Australia’s Rugby Squad 2025: How Strategic Picks Could Define Their Global Campaign

Australia’s 2025 Rugby Championship campaign has started and has arguably been better than many would have expected it to have gone in the first two games, making it clear how important the selection of Australia’s rugby squad has been and how strategic decisions have defined their season.

While the second match ended up being a 30-22 defeat to South Africa, the first will be one that was rather memorable. The Wallabies have been far from their best for a while, and a 2-1 tour defeat on home soil against the British & Irish Lions wouldn’t have filled them with confidence.

However, the first game of the 2025 Rugby Championship produced a huge shock. Facing a 22-0 defeat to the Springboks, they came back and managed to score an unanswered 38 points to claim an opening win. It was a shame that Joe Schmidt’s side couldn’t capitalise further on it.

Still, those performances go to show the importance of making the right decisions to try to maximise the success that can be had. Just like those who gamble on sports or play at the online pokies Australia has to offer to players, bettors know that while there is an element of luck involved, strategies continue to play a significant role in helping to enhance results.

Joe Schmidt is using a blend of experience and youth

There’s a famous saying in football that can apply to rugby: “If they are good enough, they are old enough”. Their 36-player squad, announced in mid-2025, included a balanced mix of experienced leaders and emerging talents, reflecting a strategic focus on competitiveness and adaptability against top-tier opponents.

The Australia rugby squad features a mixture of 20 forwards and 16 backs, with notable inclusions that highlight Schmidt’s thinking. He has gone for an element of continuity with many of his selections. At the same time, he has brought in some familiar faces as they aim to have a positive tournament following the disappointing outcome against the British & Irish Lions.

Players like hooker David Porecki returned to the squad for the first time since captaining the Wallabies during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and lock Will Skelton is the lone overseas-based player to have been named, keeping a close-knit group who have been playing domestic club rugby together. Only two uncapped players were selected, with Nick Champion de Crespigny (back rower from Western Force) and Corey Toole (winger from ACT Brumbies) involved.

To ensure his team were at their best and ready to compete, Schmidt emphasized that the selection process was competitive and aimed to choose players who would work hard and connect well as a squad.

Overall, Schmidt’s selections strike a balance between maintaining a strong core from the previous campaigns and introducing fresh performers who have earned their spot through strong Super Rugby performances. The Australia rugby squad is built to be resilient and adaptable to the challenges of the Rugby Championship and the demanding international fixture schedule ahead.

Has Schmidt got it right so far?

It’s possible to argue that Schmidt has managed to make positive strategic decisions regarding the Australia rugby squad selection to this point.

The team wasn’t expected to challenge South Africa in the first two games of the Rugby Championship; however the win in the first game showed that they were more than ready for the challenge of a very good Springboks side. Their fightback ability in the second half to win the game in the way that they did was nothing short of incredible, and it was a testament to the strategic decisions made by the head coach. 

Still, will the Wallabies make the right decisions in their upcoming games of the campaign?

This Australia rugby squad will have to take on Argentina in back-to-back fixtures before facing New Zealand in consecutive clashes. They’ve got a week’s break between their final game against South Africa to prepare for the games against Argentina on consecutive weekends, before another week’s break before clashing against the All Blacks.

Schmidt’s decisions will be analysed throughout this competition and evaluated by fans and media alike, although 2025 provides plenty more rugby action for the team and coach to handle. Fixtures against Japan (Oct 25), England (Nov 1), Italy (Nov 8), Ireland (Nov 15), and France (Nov 22) will see out the year.

While the next Rugby World Cup won’t take place until 2027, it will be held in Australia. What Schmidt does between now and then in terms of team strategy will be crucial if they are going to set themselves up and compete at the global level once again. They had a poor campaign last time, finishing third behind Wales and Fiji in Group C, missing out on the knockout stages.