Rugby World Cup 2023 Wallabies squad: exclusive reaction to Eddie Jones selection calls

Former Wallabies Justin Harrison and Nick Phipps believe Eddie Jones is viewing his Rugby World Cup team as a "new mould of clay" after opting for youth in his 33 man squad to travel to France.

The squad has an average age of 26 and an average of 20 Tests per player, the lowest for an Australian World Cup squad since the victorious 1991 campaign.

Veterans Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper were the most notable casualties but Len Ikitau, Jed Holloway and Pete Samu also missed out in a squad now led by Will Skelton and packed full of surprises.

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"Eddie Jones has got a very small window to break a chain of underperformance, consistently over the last 20 years," Harrison said on Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven.

"Let's call it what it is. And then how do you do that? Well, you get a new mould of clay and you shape it really quickly. So your age profile comes down, malleability of that group and he can influence that whole group in an instant...

"This has probably been one of the most curious squads in recent history... this has been a very tactile squad that's been put together with a specific purpose. Instead of the safe bet, set and forget, there's a whole dearth of players who are enormously disappointed.

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"We're going to commiserate with some players that have missed out, some iconic players for Australian rugby."

Carter Gordon will shoulder the burden as the leading No.10 while Ben Donaldson, listed as a utility, will provide backup despite his struggles in Super Rugby Pacific this season and not yet playing a Test in 2023.

Jorgensen, who was electric in his debut Waratahs campaign, has been sensationally picked after recently returning to training from a serious knee injury.

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Jorgensen would be the youngest ever Australian to debut at a World Cup if named to play in any game at the tournament.

"Eddie Jones talked about some things there that are interesting," Harrison said.

"It's the first time he's looked further than the (2023) World Cup. He talked about '27.

"He's starting to talk about something that's got a longer runway... high performance is not a democracy. We need a leader. We got Eddie Jones."

The Wallabies are 0-4 under Jones this year and a coach with a lesser record would already be under serious scrutiny.

But Jones has World Cup runs on the board, leading Australia to the 2003 final and England to the 2019 decider.

The Wallabies, ranked eighth in the world, have a comparatively cushy draw and are favoured to top Pool C ahead of Wales (ninth) and Fiji (10th).

"It's certainly a new era. For 25 out of the 33 it's their first World Cup," Phipps said.

"But all these new players, they're exciting and, and no-one would have watched these players more than Eddie and his team and he would have gone through everything...

"Youthful energy, young leaders, change the winning culture. That feels like the squad that he's going for at the moment. He's going to be able to mould these players, he's going to be able to put his fingerprints all over them.

"A group like that, they don't have those previous sort of scars. They're ready to go, they're full of confidence. For most of them, their first World Cup.

"It's a very exciting squad and very exciting what they can achieve."

Wallabies Rugby World Cup squad

Forwards: Will Skelton (c), Angus Bell, Pone Fa'amausili, Zane Nonggorr, Blake Schoupp, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Dave Porecki, Jordan Uelese, Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, Matt Philip, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Rob Leota, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Josh Kemeny

Backs: Tate McDermott (vc), Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Nic White, Carter Gordon, Lalakai Foketi, Samu Kerevi, Izaia Perese, Jordan Petaia, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Marika Koroibete, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Suliasi Vunivalu, Ben Donaldson