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Brumbies flanker George Smith and fullback Jesse Mogg, along with Reds centre Ben Tapuai have been called up to join the Wallabies in camp in Melbourne today ahead of the second Test of the 2013 British and Irish Lions Tour.
Reinforcements have been called in for the litany of injuries from Saturday’s loss to the Lions, which have placed in doubt inside centres Pat McCabe (neck) and Christian Lealiifano (head knock), winger Digby Ioane (shoulder), centre Adam Ashley-Cooper (shoulder) and fullback Berrick Barnes (head knock).
Tapuai, 24, who last appeared for Australia on last year’s Spring Tour, is comfortable at both inside and outside centre and has played seven Tests for the Wallabies since debuting against Wales in 2011.
Six of those matches came last year.
Mogg is uncapped, but was involved in the Wallabies’ preliminary squad last year after a rookie Super Rugby season which saw him appear in all but two of the matches the Brumbies played.
The 24-year-old fullback has again been a standout this season, helping the Brumbies to the top of the Australian conference.
Smith, who returned to Australia this year on a short-term contract with the Brumbies, last represented his country against Wales in Cardiff in 2009 during a match the Wallabies won 33-12.
That was the 110th Test of a stellar career which saw him end as his country’s most capped forward, although he has since been overtaken by lock Nathan Sharpe, who retired last year with 116 appearances.
Four years after his last Test, he is still Australia’s third most capped player behind his former Brumbies and Wallabies captain George Gregan, who appeared in 139 Tests.
Smith, who is based with Japanese club Suntory, was cleared by the Australian Rugby Union to play in the Lions series after extending his contract with the Brumbies through until the end of the Super Rugby competition.
However a knee injury sustained during the Brumbies’ loss to the NSW Waratahs in Sydney last month, put the hopes of a Test return on hold while he underwent rehabilitation.
Now back running, Smith has been called into camp so that the Wallabies coaching and medical staff can assess his readiness for a Test return, with no decision on potential availability for Saturday’s second Test to be made until later in the week.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.