Naturally, the Rugby World Cup is the focus of 2023. The mental health, fitness, and player load management of those players who have already been selected for national teams are the primary areas of focus for national coaching teams.
As a result, prominent players will be absent for a portion of the Super Rugby Pacific competition, allowing up-and-coming players to establish themselves as outstanding Super-tier players.
The horror trans-Tasman competition in 2021 was a vast improvement for the Australian teams in 2022, with results significantly improved across all five franchises (with the exception of the Reds).
There is a new challenge in 2023: to build on and extend the momentum from 2022, focusing on team chemistry and depth.
The fact that the Australia-A program has been reinstated demonstrates that Australia is once more concentrating on establishing genuine international depth.
Against the Pacific teams and Japan, fringe players, potential Wallaby bolters, and Super Rugby veterans got their chance to demonstrate their ability to advance to the next level. Despite varying outcomes, the players and the team advanced overall. The program worked out well.
Several weeks remain until Super Rugby Pacific; before long you can fly your group’s banner and get comfortable for the main completely coordinated Super rivalry since before the pandemic.
The following is a list of players that Australians should pay close attention to in 2023. The list’s criteria are that they will be able to significantly influence their team and want to build on a successful 2022 SRP season.
The 27-year-old had a great 2022 season, mostly without injuries that had held him back from growing in previous years.
He was a breakdown workhorse and tackling machine for the Rebels. He played a very traditional openside flanker role, always looking for a pilfer and denying the opposition quick ball when he failed.
Michael Wells, his backrow partner and former captain, is absent this season. In an undermanned Rebels forward pack that will be without Wallabies Rob Leota and Matt Phillip for a portion of the regular season, Wilkin will have to stand tall and be the rock.
Wilkin has no real chance of making the Wallabies in 2023, despite his strong performance in the Australia-A tournament.
He competes with a wide variety of talented up-and-coming backrowers for a possible spot, sitting behind incumbents Fraser McReight, Pete Samu, and Michael Hooper.
Hooper imitates the tenacious, diligent Brumbies’ approach to correcting the details. He is a solid unit at 21 with time to physically develop. This young Brumby will succeed if he has another negative preseason and more chances to play good opponents.
He has the athleticism and speed of a young Michael Hooper on the field. Rob Valetini, Jerome Brown, and Samu are all tough opponents for Hooper; however, since the latter two are likely to miss some games, Hooper has a chance to rise to the occasion and put his best foot forward.
Backrow for Western Force: Jackson Pugh and Tim Anstee Pugh and Anstee benefit from the Australia-A program because they play abrasive and athletic rugby.
In a young Force forward pack, each must rise to the occasion. While neither is expected to be called up to the Wallabies this season, they are both essential to the Force’s success in 2023. The Australian tour of the British and Irish Lions in 2025 will be a goal for both players.