Carter Gordon will duel with Quade Cooper for the no.10 jersey.Credit:Getty
While stressing it wasn’t yet a squad for the Rugby World Cup - the group will be revised in mid-July - Jones said he was building the structure of a team for the tournament in September. And that structure appears to be based on a combination of size,and versatility.
“We need to develop a team that is multi-dimensional,because of the fact that with HIA,with red cards,yellow cards,you need to be able to adapt on the field. So,nothing’s not possible. And we need to develop that adaptability in the team,” Jones said.
Jones listed Kemeny,Donaldson and Pietsch as neither back nor forward,but “utility”. And speaking to media on Sunday,the coach stressed he was serious about having Kemeny - an abrasive 105kg,193cm flanker - cover the position of wing. As seen in previous World Cup squads (Radike Samo played wing in 2011) this can free up a coach to carry three hookers and/or halfbacks.
Josh Kemeny in action for the Rebels. Eddie Jones wants to train him to cover the wing.Credit:Getty
“We need a back rower who can play wing. I am serious about this,” Jones said.
“Hoops probably could have done it in his younger age,he was faster than most of the wingers. Now he is as fast,apart from Suli when he has got his cattle prod chasing him. And then Kemeny is quick enough to be a winger. He is a tall rangy guy,good in the air.”
In both the forwards and the backs,Jones picked multiple players with versatility,including uncappedBrumbies forward Tom Hooper,who impressed Jones with his “combative” attitude and ability to play across the backrow and at lock.
The absence of Foley reflects how much of an impressionCarter Gordon has made on Jones. Cooper will be his first-choice five-eighth,but the young Melburnian is positioned as a back-up,with Reece Hodge and Donaldson also on hand.
Zane Nonggorr takes on the Melbourne Rebels defence in last season’s round one Super Rugby Pacific match at Suncorp Stadium.Credit:Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
“Quade is a different sort of player,and if we can get him back to his best he becomes a really competitive edge for us,” Jones said.
“Young Carter Gordon has done well,and Donaldson fills a utility role for us. There will be opportunities for Foles further down the track. We will have to wait and see.”
Though unprecedented,Jones said having the highly experienced Hooper and Slipper share the captaincy would also provide a “winning edge”. When both are on the field,the pair said they will work out who deals with the referee and makes the final decision.
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Slipper took over the captaincy whenHooper stepped away in August last year,and held the job after Hooper returned on the Spring Tour.
Jones revealed he’d sought advice from Sydney Swans coach John Longmire about the merits of sharing the captaincy.
“We want to do this differently. We want to change the Wallabies,that’s the first thing,” Jones said.
“The combination of Slips and Hoops at the top gives us a very strong apex to the leadership. Underneath that,there is a group of players who are going to be very important to support them,but the combination of character and style between Hoops and Slips ... you don’t get two more experienced players in the world in Test rugby. That’s a big advantage for us.”