Backrower Leroy Houston and winger Taqele Naiyaravoro are set to confirm they’ve cut short stints at British clubs to join the Wallabies squad for next month’s Tests against England.
Australia’s squad for the three-Test series against the Six Nations champions will be announced in Brisbane at 1.30pm AEST on Thursday.
It’s understood that 29-year-old Houston will be named, 11 years after then-Wallabies coach and current England boss Eddie Jones called the New Zealand-born forward into the national squad before he had even made his Super Rugby debut.
Wallabies squad for England series
Houston has one more season left on his contract with English Premiership club Bath, but is set to reveal he’ll move back to Australia to re-join the Queensland Reds – where he played between 2008-11 – and chase a Wallabies debut.
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With the Wallabies down a number of wingers – Joe Tomane and Henry Speight are injured and France-based Drew Mitchell and Adam Ashley-Cooper are not expected to be called upon – Naiyaravoro is a good chance to add to his one Test cap.
The Fijian-born Naiyaravoro has two more years on his deal with Scottish club Glasgow but is believed to have activated a get-out clause to return to the NSW Waratahs.
Glasgow lost their Pro 12 semi-final to Connacht last weekend, leaving the 24-year-old available for the Wallabies.
Queensland halfback Nick Frisby’s strong form is set to earn him a call-up as Nick Phipps’ deputy, while his Reds teammate Samu Kerevi and Western Force fullback Dane Haylett-Petty are also in the frame for the squad, which may be as large as 32 players.
Ken Cathpole's Other Leg
Guest
Ken, it's not 'Clifford'. It's Wycliff Palu.
ken
Guest
Higgers is a better 8 than Palu Houston and Mcalman..but will never be picked by Chieka Ive been informed just recently by someone close to HIGGERS that there was a private blow up after the SA TEST in Brisbane, some heated words , and Higgers ( who is known to be ok with the fists ) gave him a couple of short jabs and Cheiks went and had a sook.. He will not pick him ever.... Man up Cheika ..
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I actually watched Houston's highlights reel and was left very disappointed. A lot of bumping tacklers off as he drifted sideways. Very rarely going through tacklers, through the line. A lot of his "hits" in defence were letting the man get past him that dragging him down from the side. Very little getting his shoulder in front of the attacker.
Charlie Turner
Guest
I've watched Leroy quite a bit at Bath and his running game has been very good, excellent at times. He won best forward amongst a very good pack in 2014. The Bath trainers have managed to lift his fitness levels which was always a weakness at the Reds but he will never be an 80 minute player. He will have to work a lot harder in cover defence if he wants to be a starter for the Wallabies.
cuw
Guest
http://www.planetrugby.com/news/bath-confirm-houston-exit/
MJB
Guest
What has Naiyaravoro got going for him besides being big? A good agent by the sounds of it.
cuw
Guest
Houston coming home may probably have a little to do with a certain Taulupe Faletau joining BAth for 2016/17 season :)
Will W QOS
Roar Pro
Ha ha Ken - lets hope Leroy learned to catch at Bath. I do remember his final season at the Reds he seemed to cough it up at least once a game - however he had line breaking ability when he held onto the pill!
boonzie
Guest
to be honest.. he came back in better form than he left and has now... (Mumm)
cuw
Guest
So this is what Cheika is bringing from his European shopping trip? he really seems to dislike HIgginbotham though
PeterK
Roar Guru
sure but we had sufficient lock depth last year and we sorely lack a good no 8
cuw
Guest
Probably becoz BATH have not really played in the top level this season - at the end of regular season they were 9th (out of 12). and a certain Thomas "the tank" Waldrom has been the top try scorer. (he will miss the final though)
Markus
Guest
Interesting indeed, only one THP selected from Australia. Definitely looks as if one of the looseheads will be training at tighthead with the Wallabies. It was Toby Smith last time and Slipper previously, plus McKenzie had his eye on Sio making the transition, perhaps this time it will be Ala'alatoa. I think Powell has a big future but his current selection is an eyebrow raiser. No starting inside centres named. Admittedly made more difficult by the unavailability of Beale Toomua and Giteau, but does suggest the second playmaker will be persisted with at all costs.
