefs / Waikato / 2)

First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (33 / Blues / Taranaki / 126)
Damian McKenzie (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 50)

Mid-fielders
Jordie Barrett (27 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 60) (Vice Captain)
David Havili (29 / Crusaders / Tasman / 27)
Rieko Ioane (27 / Blues / Auckland / 71)
Anton Lienert-Brown (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 73)
Billy Proctor (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 1)

Outside backs
Caleb Clarke (25 / Blues / Auckland / 21)
Will Jordan (26 / Crusaders / Tasman / 31)
Ruben Love (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 0)*
Stephen Perofeta (27 / Blues / Taranaki / 5)
Sevu Reece (27 / Crusaders / Southland / 26)
Mark Tele’a (27 / Blues / North Harbour/ 11)

INJURY COVER: Josh Lord (23 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 4)

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