Wallabies welcome back stars for Bledisloe Cup as Wright, Samu and Hodge axed from squad

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has welcomed the return from injury of four key players to boost his Bledisloe Cup squad while losing patience with three other big names.

Powerhouse prop Taniela Tupou returned from a ruptured Achilles tendon in Australia A's loss to Tonga last week and is in the selection frame for the clash against the All Blacks at the MCG on July 29.

Outside backs Andrew Kellaway and Jordan Petaia and loose forward Langi Gleeson are also back to full fitness after missing the opening two Tests of the Rugby Championship.

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Winger Suliasi Vunivalu and props Pone Fa'amausili and Blake Schoupp have retained their places in a 34 man squad that will reassemble on the Gold Coast on Thursday.

But fullback Tom Wright and utility back Reece Hodge have paid the price for underwhelming performances by being axed from the squad, along with forwards Pete Samu, Josh Kemeny, Zane Nonggorr and Matt Gibbon.

"We're very disappointed with the results during stage one of our campaign," Jones said.

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"We need to find more in stage two and Melbourne will be a ground where we will find our best."

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Jones was non-committal about Tupou and Kellaway's chances of featuring against New Zealand.

Kellaway and Petaia are the likely options to replace Wright at fullback.

"Selection's another issue and certainly we've got a few blokes coming back," Jones said at the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour launch in Brisbane.

"Again, we've got probably six or seven players, at least, who are coming back from long-term injuries, who every game they play, they'll be a little bit better, and Tupou's one of those so we'll see how he is."

Jones ruled out the prospect of Tupou playing club rugby this weekend to build match fitness.

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"He'll need to train with us, mate. We're going to be training quite hard in the next three days."

Co-captain Michael Hooper was not included among the 34 man squad as he continues to recover from a minor calf strain that ruled him out of the loss to Argentina.

But the Wallabies are hopeful he will be fit for selection in Melbourne.

WALLABIES SQUAD FOR BLEDISLOE CUP

Forwards

Allan Alaalatoa (29, ACT Brumbies, 66 Tests)

Richie Arnold (33, Stade Toulousain, 2 Tests)

Angus Bell (22, NSW Waratahs, 21 Tests)

Pone Fa'amausili (26, Melbourne Rebels, 4 Tests)

Matt Faessler (24, Queensland Reds, uncapped)

Nick Frost (23, ACT Brumbies, 10 Tests)

Langi Gleeson (21, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)

Jed Holloway (30, NSW Waratahs, 11 Tests)

Tom Hooper (22, ACT Brumbies, 1 Test)

Rob Leota (26, Melbourne Rebels, 14 Tests)

Fraser McReight (24, Queensland Reds, 11 Tests)

Matt Philip (29, Melbourne Rebels, 28 Tests)

David Porecki (30, NSW Waratahs, 12 Tests)

Will Skelton (31, La Rochelle, 26 Tests)

Blake Schoupp (23, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)

James Slipper (co-captain) (34, ACT Brumbies, 129 Tests)

Taniela Tupou (27, Queensland Reds, 47 Tests)

Jordan Uelese (26, Melbourne Rebels, 17 Tests)

Rob Valetini (24, ACT Brumbies, 32 Tests)

Backs

Quade Cooper (35, Kintetsu Liners, 78 Tests)

Lalakai Foketi (28, NSW Waratahs, 5 Tests)

Carter Gordon (22, Melbourne Rebels, 2 Tests)

Andrew Kellaway (27, Melbourne Rebels, 21 Tests)

Samu Kerevi (29, Urayasu D-Rocks, 43 Tests)

Marika Koroibete (30, Saitama Wild Knights, 53 Tests)

Ryan Lonergan (25, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)

Tate McDermott (24, Queensland Reds, 23 Tests)

Mark Nawaqanitawase (22, NSW Waratahs, 4 Tests)

Izaia Perese (26, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)

Jordan Petaia (23, Queensland Reds, 25 Tests)

Suliasi Vunivalu (27, Queensland Reds, 2 Tests)

Nic White (33, ACT Brumbies, 61 Tests)

Utility

Ben Donaldson (23, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)

Dylan Pietsch (25, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)

Rehab group

Michael Hooper (co-captain), (31, NSW Waratahs, 125 Tests)

Eddie Jones' remarkable career in pictures: Wallabies coach's tortured Rugby World Cup history

Eddie Jones' remarkable career in pictures: Wallabies coach's tortured Rugby World Cup history