The Southern Hemisphere nations will warm up for the Rugby World Cup this summer by playing a shortened version of The Rugby Championship. New Zealand will also play a test against Samoa and there will be an extra Bledisloe Cup game tacked onto the end of the Championship, while South Africa play a World XV as well as an extra test against Argentina.
The upcoming months will be used as a proving ground for players to stake a claim for the respective final 31 man squads – here are the men that will be battling it out (asterisk denotes new cap):
ARGENTINA (36)
Horacio Agulla, Matías Alemanno, Marcos Ayerza, Marcelo Bosch, Gonzalo Camacho, Santiago Cordero, Agustín Creevy, Tomás Cubelli, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Matías Díaz, Felipe Ezcurra, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, Juan Figallo, Lucas González Amorosino, Santiago González Iglesias, Juan Martín Hernández, Ramiro Herrera, Santiago Iglesias Valdez, Juan Imhoff, Facundo Isa, Martín Landajo, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Manuel Leguizamón, Tomás Lezana, Benjamín Macome, Pablo Matera, Julián Montoya, Matías Moroni, Lucas Noguera, Javier Ortega Desio, Guido Petti Pagadizabal, Nicolás Sánchez, Leonardo Senatore, Juan Pablo Socino, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Joaquín Tuculet.
AUSTRALIA (40)
Rory Arnold* (Brumbies), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), Quade Cooper (Reds), Dave Dennis (Waratahs), James Hanson (Reds/Rebels), Scott Fardy (Brumbies), Tetera Faulkner (Force), Israel Folau (Waratahs), Bernard Foley (Waratahs), Will Genia (Reds), Matt Giteau (Toulon), Scott Higginbotham (Rebels), Greg Holmes (Reds), Michael Hooper (Waratahs), Rob Horne (Waratahs), James Horwill (Reds), Samu Kerevi* (Reds), Sekope Kepu (Waratahs), Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Drew Mitchell (Toulon), Wyclif Palu (Waratahs), Ben McCalman (Force), Sean McMahon (Rebels), Dean Mumm (Waratahs), Taqele Naiyaravoro* (Waratahs), Nick Phipps (NSW Waratahs), David Pocock (Brumbies), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), Scott Sio (Brumbies), Rob Simmons (Reds), Will Skelton (Waratahs), James Slipper (Reds), Toby Smith* (Rebels), Henry Speight (Brumbies), Matt Toomua (Brumbies), Joe Tomane (Brumbies), Nic White (Brumbies).
NEW ZEALAND (41)
Forwards: Ben Franks, Brodie Retallick, Charlie Faumuina, Codie Taylor*, Dane Coles, Hikawera Elliot, James Broadhurst*, Jeremy Thrush, Jerome Kaino, Joe Moody, Keven Mealamu, Kieran Read, Liam Messam, Luke Romano, Matt Todd, Owen Franks, Richie McCaw, Sam Cane, Samuel Whitelock, Tony Woodcock, Victor Vito, Wyatt Crockett
Backs: Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Ben Smith, Charles Piutau, Colin Slade, Conrad Smith, Cory Jane, Dan Carter, Israel Dagg, Julian Savea, Lima Sopoaga*, Ma’a Nonu, Malakai Fekitoa, Nehe Milner-Skudder*, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Waisake Naholo*
SOUTH AFRICA (36+13)
Forwards: Schalk Brits (Saracens), Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), Scarra Ntubeni* (Stormers), Adriaan Strauss (Bulls), Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Steven Kitshoff* (Stormers), Vincent Koch* (Stormers), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), Heinke van der Merwe (Stade Francais), Marcel van der Merwe (Bulls), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Victor Matfield (Bulls), Franco Mostert* (Lions), Willem Alberts (Sharks), Schalk Burger (Stormers), Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Stormers), Francois Louw (Bath), Teboho ‘Oupa’ Mohoje (Cheetahs), Warren Whiteley (Lions)
Backs: Faf de Klerk* (Lions), Rudy Paige* (Bulls), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Handré Pollard (Bulls), Morné Steyn (Stade Francais), Damian de Allende (Stormers), JP Pietersen (Sharks), Bryan Habana (Toulon), Cornal Hendricks (Cheetahs), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Zane Kirchner (Leinster), Jesse Kriel* (Bulls), Willie le Roux (Cheetahs).
Injured/Conditioning squad:
Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), Lood de Jager (Cheetahs), Jean de Villiers (Stormers), Fourie du Preez (Suntory), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Sharks), Jaque Fourie (Kobe Steelers), Patrick Lambie (Sharks), Lionel Mapoe (Lions), Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), Cobus Reinach (Sharks), Jan Serfontein (Bulls), Frans Steyn (Sharks), Duane Vermeulen (Stormers).
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Really shocked to see Australia not pick James O’Connor or Nick Cummins. I know O’Connor has had his issues but he is an unbelievably talented back. Cummins is another top player.
I know Australia are well stocked for wingers but to not include these two doesn’t seem right! I’d have both over Tomane and Horne.
Have you watched much Super Rugby this year Jacob? Tomane in particular has had a stellar second half of the season, while Horne is pretty solid and can cover centre too – I’d imagine that’s why he’s in over Cummins who, aside from being hilarious, doesn’t set the world alight for me.
O’Connor has been mega out of sorts since coming back to the Reds and has also struggled quite a lot with injuries. Quite scary that they have this sort of depth though – both guys are really experience at the top level yet aren’t getting a look in!
I do watch it quite a bit to be fair; and to be fair I agree that Cummins is more funny that he is good at rugby but I still like him!
O’Connor I’ve always been a massive fan of. I know he has struggled this year, and to be fair was hardly great at Irish either, but I still really like his skill set. His problem is his position. For me he isn’t winger, despite how quick he is. He has played a lot a full back, I like him there, and we know he just is not a 10. Personally I’ve always wanted to see him play 13.Good rugby brain, great hands, incredibly quick and good in defense. Not unlike Conrad Smith (although clearly in style not class).
Tomane I like but Horne has always looked bang average for me. Good at lots of things, but he has no point of difference (as I write this I realise I sounds like SL!!).
Would still have O’Connor over them all, and Cummins before Horne too.
Australia’s strength in depths in the backs is crazy. Luckily their front 5 are really poor, otherwise no one would have a chance!
Yes especially James Occonor. That is why he came back to Australia to get back into Wallabies!He is a class act and they may regret leaving him out.