Wallabies to review selection policy post-Tour

AUSTRALIA coach Dave Rennie says the Wallabies will review their selection criteria after fly-half Quade Cooper became the third player to pull out of November’s British tour.

Along with Cooper, centre Samu Kerevi and flanker Sean McMahon have opted to remain with their Japanese clubs.

Australia had moved away from its policy of selecting only the overseas-based players with at least 60 Test caps.

Rennie said discussions were needed on “what that looks like going forward”.

Rennie said the side had acceptedCooper’s decision and moved on, adding: “He obviously wanted the blessing of the club to tour. We talked about maybe some flexibility around the tour dates.

“At the end he felt that he needed to support his club, his employer.”

James O’Connor is expected to play at fly-half for the Test against Scotland at Murrayfield on November 7.

Noah Lolesio, 21, will replace Cooper in the Wallabies squad, who play England at Twickenham on November 13 before travelling to Cardiff to face Wales the following week.

Cooper, 33, took Lolesio’s place during the Rugby Championship and helped Australia to five wins in a row.

“Ideally we want guys who are desperate to be Wallabies,” continued Rennie, who is yet to name replacements for Kerevi and McMahon.

“Obviously this (using overseas players) was a bit of a trial based on Covid, based on a few other plans we had, to utilise more players overseas.

“I guess we’ll have a look at the end of the tour and then get a plan around what that looks like beyond this year.”

Cooper wrote on Twitter that it “hurts” to not tour with the side, adding: “I’m hurt that I couldn’t please everyone and keep both my employer and country happy.

“But although I am hurting now, the happiness I feel from my journey to this point far outweighs the hurt. This journey has no finish line and my efforts to continue to walk this path will not change. What’s meant to be will be.”