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A Wallaby squad selected entirely of overseas players

6th June, 2014
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Matt Giteau, it's time to say goodbye. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Roar Pro
6th June, 2014
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With the ARU policy of only selecting stay-at-home Wallabies under scrutiny, let’s check out the talent lying cloistered away in various clubs throughout the world.

I’ve put together a squad comprised solely of overseas, ineligible Aussies – both former Wallabies and those performing at a level to warrant selection.

Since the current selection policy appears to have discounted those players who have announced their intention to play overseas next season, I have included such players in this team.

What to call the team? The ineligible Wallabies? The overseas Wallabies? The exiled Wallabies? The mercenary Wallabies? The illegitimate Wallabies may be a bit too personal, although some Roarers might well warm to a variation of that descriptor for some of the players named here.

15 James O’Connor (London Irish)
14 Drew Mitchell (Toulon)
13 Andrew Smith (Munster)
12 Matt Giteau (Toulon)
11 Digby Ioane (Stade Francais)
10 Brock James (Clermont Auvergne)
9 Richard Kingi (Stade Francais)
8 Leroy Houston (Bath)
7 George Smith (Suntory Sungoliath)
6 Peter Kimlin (Grenoble)
5 Kane Douglas (Leinster)
4 Mark Chisholm (Bayonne)
3 Salesi Ma’Afu (Northampton Saints)
2 James Hilterbrand (Edinburgh)
1 Ben Whittaker (Biarritz Olympique)

16 Huia Edmonds (Gloucester)
17 Dayna Edwards (Grenoble)
18 Keiran Longbottom (Saracens)
19 Dean Mumm (Exeter Chiefs)
20 David Lyons (Stade Francais)
21 Brett Sheehan (Wasps)
22 Berrick Barnes (Panasonic Wild Knights)
23 Alfie Mafi (Brive)

Remaining squad
Sitaleki Timani (Montpellier), Julian Salvi (Leicester Tigers), Henry Vanderglas (Grenoble), Jono Jenkins (Narbonne), Patrick Phipps (London Irish), Blair Connor (Bordeau Begles), Brackin Karauria-Henry (NTT Shining Arcs)

Coaches
Les Kiss (Ireland) – Head
Matt Taylor (Scotland) – Defence
Phil Mooney (Panasonic Wild Knights) – Skills
Patricio Noriega (Bayonne) – Forwards

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Who would captain? How would this team go against the stay-at-home Wallabies? I found it difficult to find hookers and props. Did I overlook any players?

Kiwis have a much more difficult task selecting a team of exiled players and could probably put together two or three different teams. But could they put together a team that could beat the mighty Wallaby exiles?

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