It’s not quite the last-chance saloon, but after a demoralising loss to Fiji and an insidious injury list, big choices have to be made. Eddie Jones has named his Australia Rugby World Cup squad to face Wales, and there are a few positional switches in there – some enforced, others a roll of the dice.

Ben Donaldson moves from full-back to ten, a position he started at the first time against Wales last November. The call knocks young Carter Gordon onto the bench. Meanwhile, experienced prop James Slipper (usually a loosehead) is having to start with a No 3 on his back.

The other intriguing selection is in the back-row, with Fraser McReight pushed onto the bench and Rob Leota brought in. 

Here is the Wallabies line-up.

Australia team to play Wales

Andrew Kellaway; Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete; Ben Donaldson, Tate McDermott; Angus Bell, Dave Porecki (captain), James Slipper, Nick Frost, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Tob Hooper, Rob Valetini.

Replacements: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Pone Fa’amausili, Matt Philip, Fraser McReight, Nic White, Carter Gordon, Suli Vunivalu.

Australia Rugby World Cup squad 2023

Props 

Angus Bell (22, NSW Waratahs, 23 Tests)

Pone Fa’amausili (26, Melbourne Rebels, 5 Tests)

Zane Nonggorr (22, Queensland Reds, 2 Tests)

Blake Schoupp (23, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)

James Slipper (34, ACT Brumbies, 131 Tests)

Taniela Tupou (27, Queensland Reds, 48 Tests)

Hookers  

Matt Faessler (24, Queensland Reds, 1 Test)

David Porecki (30, NSW Waratahs, 14 Tests)

Jordan Uelese (26, Melbourne Rebels, 18 Tests)

Locks  

Richie Arnold (33, Stade Toulousain, 4 Tests)

Nick Frost (23, ACT Brumbies, 12 Tests)

Matt Philip (29, Melbourne Rebels, 28 Tests)

Will Skelton (captain) (31, La Rochelle, 28 Tests)

Back Row 

Langi Gleeson (22, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)

Tom Hooper (22, ACT Brumbies, 3 Tests)

Rob Leota (26, Melbourne Rebels, 16 Tests)

Fraser McReight (24, Queensland Reds, 12 Tests)

Rob Valetini (24, ACT Brumbies, 34 Tests)

Scrum-halves  

Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (27, Western Force, uncapped)

Tate McDermott (vice-captain) (24, Queensland Reds, 25 Tests)

Nic White (33, ACT Brumbies, 63 Tests)

Fly-halves  

Carter Gordon (22, Melbourne Rebels, 4 Tests)

Centres

Lalakai Foketi (28, NSW Waratahs, 5 Tests)

Samu Kerevi (29, Urayasu D-Rocks, 45 Tests)

Izaia Perese (26, NSW Waratahs, 5 Tests)

Jordan Petaia (23, Queensland Reds, 27 Tests)

Outside Backs

Max Jorgensen (18, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)

Andrew Kellaway (27, Melbourne Rebels, 23 Tests)

Marika Koroibete (31, Saitama Wild Knights, 55 Tests)

Mark Nawaqanitawase (22, NSW Waratahs, 6 Tests)

Suliasi Vunivalu (27, Queensland Reds, 2 Tests)

Utility 

Ben Donaldson (23, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)

Josh Kemeny (24, Melbourne Rebels, 1 Test)

Australia Rugby World Cup Pool

Australia have been drawn in Rugby World Cup Pool C alongside Wales, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal.

Sat 9 Sept Australia v Georgia  (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)

Sun 17 Sept Australia v Fiji (Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne)

Sun 24 Sept Australia v Wales (Parc Ol, Lyon)

Sun 1 Oct Australia v Portugal (Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne)

What about the knock-outs?

The knockout stages will follow the same format as previous years, with teams from Pools A and B then Pools C and D meeting in the quarter-finals. So Wales and England could meet in the last eight, for example.

QF1 – Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
QF2 – Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
QF3 – Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C
QF4 – Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B

Then the semi-finals will be the Winner of QF1 v Winner QF2 and the Winner QF3 v Winner QF4.

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