Wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner are among five players dumped as Wallabies coach Robbie Deans wielded the selection axe for the upcoming Tri- Nations rugby series.
Deans named four uncapped newcomers in his 28-man squad – Queenslanders Anthony Faingaa (centre), Scott Higginbotham (backrower) and Rob Simmons (lock) and Western Force backrower Ben McCalman.
Dropped from the squad used for the June home Tests were Mitchell and Turner, props Pek Cowan and Laurie Weeks, and hooker Huia Edmonds.
The axing of Mitchell and Turner means Adam Ashley-Cooper is likely to remain at wing rather than returning to his preferred fullback spot as he, Peter Hynes and Digby Ioane are the only wingers named in the squad and the injured Ioane may not be fit for the first Test or two.
Leading frontrowers Benn Robinson and Stephen Moore return after missing the June Tests through injury.
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was not considered as he is awaiting ankle surgery later this month and neither were prop Ben Alexander (knee) and No.8 Stephen Hoiles (achilles) after they recently underwent surgery.
The Wallabies open their Tri Nations campaign against South Africa in Brisbane on July 24.
Just 28 of the 30 scheduled names have been released, with the coaching panel of Robbie Deans, Jim Williams and Richard Graham, and selector David Nucifora, opting to play a waiting game on the final two spots before confirming the final playing roster.
“We still have some decisions to make, and would like to see a little bit more club rugby before settling on the final two positions,” Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans says.
“Given the difficulties that we have experienced this year, in terms of our injury circumstance, we feel that it is prudent to allow ourselves a little bit more time in this instance to cover off any other requirements we feel that we will need.”
Anthony Faingaa and Ben McCalman both impressed as part of the Barbarians squad during the two-match midweek series against England last month.
“Anthony and Ben have both been rewarded for their performance against England, in terms of what they brought to those games, and what we feel they can add to our mix,” Deans says.
“They are both uncompromising players who are very direct, and showed playing for the Australian Barbarians that they have the ability to step up to the next level.”
Simmons and Higginbotham are in a similar category, Deans says.
“We included Rob in the original Barbarians squad as much for the experience as anything else, to get him up to date with our methods and familiar with our environment,” Deans says.
“He was coming off an injury break and we felt that background was important for him looking at the bigger picture. Being able to reintroduce him to the game during the second Barbarians outing was an added bonus, but the experience of the two weeks training with us offers him a good foundation for what is coming.”
Wallabies Tri-Nations squad: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Mark Chisholm, Quade Cooper, Ben Daley, Rocky Elsom (capt), Anthony Faingaa, Saia Faingaa, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Rob Horne, Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Ben McCalman, Salesi Ma’afu, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, Jame O’Connor, David Pocock, Benn Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, Rob Simmons, James Slipper.
james
Guest
van man should have made the team his injury for the reds spelt the end of there season thats how good he was this year,constantly got over the gain line and that my friends is the key to this wallaby side getting ball running forwards so the backs can cut loose.jim
Gordon
Guest
Obviously one missed tackle doesnt make him a bad defender. that is a stupid thing to say. Does one missed conversion make Morne Steyn a bad kicker? Faingaa does get over the advantage line regularly and the defining attribute of his play is his hard straight running, something which neither Giteau or Barnes brings to the position. He does not have the passing and kicking game of Barnes or Giteau, but he is by no means inadequate in either of these departments. His short kicking and passing set up a number of tries for the reds this year.
Justin
Roar Pro
I think most are saying at a pinch with injuries on game day he could but I havent seen anyone suggest he would be a starting lock.
Justin
Roar Pro
Chester, thanks for the stats. No surprise to see Genia/Cooper dominate. Its also a great reason why we need an AF style player at 12. Why have another creator? We have enough already and need players who can take advantage of the work WG/QC do. For the style we need to play having G/C in the halves AF is the perfect fit. He plays with QC at club level as well so as a combination they know each other very well. He may or may not be the best 12 but he is the best suited with the halves combination. I know you recall the Canes match well so do you also remember the brilliant ball he gave to Davies to set up his try? Ran an outside line to take away the inside defence, took a flat pass from Cooper on the tackle line and then popped a beautiful short ball back inside to Davies, just as he was getting hit, who scored untouched? He is more than a one trick pony and has played plenty of 10 in his time so his passing skills are as good as any other 12 about (both Gits and Barnes are average passers of the ball). But with the inside combo he doesnt need to show all his skillls all the time he just takes advantage of what has already been done.
chester
Guest
Justin - no I am not in the "let's lynch Matt Giteau" fan club that has been set up on the roar but if you want your man Faingaa in the Wallabies, Giteau will be dropped here are the line break create stats from S14 season Cooper 12 Genia 8 Burgess 6 Carter 5 Beale 4 Halangahu 4 Valentine 4 Barnes 4 Mitchell 4 Giteau 4 As you can see Faingaa doesnt feature - he does not create a greal deal of attacking opportunities himself and i think the opposition will not be worried about him in the backline.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
I can't believe people are seriously making calls for McCalman at lock. He's 1.92m! Is Nick Cummins injured? I was impressed with him during the S14.
puma
Guest
Why put drew on the wrong wing too he is used to. How can you expect to change him from his normal wing position and expect him to perform Robbie Deans what are you thinking Put Drew Mitchell in NO 11 or NO 15 and be surprised. Dont put him in NO14.
