Wallabies squad locked in: Cale eyes debut, but unlucky leader misses out

An email from a Wallabies staff member was the "low-key" way the ACT Brumbies No.8 found out he had forced his way into Joe Schmidt's first Australian squad for next month's Tests against Wales and Georgia.

Cale is one of 13 uncapped players in a 38-man squad boasting nine of his Brumbies teammates, a former All Black in Alex Hodgman and the resurgent Kurtley Beale.

But "now the tough part is trying to stay there" as 23-year-old Cale chases a Test debut following a breakout Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the Brumbies.

Cale has enjoyed some rise having made his Super Rugby debut just last year after originally joining the Brumbies on a development contract.

"[My head] was spinning a little bit because you're just waiting around and then the boys start talking to see who got a call or an email. I was pretty nervous," Cale said.

"It doesn't really feel real, like you're in the squad yet, because we've still been down here training. When you get in there and you see all the guys, when you pull the training kit on, I guess it will feel real then. I'm incredibly excited and very grateful to be in that position.

"When I first came down, I was on that EDS contract so I just wanted to get in the [Brumbies] squad. Then you want to try and play every week, and after that you want to win Super Rugby titles. After that, you try and get in a Wallabies squad. I always wanted to end up there eventually."

The usuals are all in: Allan Alaalatoa, James Slipper and Rob Valetini. Several Brumbies in Noah Lolesio, Tom Wright and Len Ikitau get a chance to make amends after Eddie Jones either snubbed them for the World Cup, or overlooked them completely during his disastrous stint as head coach last year.

Billy Pollard has emerged as a genuine option to step into the starting hooker role after getting the most game time of his career this year while Nick Frost and Tom Hooper are also included.

Corey Toole could eventually join the fold, but for now he will join the Australian sevens set up ahead of the Paris Olympic Games as the speedster looks to chase a gold medal before a gold Wallabies jersey.

Ryan Lonergan has emerged as the unlucky No.9, stuck behind Nic White, Tate McDermott and Jake Gordon in the scrumhalf pecking order, while Lachlan Lonergan and Blake Schoupp would likely have been in the mix if not for injury.

"The guys that have been selected alongside me, I believe all of them have played Wallabies. It definitely makes it easier knowing some of your brothers are going in there with you," Cale said.

"I've said since I got down here, the big dogs - Allan and James Slipper - and the guys who are just coming in, there's no lack of communication between the top and the bottom. We're all really close, everyone has got respect for one another.

"Because of the quality of players we've got here, it makes everyone play better. Off the field, you grow as a person even quicker."

The Wallabies will head into a four-day camp in Brisbane before the opening Test against Wales in Sydney on July 6.

But Cale admits he hasn't had much of a look at the schedule after his phone blew up when the squad was announced. As for the first call he made?

"Just to mum and dad, just letting them know I made the team," Cale said. "I just spoke to mum and dad, they're obviously incredibly proud and I owe them everything to be in this position."

Cale is yet to speak with Schmidt - the man who previously steered Ireland to the top of the world rankings - but the coaching staff will boast one familiar face in former Brumbies mentor Laurie Fisher.

"You can sometimes get anxiety about the unknown, but you know what you're going to get from Lord," Cale said. "He's one of the best coaches in the world. You know you're going to get yelled at when it matters and get pushed when it matters. Knowing he's in there, the program is in the best hands possible."

Schmidt admits there "were some very tight selection calls".

"The coaching group has looked hard at on-field performances and had ongoing discussions with Super Rugby coaches," Schmidt said.

"We've combined the observations we've made, with some candid discussion and feel that we have some very good players to start working with, while also acknowledging that there are some good players who have missed selection.

"We have a short runway into our first Test, so we're just keen to get to work and make as much progress as we can over the four days we have in Brisbane."

They call him "Captain Grumpy" but Allan Alaalatoa could emerge as the man fit to lead the Wallabies into a new era as Joe Schmidt prepares to unveil his first Australian squad on Friday morning.

Schmidt will name a Wallabies squad for looming Tests against Wales and Georgia but could hold his cards close to his chest before anointing the Australian captain.

Alaalatoa is a favourite for the role having captained the Wallabies under both Dave Rennie and Eddie Jones - even if both occasions ended in heartache for the ACT Brumbies tighthead prop.

His first game as captain ended in a shock loss to Italy in 2022, before his second opportunity was ruined by a ruptured Achilles last year.

But it is understood Alaalatoa - jokingly referred to as Captain Grumpy after former Australian cricket captain Allan Border - is keen to lead the Wallabies under Schmidt, who could name a handful of bolters in his first Australian squad.

James Slipper is likely to join Alaalatoa in the Wallabies' front row as he targets a British and Irish Lions series swansong next year, while Rob Valetini will be a crucial part of Schmidt's forward pack.

He could be joined by a potential bolter in Charlie Cale, who has put himself in the mix after a breakout Super Rugby Pacific campaign at No.8 for the Brumbies.

Cale provides a genuine lineout-winning option for Schmidt, with a turn of pace that had Super Rugby fans in a frenzy earlier this year.

Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard could force his way back into Wallabies camp after a whirlwind Test debut in 2022, for which he took six separate flights and spent 43 hours in transit from Canberra to Mendoza.

Fullback Tom Wright and flyhalf Noah Lolesio are on the cusp of a Wallabies recall after being discarded by Jones at different stages last year.

Wright missed the World Cup and was included on a shortlist of players for a gold medal tilt at the Paris Olympic Games with the Australian sevens team.

But he looks set to win the Wallabies' No.15 jersey after finishing in the top five across Super Rugby Pacific for tries scored, carries, clean breaks, defenders beaten, metres gained and offloads.

Lolesio was overlooked at Test level last year but is the favourite to wear the No.10 jersey after a career-best year for the Brumbies.

Wales have been dealt a major injury blow with flanker Jac Morgan, co-captain at least year's World Cup, ruled out of this week's Test match against South Africa and the tour to Australia.

Morgan missed this season's Six Nations because of a knee injury and now a hamstring problem will keep him off the flight to Australia.

Meanwhile, the Wallaroos are set to arrive in Canberra for a week-long camp at the AIS in preparation for a Test against Fiji at the Sydney Football Stadium on July 6 in the opening match of a double-header with the Wallabies and Wales to follow.