The Wallabies have announced their 32-man squad for the 2014 Rugby Championship today, with few surprises being included.
It is a very similar list to the squad named for the three-Test series against France earlier this year, and is reflective of the strongest sides in the Super Rugby competition.
10 members of the Brumbies side and 11 of the Waratahs have been included in the squad, with the two team squaring off in the grand final qualifier for the Super Rugby competition this Saturday.
A big addition to the squad is Fiji-born flyer Henry Speight, who is eligible for Wallabies selection after three years with the Brumbies. Speight replaces Nick Cummins, who is bound for Japan for the 2015 season.
Speight will likely come straight into the starting side when available, having impressed in his time at Super Rugby level.
Christian Lealiifano remains in the squad as a centre, along with Brumbies teammates Matt Toomua and Tevita Kuridrani. James Hanson from the Reds has replaced former skipper Stephen Moore, as he did when Moore picked up an ACL injury in the first Test of the year against France.
Coach Ewen McKenzie was happy that he was able to produce a squad with continuity from the France Tests.
“We’ve come a long way as a group over the past 12 months and the consistency we’re now applying across selections, high-performance behaviours and our playing style is a positive sign that we are heading in the right direction,” he said.
“The challenge for us now is to continue this consistency throughout the Rugby Championship, beginning with a Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand.
“We understand a great deal of attention going into the match will be around the All Blacks and their motivation to create a new piece of history by winning a world-record 18 consecutive games.
“For us, it’s no secret that our desire to win back the Bledisloe Cup grows every year, but if our attention isn’t focused on the right areas during our preparations then it will be easy to get caught looking too far ahead.
“We recognise that and will have a clear understanding of how we are going to approach and prepare for the opening game.”
McKenzie was also happy with the form of the provincial sides heading into the Rugby Championship.
“It’s extremely pleasing to know we will have one Australian province in the Super Rugby Final and I wish both the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies the best of luck for their clash on Saturday,” McKenzie said.
“It has been captivating to follow their respective journeys throughout 2014 and I’m confident their efforts – along with those of the Force, Rebels and Reds – will have a positive influence when the Test season begins.”
Full Rugby Championship fixtures are here.
The full squad is here:
|
Player |
State |
Age |
Test Caps |
|
PROP |
|||
|
Ben Alexander |
ACT Brumbies |
29 |
62 |
|
Pek Cowan |
Western Force |
28 |
7 |
|
Sekope Kepu |
NSW Waratahs |
28 |
41 |
|
Scott Sio |
ACT Brumbies |
22 |
5 |
|
James Slipper |
Queensland Reds |
25 |
52 |
|
HOOKER |
|||
|
Nathan Charles |
Western Force |
25 |
2 |
|
James Hanson |
Queensland Reds |
25 |
1 |
|
Tatafu Polota-Nau |
NSW Waratahs |
28 |
49 |
|
LOCK |
|||
|
Sam Carter |
ACT Brumbies |
24 |
1 |
|
James Horwill |
Queensland Reds |
29 |
51 |
|
Rob Simmons |
Queensland Reds |
25 |
40 |
|
Will Skelton |
NSW Waratahs |
22 |
1 |
|
BACKROW |
|||
|
Scott Fardy |
ACT Brumbies |
30 |
13 |
|
Scott Higginbotham |
Melbourne Rebels |
27 |
24 |
|
Matt Hodgson |
Western Force |
33 |
6 |
|
Michael Hooper (c) |
NSW Waratahs |
22 |
31 |
|
Ben McCalman |
Western Force |
26 |
32 |
|
Wycliff Palu |
NSW Waratahs |
31 |
51 |
|
SCRUMHALF |
|||
|
Luke Burgess |
Melbourne Rebels |
30 |
37 |
|
Nick Phipps |
NSW Waratahs |
25 |
17 |
|
Nic White |
ACT Brumbies |
24 |
13 |
|
FLYHALF |
|||
|
Kurtley Beale |
NSW Waratahs |
25 |
42 |
|
Bernard Foley |
NSW Waratahs |
24 |
7 |
|
CENTRE |
|||
|
Tevita Kuridrani |
ACT Brumbies |
23 |
11 |
|
Christian Leali’ifano |
ACT Brumbies |
26 |
13 |
|
Matt Toomua |
ACT Brumbies |
24 |
13 |
|
BACK-THREE |
|||
|
Adam Ashley-Cooper |
NSW Waratahs |
30 |
94 |
|
Henry Speight |
ACT Brumbies |
26 |
Uncapped |
|
Israel Folau |
NSW Waratahs |
25 |
18 |
|
Rob Horne |
NSW Waratahs |
24 |
16 |
|
Pat McCabe |
ACT Brumbies |
26 |
22 |
|
Joe Tomane |
ACT Brumbies |
24 |
9 |
Nek Minnut
Guest
Gill isnt in the squad because both Hooper and Hodgson deserve their spots far more than Gill and 3 opensides in a squad isnt going to happen unless one is a utility. Imo Gill wont ever be a regular in the squad.
