- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Michael Cheika has recalled Wycliff Palu and Matt Giteau to the Wallabies squad to play New Zealand in Sydney next Saturday.
The squad remains mostly the same as the one that has played in the Rugby Championship so far, but the recall of Palu is telling after Scott Higginbotham and Ben McCalman occupied the number 8 jersey in the last two matches against the Springboks and the Pumas.
Palu at his best is a damaging runner and robust in contact. Higginbotham failed to capitalise on his start against the Boks, while McCalman had a very solid game against Argentina.
Whether Palu will make it back into the starting 15 is up to Wallabies coach Cheika.
Giteau returns after missing the plane trip to Argentina due to a chest injury.
Higginbotham misses out on the squad altogether. Uncapped prop Toby Smith replaces him in the squad, while Christian Lealiifano will be hoping for a reprise of his game at inside centre last year in the Bledisloe with uncertainty surrounding Matt Toomua.
Toomua suffered a head knock in the early stages of the clash with Argentina.
Cheika said it was another opportunity to shape his squad for the World Cup.
“We have been able to look at a few different combinations during the first two rounds of The Rugby Championship and the squad is starting to take shape,” he said.
“In additional to the 31 players, we’ll be bringing some injured and fringe players into camp to continue their rehabilitation and manage their return to play. It’s important that they remain connected and contribute to the group.
“Toby [Smith] has had a solid season with the Rebels, and has been working really hard while the group has been away.
“Our intention was always to rest Wycliff [Palu] prior to this camp, and he has come back in great shape and really eager to play.”
31-man Wallabies Squad for first Bledisloe against New Zealand
Adam Ashley-Cooper – VC (Waratahs)
Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)
Quade Cooper (Reds)
Scott Fardy (Brumbies)
Israel Folau (Waratahs)
Bernard Foley (Waratahs)
Matt Giteau (Toulon)
Greg Holmes (Reds)
Michael Hooper – VC (Waratahs)
James Horwill (Reds)
Sekope Kepu (Waratahs)
Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)
Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies)
Stephen Moore – C (Brumbies)
Drew Mitchell (Toulon)
Ben McCalman (Force)
Sean McMahon (Rebels)
Dean Mumm (Waratahs)
Wycliff Palu (Waratahs)
Nick Phipps (Waratahs)
David Pocock (Brumbies)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs)
Scott Sio (Brumbies)
Rob Simmons (Reds)
Will Skelton (Waratahs)
James Slipper (Reds)
Toby Smith* (Rebels)
Henry Speight (Brumbies)
Matt Toomua (Brumbies)
Joe Tomane (Brumbies)
Nic White (Brumbies)
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.