The Wallabies have barnstorming hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau back to reinforce their scrum for a rugged European tour but will miss back-rower Scott Fardy for next week’s clash with the All Blacks.
The abrasive Fardy, Australia’s best forward in their 54-17 rout of Argentina last weekend, has been ruled out of the dead rubber third Bledisloe Cup Test in Dunedin due to an eye injury.
It’s a major blow for a Wallabies outfit desperate to save face against the world champions while battling a back-row injury crisis.
The late-blooming Fardy, 29, has shone in his four Test starts after stepping into the breach left by injury to Scott Higginbotham, David Pocock, Wycliff Palu and Hugh McMeniman.
Ben McCalman looms as a replacement at blindside flanker for the All Blacks clash while Dave Dennis and Liam Gill, both included in the 32-man tour squad for Europe on Friday, will vie for a bench spot.
The immediate disappointment of losing Fardy for one Test has been off-set by Polota-Nau’s long-awaited return on next month’s tour when Australia make a grand slam tilt against the four home union nations and also play Italy in Turin.
The injury-plagued Waratahs rake will add much-needed oomph to a Wallabies pack which has struggled at scrum time this year and lacked power.
Polota-Nau, who missed the Lions series with a broken arm, has been cleared of a lingering hamstring problem and coach Ewen McKenzie is keen to tap into his 44 Tests of experience up front.
“Tatafu hasn’t had much of an opportunity due to injury over the past six months but we’re picking him on reputation,” McKenzie said.
“He is also an experienced scrummager, which will be valuable in the UK.
“He’ll need all of his experience to push his way back into contention although having a guy with his background will strengthen the group.”
It’s a group that will miss five regular starters in Pocock (knee), Higginbotham (shoulder), Palu (knee), Kurtley Beale (shoulder) and Pat McCabe (neck) through long-term injuries.
Rising players Kyle Godwin (shoulder), James Hanson (neck), Jesse Mogg (shoulder), Hugh Pyle (shoulder) and Jake Schatz (knee) have also missed out following surgery.
The biggest surprise omission was young Brumbies loose-head Scott Sio who was edged out for the fifth prop spot by NSW tight-head Paddy Ryan.
But more eyebrows were raised that Fijian-born winger Henry Speight has been forced to wait for a call-up as the IRB determine his eligibility through residency.
Seemingly a certainty for Test honours following his try-scoring deeds with the Brumbies, Speight’s four-season stint with Waikato in New Zealand’s provincial competition until 2011 has thrown a cloud over his availability.
At best, the 25-year-old will be eligible in time for the final Test against Wales on November 30.
Nick Cummins’ return from a broken hand has bolstered the wing stocks while McKenzie has also recalled Queensland openside Gill, halfback Nick Phipps and Reds utility back Mike Harris to his squad which will be pruned to 24 for the All Blacks match on Tuesday.
Wallabies squad: Forwards – Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan, James Slipper, Saia Fainga’a, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Kane Douglas, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Sitaleki Timani, Dave Dennis, Scott Fardy, Liam Gill, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Ben Mowen.
Backs – Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Matt Toomua, Christian Leali’ifano, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mike Harris, Tevita Kuridrani, Nick Cummins, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Joe Tomane, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley.
ben
Guest
Maaate! A grandslam is only the 4 home nations eng ire scot wales.
Justin3
Guest
I couldn't care if they could make the abs or Boks. I just want the team to play to its potential and beat those sides.
ben
Guest
I remember tatafu before the 1st bled test being interviewed on tv. "im ready to smash some all blacks". Then he got hurt again.
JP
Guest
Why? "...........ah quiet!! No sensible argument just another statement
Brumby Jack
Guest
They are Australians not New Zealanders ! What a stupid comment but that's typical
WhoDis
Roar Rookie
+1 I love his work, but it is inevitable he will mince himself again somehow. Unfortunately he is so prone to head knocks. You can't see him playing to a ripe age.
WhoDis
Roar Rookie
I would agree with your Wallabies by 12 prediction. If we were playing the Highlanders.
