Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says Australia will start the Tri-Nations rugby tournament in chase mode and he has picked a quartet of uncapped players to add extra physicality to his side.
After blooding six newcomers in the four inbound Tests against Fiji, England and Ireland, the selectors opted for four more newcomers for the prestigious southern hemisphere tournament.
The uncapped quartet comprised Queenslanders Anthony Faingaa (centre), Scott Higginbotham (back rower) and Rob Simmons (lock) and Western Force back rower Ben McCalman.
Dropped from the first squad of the season were wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner, props Pekahou Cowan and Laurie Weeks and hooker Huia Edmonds.
The lack of size in the Australian team has been a major talking point in recent times and Deans said that had been a consideration for the selectors.
“We’ve looked to add some physicality,” Deans told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.
Simmons and Higginbotham are returning from injury and will play in club games as will hooker Stephen Moore and prop Benn Robinson, both of whom missed the four June Tests through injury.
Deans believed McCalman and Faingaa would add to the physicality of the Wallabies line-up, as Australia prepared to face the powerful New Zealand and South African teams.
“Benn and Anthony I think it’s evident to anyone who has watched them play, they are tough and they are resilient,” Deans said.
“They love the contest, they are physical and these are qualities that we are going to have to bring to these Tri-Nations contests.”
Lingering fitness doubts over outside backs Peter Hynes and Digby Ioane means Deans announced just 28 players on Thursday.
He will name another two after watching some club games.
While there are already 16 forwards in the squad, Deans said it couldn’t be assumed the two added players would be backs.
New Zealand and South Africa clash in the first two matches of the tournament, meeting in Auckland and Wellington over the next two weekends.
Australia enter the tournament against defending champions and World Cup holders South Africa in Brisbane on July 24.
New Zealand (91.68, first) lead the IRB World Rankings from South Africa (89.46) with Australia (84.41) third.
“That’s our challenge and our opportunity is to try and adjust our place in the world,” Deans said.
“They (New Zealand and South Africa) have come out of June in great shape, both of them, there’s no doubt about that and hence they are ranked one and two in the world.
“There’s some distance back to the rest of the world, that’s evident. We are chasing.”
Moore was confident his jaw, which had two titanium plates inserted in it after a fracture, would be fine for the start of the Tri-Nations.
“I thought about that throughout the whole recovery period, how I feel getting back into the contact, but now it feels fine, I can’t feel any effects of it, so I think it won’t be a problem,” Moore said.
Australia’s other experienced hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau wasn’t considered as he is scheduled for ankle surgery later this month, and neither were prop Ben Alexander (knee) and No.8 Stephen Hoiles (achilles) after they underwent recent surgery.
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.
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We won't see aggressive, forceful, intimidating Rugby, it has never been Australia's style, Wallabies have traditionally played the game that runs around any defensive lapses on offer. In the forwards what we do need to ensure is that we have enough players at the ruck to protect the ball which has been the one aspect that requires more effort. Basically ALL the forwards need to work with more enthusiasm. I would like to see loiterers aggressively shunted back by unbound players because their presence creates 'blind spots' (for proof see the Richie McCaw training video). Establish this practise and the forwards will feel their collective power. Another feature which will hurt us is the lack of vision from ball carriers who do not actively try to 'promote' supporting players, patience and a willingness to get the pill into a better position is lacking. The simple act of slowing down to have a look around will be more successful than getting isolated, this game is mostly about possession first, second and third and territory is only marginal, especially on attack. In Ice Hockey they have the concept of 'assists' which is creditted to those players who contributed to the scoring shot. Introducing this into debriefs and awards, having captains (and other team leaders) congratulating the assisting players first rather than the try scorer will inforce the importance of team effort. One small point, we are playing two of the proudest Rugby nations, they are susceptible to mind games. We on the other hand welcome the underdog role. Frustrating these oppositions will reap rewards late in the halves of every game because of the pressure they will be under which is considerable. Aussies are among the most individualistic peoples on Earth, trying to mould them into a team is any Australian coaches biggest hurdle. If Dingo can accomplish this, if you see the Wallabies playing the team game then expect good results.