johnny-boy
Guest
The only trouble with AAC at fullback is his incessant stupid bloody up and unders which inevitably ends up in opposition hands. He is a brilliant centre tho, but Deans like Henry seems to like a converted fullback at wing to give extra cleaning up security at the rear. I think Hynes might get a shot at fullback for his running back ability and putting worry in opposition team (favorite Deans/Crusaders ploy) even tho in his last few games with Reds he went to sleep a bit, like, as mentioned above did Mitchell (pity - he found his mojo and then lost it again). Consistencey is absolutely correct and sorely needed in this team. And no going to sleep when you're taking a match winning easy pot at goal right in front of the sticks which I agree is why Faaigna is there to let Giteau know any such going to sleep and slackness and he's on the bench. Good to see Simmons get a run - he owes lot to the Van man I reckon. Hope he does him proud.
Justin
Guest
Peter k - Spot on! A Victorian who barracks for the Brumbies (soon Rebels) yet I want AF cause he is a Qlder!
Justin
Guest
You are doing beautifully Chester, just about everything you have said is incorrect! Next you'll tell me gits had a a bad year with the boot in S14 based on one kick v England ;)
Peter K
Guest
Justin has him in the team because he is a Qlder
chester
Guest
So Justin what do you win the award for- stupidity Justin maybe your theory should be- he is a great defender EXCEPT when he misses tackles If people are going to call for his selection based on his defence, he should be able to tackle. What is he in the team for? He is not big and strong enough to break the line, he doesn't get over the advantage line regularly, he doesn't kick like a second 5/8, he doesn't have great foot work and he certainly isn't a GREAT defender. I know what he is in the squad for - to teach Matt Giteau a lesson by dropping him. Well that is an inspired move by Deans. Hopefully it doesn't back fire
Peter K
Guest
09 genia, 10 cooper, 11 Ioane, 12 Horne, 13 AAC, 14 Hynes, 15 JoC Ioane is a better wing than O/C. Ioane then has a license to roam, not so easy at 13. Horne better than Faingaa. JoC our 2nd best f/b behind AAC. AAC can bend the line and then offload to runners.
Sogippy
Guest
He individually set up the BaBaas first try ( finished off by Habana ) against the AB's at Twickenham . Brilliant.
Parisien
Guest
Looking at the squad, I'm wondering what Deans is thinking. He has done so much chopping and changing already, this is surely the last roll of the dice. Will he try Slipper or Daley at tighthead instead of Maafu? Hopefully Simmons or McCalman will be picked at second row beside Sharpe, ahead of Mumm who we all seem to agree is not an international lock, and bench cover at best. I hope Higginbotham gets in at 8 or even at 6 if Rocky moves to 8. He'll bring size, mongrel and speed. The backline is a headache. We all agree it needs a strong direct runner. So either:Faingaa at 12, and then AAc at 13, and Hynes at 15, OR Digby at 13, with AAC or Hynes at 15 /14. they are fairly interchangeable. But definitely either AAC or Ioane at 13. and yes , AAC could also be tried at 12, he's a good runner, but he will need to learn to pass to his support at least half the time. I go for: 9: Genia if in form 10: Cooper 11: O'Connor/Beale/Giteau 12: Faingaa (or Horne if fit) (Giteau could come back here if he re-finds his from, and only if he has Ioane or AAc outside him. He's also have to learn how to play next to Cooper...) 13: Ioane 14: Hynes 15: AAC I agree the wings look a bit weak, but at least you have dependability on one side(Hynes or AAc) and creativity on the other. But there is no real speed. However the speedsters are either out of form, or injured. Mitchell, (and I was a fan, but his defence is suspect), Turner, Cummins have disappointed, Davies is injured etc Hope Shepherd can come back to fitness and form as he could play fullback, AAC 13, Ioane back to the wing. welcome your thoughts!
Pete
Guest
I can't believe people want Giteau out. Outside of the ABs and Boks he'd be a walk up to any international side.. and I believe the ABs and Boks would want him in their squad pushing for a start ( but not for goal kicking :) ) Chopping and changing a back line before the Trinations is a guarantee for a flogging.
Red Rooster
Guest
Parisien - I agree - he was very poor in a poor side. Not sure what JCM means by Blake giving Haymen a run for his money. If he means head to head then they never played agaisnt each other as they both are tightheads. If he means in playing ability then why is Hayman on a $1.2m dollar contract in Toulon and Blake has in effect been run out of town (he was heading towards a division 2 french club
JohnB
Guest
I can only assume PB means all of them, and that all of them are in the "monumentally" category of stupid selections. Certainly it's a point of view.
Parisien
Guest
I think 7s will be great for Turner, and a few others as well could learn from it as well... you have to run, tackle, pass, be extremely fit, and most of all understand space, placement, position and teamwork.
Chunks
Roar Pro
Ant Smell Ma Faingaa is a good choice I think. Houston cannot perform adequately at S14... no need to think he could perform at test level. Mumm shouldn't be picked in the 1st XV. When he goes missing he goes missing for 70mins, and he usually goes missing 2/3 matches he plays at test level (perhaps even s14 level). Overall I think Deans is doing ok selection wise, there really is a dearth of depth in our rugby at the moment and too much youth. Really think that world cup 2015 is looking the goods though.