BlueBlood
Guest
Thank you! Pocock doesn't deserve to walk back into the team after 2 years out of the gold jersey, especially as Hooper has been consistently one of our best performers week in week out
Ian
Guest
Fair enough keep the third test. But how is it a grand slam without playing France?
Pete
Guest
I agree, hope gill gets a bench spot next weekend. His workrate is phenomenal! Shame for fardy.. As for this 3rd bled test stuff I believe it must be three tests. That way there will always be a clear winner. Two of the bled games are actually part of the four nations so its really only one more game... This year there has been a glut of tests with the lions and now a grand slam spring tour! These tests dont come around very often so enjoy them!
Kane
Roar Guru
It seems he doesn't play that level against the All Blacks very often he's 2/13 seeing how he single handedly won the 1/4 how come he didn't single handedly win any of the 8 in a row he lost against the All Blacks? Brussow is the only openside to consistently match/out perform Richie at test level. Pococks first game as captain was a complete and utter failure losing to Scotland at home because Pocock didn't take the points on offer and repeatedly went for a try that they never got.
CJ
Guest
If the Bledisloe series was 1-1 at this stage would you be so keen to remove the decider from the test schedule? A tied 2 test series means the current holder retains the trophy. The third test was meant to give aussie a better chance of winning it back, not AB's fault they went down like a sack of s*&t in the first two.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Do you REALLY think the reason Brussow is no longer in fovor is because of 1 game against Pocock where he only played 19 min? Really? Pocock was considered the best pilferer in world rugby. He probably was but he has a very limited skill set. Not unlike Brussow. He was also considered one of the top opensides a few years back. Some claimed he was the best (probably the same people claiming Cooper was the worlds best 10 in articles). Now, I have serious doubts that he will return in his 2010/11 form and if he will again cement his spot as the best openside in Aus. A lot of you think Hooper isnt that good but the people handing out the awards and his team mates tend to think differently. Pocock will have a very big mountain to climb to get back into the Wallaby 7 spot after Hooper will have clocked up 29 tests and perhaps a JE medal. A lot of you will act as if its a given that Pocock will return ahead of Hooper. After years of Hooper in the 7 jumper? I am not so sure. Hooper missed 1 tackle in his last 6 tests and makes far more metres than Pocock ever did. It will be interesting.
messa
Guest
kane he went off after pocock ran over him! schooled! in the semi the all blacks targeted him yes and they did it well. he cant play like that every game and i've seen him steal a lot of ball against the all blacks.
Kane
Roar Guru
Not sure Pocock was schooling Brussow in that quarter and he went off after 19min from injury. What I am sure about was Pocock got schooled in that semi.
messa
Guest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFffdWSINW0 ps brussouw has been out of favour since the rwc QF when he got schooled by Pocock in a performance so good it was actually seen from space Pocock has been injured for a long time but he was easily regarded as one of the best players in world rugby in 2010, 2011 early 2012.... countless articles i read outsing even mccacw in world xv's.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Top 5 players in World rugby!? No way. Top 5 opensides a few years back, hell yes. He has played very little international rugby since 2011. Brussow is another top "specialist" openside and the Boks dont even include him in their squad. They have opted for a different kind of player. You overrate Pocock imo. And I havnt forgotten anything. You imagined him single handely winning.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Id like to see the 4 top ranked NH sides face the 4 top ranked SH sides in Dec every year. Wont happen. In the RC Id like to see the top 4 ranked SH sides compete. Wont happen. In the WC Id like to see 4 four team pools play with the top 2 going through to a 2nd set of pools (bottom 2 go through to a "plate" comp) containing 2 four team pools with the top of each pool to the semi final over 7 weeks. Wont happen.
Kane
Roar Guru
What Australia really need is to win it over three then change it to two when it comes to defending.
messa
Guest
oh cmon Pocock is arguably one of the top 5 players in world rugby! Louw is not even close... have we forgotten Pocock single handedly beat the boks in the rwc QF.