Nek Minnut
Guest
Beales best position is flyhalf and although he is wearing 12 at the Tahs he is not playing inside centre, he is playing flyhalf number 2. And please dont tell me he is rubbish at first receiver, hes been in outstanding form.
The Bush
Roar Guru
New Zealand's not a third world country? Ha ha ha ha ha... Sometimes people need to lighten up on this forum - honestly as if anyone thinks this could be true...
Red Kev
Roar Guru
That is the point - at scrum time Robinson offers nothing more than any of our other loosehead props but around the field he offers considerably less. Hence he's no longer a Wallaby.
Tatah
Guest
I know right, it's fine when you can slag off a bunch of people, but it aint reasonable when they retort is it? I mean, it was all going well for you - who knew that was going to happen?
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
PeterK A common conversation I have with people Me: [Insert something positive about New Zealand] Other person: [Insert sheep joke] repeat Nothing intelligent, nothing relative to the subject. Just a default, unimaginative, unnecessary and derogatory response. The point of a conversation (especially here on an open forum) is to have a constructive discussion on everything rugby. That's why if someone proclaims something you disagree with then you owe it to the forum to leave something constructive instead of the usual standard.
niwdeyaj
Guest
so far foley hasn't done anything to warrant displacing quade. he was good against france but not exceptional, certainly not in the class of qc's eoyt performances. i'd get him playing nrc to get back in form then take him on eoyt again.
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
Andy S My assumption was that he is Australian and he was referring to New Zealand. If I'm wrong then I take my comments back and I apologise.
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
And while I'm at it I'll just point out that this argument/thread was fine until some troll started baiting me for no other reason than to get a cheap laugh and drag us both into a sledging match. I refuted his bait then you jump down my neck about being healthy or whatever other rubbish you pulled from 'who knows where'.
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
I don't despise anyone. But if someone spouts BS I'm going to call it out and people can feel free to throw it back in return. But if you do then make it constructive and not resort to insults and derogatory rubbish.
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure how it would bring a recession, for one the alcohol industry would be put into over drive.
44bottles
Roar Guru
Or, here's a thought, he wants to spend time on a forum type website like this where he can get news and discuss Rugby with others, and The Roar is a very good option. Rather than looking at who the viewership (readership?) consist of.
44bottles
Roar Guru
Nah, Paddy Ryan was dropped after the first test for Weeks. Cowan was in the first two tests then wasn't selected in the third
Tatah
Guest
Jeez you can dish it out champ, but you're not much chop at taking it. You seem to spend an inordinate amount of time on a website with people that you appear to despise. That's not unhealthy either.
Jagman
Guest
You obviously haven't seen foley kick down field since last year. He now boasts one prodigious boot.
Harry Jones
Guest
Good squad. Third best in the world. Will push SA for 2nd. Probably win against NZ once? Strong at the back. Great at 12. Good at 6-8, but maybe a bit shallow. A bit thin at 9-10. Weak at 1-5. When is QC and WG back? Bok news: Juan Smith is back!
stu
Guest
Oh if the abs don't win the bledisloe it would not only be a surprise, but probably bring on a recession in NZ. From a wallaby perspective it would be great to see a 1998 result this year, but i would never bet on it. Thebest thing about this wallabies squad is there is no JOC or Cooper.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Wasn't Cowan dropped for Weeks in the last French Test? I thought Weeks did well and hasn't done anything wrong since. The scrum was the one good thing about the Rebels. I suppose Jones just didn't make an impression at lock. He's probably better suited to 6. There's a bit of a queue ahead of him.
Rugger Mouse
Roar Rookie
When's Cooper and Genia coming back? I'm a bit unsure still of Foley at test level.. And I hope White can transfer his Brumbies form to test level or else can't wait for Genia to come back.
jameswm
Guest
The Reds have two top backs - just both injured.