Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has announced his team to play Wales in Saturday’s James Bevan Trophy and Spring Tour clash at Millennium Stadium.
Cheika has remained consistent with the starting XV chosen to play the All Blacks three weeks ago, with the inclusion of Ben McCalman and debutant Sean McMahon for the injured Scott Higginbotham and Scott Fardy.
McMahon’s selection caps off a remarkable year for the 20-year-old Melbourne Rebels backrower in which he was also awarded the Super Rookie of the Year, NRC Player of the Year, and Australian Under 20s Player of the Year.
“Going into the Barbarians match it was made clear that players had an opportunity to push their way into the Test team with a strong performance,” Cheika said.
“Sean made the most of his opportunity and brought great work-rate and physicality to our game.
“This selection also recognises the outstanding year he has had at all levels of the game, and he thoroughly deserves the chance to debut for Australia.”
McMahon is one of two uncapped players chosen in the team, with Western Force prop Tetera Faulkner earning a spot on an extended nine-man bench.
Faulkner, 26, is a former Australian Schoolboys, Under 19 and Under 20 representative who has earned 29 Super Rugby caps since debuting for the Western Force in 2011, and has the unique ability to be able to play on both sides of the scrum.
Cheika has again chosen an extended bench which includes hooker James Hanson, props Faulkner and Ben Alexander, locks James Horwill and Will Skelton, backrower Matt Hodgson, scrumhalf Will Genia, flyhalf Quade Cooper and winger Rob Horne.
One player will be omitted from the bench in the lead-up to gameday.
Cheika said the team was looking forward to their first Test match of the Spring Tour.
“I’ve been really pleased with attitude and commitment of the team and by how they have embraced a new environment and way of doing things,” he said.
“Everyone has worked really hard on preparing themselves in the best possible way, and we’re all excited about the opportunity to represent Australia and give our absolute best on Saturday.”
The match is Australia’s second of their five-game Spring Tour, and will be followed by matches against France, Ireland and England.
The Qantas Wallabies commenced their Spring Tour and the Michael Cheika era with an entertaining 40-36 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham at the weekend.
The Wallabies side to play Wales:
1. James Slipper
2. Saia Fainga’a
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Sam Carter
5. Rob Simmons
6. Sean McMahon*
7. Michael Hooper (c)
8. Ben McCalman
9. Nick Phipps
10. Bernard Foley
11. Joe Tomane
12. Christian Leali’ifano
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Israel Folau
Reserves:
James Hanson
Tetera Faulkner*
Ben Alexander
James Horwill
Will Skelton
Matt Hodgson
Will Genia
Quade Cooper
Rob Horne
One player to be omitted
*On Debut
Bakkies
Guest
I pulled Smith's from Lyon's website and he only joined them this year. Harinordoquy is 1,94 and O'Connell 1,98 I would rather have them in the lineout then say Timani, Skelton, etc. Having good lifters is key too.
NickF
Guest
I agree. This pressure is on CL with Toomua being the other option there.
44bottles
Roar Guru
While Cory Jane can only truly play right. He carries the ball in the wrong hand and doesn't have his instinctual left hand fend on the other wing, as seen in the 1st England test (I think?)
Michael Essa
Roar Guru
i think you'll find weight and height stats are often very outdated andor inaccurate. i've seen Richie Grey from scotland listed as 6ft 4 when he toured here last year....he is actually atleast 6ft 10... some say 6ft11
Bakkies
Guest
You need a backrower that can link with the backs, cover kicks, scrummage. The Wallabies backrow are poor in the scrum often detaching or putting their head up. We know from over 10 years of bad scrummaging that they leak tries, field position and opp kicks at goal. Lineouts are key to launching an attack and sucking in opp forwards so a third jumper is key. That's why most teams have multi skilled players in the tight five that can win turnovers without sacrificing a third lineout option in the back row (ie two fetchers).
Bakkies
Guest
Weight and height is no big deal. Athleticism, technique and speed is more key. Yannick Nyanga is only listed as 96kg on wiki as he is a quality player that France ignore. Dusautoir is only 100kg and he is no pushover. George Smith 102 kg and 1,80. Cheika may even play them as left and right.
Bakkies
Guest
Owen Williams is another to watch out for. More potential at Leicester now with Flood gone.
Bakkies
Guest
Ball plays for the Scarlets.
Bakkies
Guest
If Horwill is picked ahead of Skelton that will contradict that.
Hoqni
Guest
Funny. cooper is in matchday because he is incumbent 10 but for his injury. There is nothing sinister about it. Foley has already earned back up 10 spot. So both will be in matchday all the way to RWC. This tour, it will be 50:30 Foley:Cooper at 10. Go the Wallabies
Nick Off
Guest
Geoff Slipper is not The Hinge.... Alexander is your man Slipper is going great guns All Bent, there is some hope with PAE and Weeks for TH options would've liked to see PAE on the tour to begin his learning of test match rugby
Frank
Guest
Indeed there are benefits to be reaped from multiple ball thieves- and McMahon and pocock have plenty of impact with there involvements in attack and defence so nothing lost there either
Frank
Guest
I missed that- considering it's just holding him from the World Cup teams then it's a great idea, time will tell if you have channelled cheika's mind
Karl K
Guest
Haha we could always train Izzy up to jump at 5! Then leave Hooper and McMahon out in the 10 channel with a bit of space to get a big old truck and trailer going! ;)
Red Kev
Roar Guru
There are four tests on tour Frank, I'm saying play Skelton in two of them, just not the two that we meet in the RWC2015 pool. It's just a wild idea I had while reading the team list, and the more I pondered it the more I liked the notion.
Justin3
Guest
And you can't pass forward in rugby either
Utah
Guest
and your comment Justin3 shows the arrogance of the roar
CNS
Guest
What is the point if his set piece is terrible
kibui b
Guest
Mowen was average over the ball, and never carried with authority. He was a great leader, made plenty of tackles and great lineout exponent. McCalman brings plenty of grunt alongside Mcmahon who plays much bigger than he is. They will allow Hooper to range wider, and the potential for breakout tries is immense. Mcmahons 7's bloodline bodes well for support on counters. Hooper won't be isloated on the park when he breaks the line. I'd much rather have a Pocock or Hodgson at 7, but this is the best combination right now.
kibui b
Guest
Maybe both get a run at tighthead. Slipper is good for 80, Kepu for about 45-50, throw in Faulkner at 3 to see what he has, and if he can't hold hiw own, go to the Hinge to close the game out.