Wallabies squad for upcoming Tests announced

 
The Roar Roar Guru

By , 27 May 2012

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    Wallabies squad for upcoming Tests announced + enlarge image

    Wallabies coach Robbie Deans. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

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    Robbie Deans and the Wallabies selectors have selected thirty nine players for the Wallabies train on squad ahead of the 2012 international season, starting against Scotland on June 5th.

    The squad contains fourteen uncapped players, with a number expected to make their debut in the upcoming back-to-back matches between the Wallabies and Scotland and Wales.

    Deans and his fellow selectors, coaching coordinator Tony McGahan and David Nucifora; will name the match night squad to play the Test against Scotland on June 3 – just two days before the game.

    Deans is forced to delay the naming of the side until after the final Super Rugby match featuring Australian sides is played.

    “We can’t finalise a side for that match until all of the games are played, and we are in a position to assess all of the players,” said Deans.

    “Obviously we have preliminary ideas but the selection template is a living document. It can, and probably will change, as a result of events through the final round of Super Rugby before the international break.”

    The manner in which selection plans can be disrupted was evidenced last evening with the hamstring injury suffered by Wallabies skipper James Horwill.

    Although Horwill has assembled in Sydney and will have scans tomorrow, it is expected that he will be ruled out of the June Tests meaning that the Wallabies will have a new captain for those matches.

    Flyhalf Kurtley Beale is also potentially in doubt after injuring his shoulder playing for the Melbourne Rebels in Wellington last night.

    Beale had scans this evening, and while he has still been selected, a time-scale as to when he can return to training and play is still to be determined.

    The injury cloud over Beale, and the existing injury which has sidelined James O’Connor, has resulted in the selection of Quade Cooper, even though the Queensland Reds flyhalf has had just 120 minutes of playing time in his comeback from the knee ligaments he ruptured at last year’s Rugby World Cup.

    While acknowledging that Cooper was short of match play, Deans says that calling him into training with the national squad will help assist with bringing him up to speed for a return to a Test arena.

    In a move aimed to get the squad together early, members of the squad from the Queensland Reds and Western Force are already in Sydney, to be joined midweek by the players from the other sides.

    The squad will spend Wednesday preparing for the upcoming Tests, returning to their respective state sides to prepare for the upcoming Super Rugby round.

    Wallabies coach Robbie Deans thanked the franchises for releasing the players.

    “The cooperation of the franchises has been considerable and we appreciate that,” said Deans.

    “We’ve obviously sought to have as little disruption to their campaigns as is possible, but the solution provided by utilising the training day off does at least allow us to get the players started – both with organisational logistics and training background – as we will have to hit the ground running once the final group gathers.”

    The Wallabies train on squad is:

     

    Player Position State Age Appearances
    Ben Alexander Prop Brumbies 27 36
    Adam Ashley-Cooper Fullback-Wing-Outside Centre NSW Waratahs 28 64
    Berrick Barnes Flyhalf/Inside Centre NSW Waratahs 26 37
    Kurtley Beale Fullback Melbourne Rebels 23 24
    Quade Cooper Flyhalf Queensland Reds 23 35
    Dave Dennis Loose Forward NSW Waratahs 26 Uncapped
    Kane Douglas Lock NSW Waratahs 22 Uncapped
    Anthony Faingaa Inside Centre Queensland Reds 25 14
    Saia Faingaa Hooker Queensland Reds 25 16
    Bernard Foley Flyhalf/Fullback NSW Waratahs 22 Uncapped
    Will Genia Halfback Queensland Reds 24 34
    Michael Harris Inside Centre Queensland Reds 23 Uncapped
    Scott Higginbotham Loose forward Queensland Reds 25 11
    Michael Hooper Flanker Brumbies 20 Uncapped
    Rob Horne Centre NSW Waratahs 22 9
    Digby Ioane Wing Queensland Reds 26 21
    Sekope Kepu Prop NSW Waratahs 26 14
    Salesi Ma’afu Prop Western Force 29 14
    Pat McCabe Inside Centre Brumbies 24 11
    Ben McCalman Loose Forward Western Force 24 21
    Jesse Mogg Fullback Brumbies 22 Uncapped
    Stephen Moore Hooker Brumbies 29 66
    Luke Morahan Fullback Queensland Reds 22 Uncapped
    Cadeyrn Neville Lock Melbourne Rebels 23 Uncapped
    Dan Palmer Prop Brumbies 23 Uncapped
    Wycliff Palu No 8 NSW Waratahs 29 38
    Nick Phipps Halfback Melbourne Rebels 23 3
    David Pocock Flanker Western Force 24 40
    Tatafu Polota-Nau Hooker NSW Waratahs 26 32
    Hugh Pyle Lock Melbourne Rebels 22 Uncapped
    Benn Robinson Prop NSW Waratahs 27 42
    Nathan Sharpe Lock Western Force 34 101
    Dominic Shipperley Wing Queensland Reds 21 Uncapped
    Rob Simmons Lock Queensland Reds 23 16
    James Slipper Prop Queensland Reds 22 22
    Sitaleki Timani Lock NSW Waratahs 25 1
    Joseph Tomane Wing Brumbies 22 Uncapped
    Cooper Vuna Wing Melbourne Rebels 24 Uncapped
    Nic White Halfback Brumbies 22 Uncapped

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