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Prop Sekope Kepu is the most important name among the 39-strong Wallaby squad coach Michael Cheika selected yesterday to take on England in a three-Test series next month.
England coach Eddie Jones will bring a powerful scrum, and Kepu teaming up again with prop Scott Sio and hooker-captain Stephen Moore will more than counter that threat.
Kepu’s on duty with Bordeaux, but with 63 Wallaby caps to his credit he qualifies under the ‘Giteau Law’ of 60 caps to return home for internationals.
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The same qualification apples to former Wallaby skipper and lock James Horwill with 61 caps who has been performing strongly with Harlequins.
The 39 will be trimmed to 30 prior to the series.
In the meantime there are ten Waratahs, ten Brumbies, nine Reds, four Rebels, and four from the Force – plus Kepu and Horwill.
Of the 39 there are ten uncapped Wallabies – Alan Ala’alatoa, Rory Arnold. Adam Coleman. Nick Frisby. Dane Haylett-Petty, Leroy Houston, Karmichael Hunt, Eto Nabuli, Joe Powell, and barnstorming centre Samu Kerevi.
Nabuli is an interesting character.
Former rugby league internationals Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns were in Fiji promoting their code when they saw Nabuli playing two internationals in the Pacific Championship in May 2014, and working as a hotel porter.
On the Fittler-Johns recommendation, Penrith signed Nabuli who played for the Panthers in the 2014 NSW Cup grand final win in the September over the Knights.
Nabuli switched to the Dragons last year, scoring seven tries in 13 games.
To complete Nabuli’s rocketing career, he’s played 13 games for the Reds this season where he’s impressed Cheika on the wing.
With Kurtley Beale out injured for the year, Rob Horne, Samu Kerevi, Karmichael Hunt, and Leroy Houston will be in an intriguing battle for the 12 jersey.
Hunt could double up as Israel Folau’s fullback standby which would make him a dual international.
With the Wallaby front row above and the back row of Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, and David Pocock locked away, the focus will be on the locks.
With Will Skelton and Rory Arnold among the 39, the mouth-watering prospect of them combining could become a reality, making the lineouts a Wallaby dominating.
Let the stats tell the story. Skelton is 203cm and 140kgs. Arnold is 208cm and 120 kgs.
Awesome, there’s nothing like it in world rugby.
The ten Waratahs, with Wallaby caps in brackets
Israel Folau (39), Bernard Foley (27), Michael Hooper (51), Rob Horne (29), Dean Mumm (44), Taqele Naiyaravoro (1), Wycliff Palu (57), Tatafu Polota-Nau (61),Nick Phipps (39), and Will Skelton (14).
The ten Brumbies.
Alan Ala’alatoa (uncapped), Rory Arnold (uncapped), Sam Carter (12), Scott Fardy (30), Tevita Kuridrani (31), Stephen Moore – capt (102), David Pocock (55), Joe Powell (uncapped), Scott Sio (16), and Christian Lealiifano (16).
The nine Reds.
Nick Frisby (uncapped), Liam Gill (15),Greg Holmes (24), Leroy Houston (uncapped), Karmichael Hunt (uncapped), Eto Nabuli (uncapped), Rob Simmons (60), James Slipper (74), and Samu Kerevi (uncapped).
The four Rebels.
James Hanson (10), Mike Harris (10), Sean McMahon (6), and Toby Smith (3).
The four from the Force.
Adam Coleman (uncapped), Dane Haylett-Petty (uncapped), Ben McCalman (47), and Luke Morahan (1).
Plus – Sekope Kepu (63 – Bordeaux), and James Horwill (61 – Harlequins).
Will this side give Eddie’s England a shake?