‘I've backed the young blokes’ – Jones omits Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper from Australia World Cup squad

Eddie Jones has left Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper out of Australia’s World Cup squad, after naming the 33-man line-up for the tournament.

Flanker Hooper’s withdrawal is the more surprising given that Jones named him as one of the co-captains following his return as head coach.

He earned the co-captaincy role earlier this year, but only managed to appear against South Africa before succumbing to a calf injury.

Meanwhile, fly-half Cooper has made 80 caps for Australia, but will not feature in next month’s competition in France.

The Wallabies will be led by co-captains Will Skelton and scrum-half Tate McDermott, as they prepare to take on Fiji, Georgia and Portugal in their World Cup pool.

Elsewhere, Max Jorgensen will be aiming to win his first cap after being included in the squad as an outside back and has only recently recovered from a knee injury.

Plenty of questions are being asked of the Wallabies heading into the tournament, and are still waiting for their first test victory following the return of Jones.

However, the former England head coach was in bullish mood when addressing the media, and said: "The experts have written us off. No-one believes we can do it, but we believe," said Jones.

"I've backed the young blokes because they earned it. Simple as that. I haven't handed it to them. They grabbed it.

"It's exciting for me to go to work each day with these guys who are just busting to improve, to learn and to get better.

"The team that improves the most is generally the team that will win it and that's the task we have set ourselves.

"We have been improving and we will continue to improve."

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

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

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