Wallabies

In a statement, Rugby Australia say the 30-year-old ‘believes he’s not in the mindset to fulfill the responsibility that goes with leading and representing his country at this point in time.’

The 121-Test openside flanker has addressed his teammates to tell them and that ‘he has the utmost confidence in the group to get the job done tomorrow in Mendoza’.

James Slipper will lead the side in his place, while Fraser McReight will replace Hooper in the number seven jersey.

In other notable selections by Wallabies coach Dave Rennie for the clash on Sunday (AEST), Quade Cooper takes over the No.10 jumper from Noah Lolesio and Tom Wright wins the vacant fullback spot ahead of Jordan Petaia, who will start on the wing.

Cooper missed the recent England series after injuring his calf during the warm-up for the first Test and his call-up provides a spicy sidebar after his international career was all but ended by Michael Cheika, now coach of the Pumas.

Test attack coach Scott Wisemantel says he would “love” the coaching maestro to take on a role with Australia following next year’s Rugby World Cup in France when his contract with England ends.

It’s believed Rugby Australia has reached out to Jones about a possible role after he again crushed local hopes with a two-one series defeat this month.

The wily Jones, who thrives on gamesmanship between coaches, stole all of the headline during the series.

RA chairman Hamish McLennan dropped a bombshell last week by reportedly telling Kiwi counterpart Stewart Mitchell that Australia would consider going it alone in Super Rugby from 2024 onwards.

McLennan said in a later interview that RA would fulfil its 2023 Super Rugby Pacific commitments but hinted an all-Australian competition could be launched after that, with a view to the Rugby World Cup in 2027.

Rennie is adamant the model that will benefit the Wallabies the most is the current one, in which Australian sides battle the might of New Zealand's best.

On the eve of England’s three-test tour of Australia, Rugby Australia and the RFU have agreed to retire the 25-year-old crystal trophy named after Captain James Cook.

In its place will be a new design they say better represents the long rugby tradition between the two nations.

After unanimous support from the RA board, the Ella-Mobbs trophy will be unveiled on the Friday before the first test in Perth, in time for NAIDOC week, which kicks off on July 4 and culminates in a potential first outing for the Wallabies’ Indigenous jersey in the second test in Brisbane.

Captain Michael Hooper leads the expanded 35-man squad but experienced utility back Reece Hodge misses out.

Playmaker Kurtley Beale, back in the international picture after returning to Australia following a spell in France, is injured and also misses out.

The series begins in Perth on 2 July.

Winger Vunivala switched to Queensland Reds in 2019 following a successful league career with Melbourne Storm.

"We picked him because of his massive potential," Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said.

Australia and New Zealand have competed for the Bledisloe Cup since the early 1930s with the All Blacks enjoying much the better of the rivalry.

New Zealand whitewashed Australia 3-0 last year to ensure the trophy remains with them for a 19th straight season.

"It was the end of a 15-year cycle, so we've got to look ahead at our objectives and what is the pathway ahead for us," Rugby Australia boss Andy Marinos told Australian media.

Auckland-born Cooper took to social media on Thursday to share the news and thank his supporters.

"After five years, five attempts, 75 test matches and a lot of help from the community and many people behind the scenes, I can finally say I'm Australian," the playmaker posted on Twitter following his official ceremony.

"To my immigration officer Sarah Lolesio thank (you) for your efforts and countless hours of work. Grateful."

The former Melbourne Rebels centre Paisami blitzed his second rugby chance at the Reds, making his Super Rugby debut and playing every test under Dave Rennie in a huge 2020.

Leaving the squad for the birth of his first child this year, Paisami was unseated when Samu Kerevi was drafted in and the Japan-based No.12 starred to earn a World Player of the Year nomination.

When Kerevi didn’t tour the United Kingdom, Paisami was slotted straight back in and was among the Wallabies’ best in the the four-test Spring Tour.

Shortly after sitting the test in Japan, where he plays for the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, Cooper took to social media to reveal he passed but not before shedding light on the plight of former teammate Joe Tomane, who Cooper said was "locked out" of Australia this year and forced to fly to New Zealand.

Born in Palmerston North before moving to Australia at a young age, Tomane played for the Melbourne Storm and Gold Coast Titans in the NRL prior to switching codes, where he earned 17 caps for the Wallabies between 2012-2015.