Markus
Guest
Dean Mumm was named in the Aviva Premiership Dream Team right before he returned to Australia. Leroy Houston has not been named in an Aviva Premiership Dream Team. Make of that what you will.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Team named some interesting choices and who missed out. THE 39-MAN SQUAD LHP Alan Ala’alatoa (Brumbies) Scott Sio (Brumbies) James Slipper (Queensland Reds) Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels) Hooker James Hanson (Melbourne Rebels) Stephen Moore (c) (Brumbies) Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs) THP Greg Holmes (Queensland Reds) Sekope Kepu (Bordeaux) Only 2 specialist THP's. Locks - Lineout Calling Sam Carter (Brumbies) Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds) Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs) Locks - Physical Rory Arnold (Brumbies) Adam Coleman (Western Force) James Horwill (Harlequins) Will Skelton (NSW Waratahs) No 6 Scott Fardy (Brumbies) Opensiders Liam Gill (Queensland Reds) Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs) Sean McMahon (Melbourne Rebels) David Pocock (Brumbies) No 8 Leroy Houston (Queensland Reds) Ben McCalman (Western Force) Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs) Scrumhalf Nick Frisby (Queensland Reds) Nick Phipps (NSW Waratahs) Joe Powell (Brumbies) Flyhalf Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs) Christian Leali’ifano (Brumbies) I/C UNKNOWN O/C Samu Kerevi (Queensland Reds) Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies) Wing Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs) Luke Morahan (Western Force) Eto Nabuli (Queensland Reds) Taqele Naiyaravoro (NSW Waratahs) F/B Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs) Mike Harris (Melbourne Rebels) Dane Haylett-Petty (Western Force) Karmichael Hunt (Queensland Reds) Notable omissions - Andrew Ready, L Timani, L Jones, N Stirzaker Players like Hunt, Harris, Horne may play in other positions. Rebels hard done by. L Jones ahead of Mumm Timani ahead of Palu Strizaker ahead of Powell Ready ahead of Hansen or TPN
PeterK
Roar Guru
No. I would have given Higgs more goes last year, I think he was unfairly dropped after 1 match. Is he eligible though. I have not read anyway that he has signed for a super rugby team for next year. I have read that Reds and Rebels are interested but no announced signing.
Andy
Guest
Ex-pat Glasgow fan chiming in. Naiyaravoro wasn't really able to command a regular first team place at the 'weaker' northern hemisphere club. Great things were expected and hoped for but, apart from one stand out performance in the Euro Cup, many Glasgow supporters feel he didn't fulfill expectations. Part of that was down to the team perhaps not getting the best out of him on the filed but the biggest disappointments were his apparent lack of fitness and defensive frailties. Maybe his heart wasn't in it from the beginning and the get out clause at the end of year one was the plan all along - who knows. There certainly weren't any hard feelings when it was announced he was leaving (some months ago actually) and everyone at Glasgow wished him well and will look on with interest to see how he goes back in Oz. I agree it doesn't really seem right that he should walk back into a Wallabies shirt....or even that he got a 10 minute cap in the 1st place. Though there were clear, if unspoken, ulterior motives around the timing of that!
Jason
Guest
Are you telilng me an untested in test matches Houston is better than calling back the better skilled Higginbotham at 8 ??
ken
Guest
If Cheika stacks this team with players coming back from injury, consistently underpeforming players and not picking players in form .. We`re selling our tickets.. I`m especially looking for these names.. Cifford "125 kilo of spuds PALOO " " KANE " im really hard and durable just ask me " Douglas Deans Mummy Tpn the concussion king GIts the midget Nick " throw it over Foleys head " Phipps Leroy " Butter Fingers " Houston
PeterK
Roar Guru
Gits was player of the year in europe, very limited success in RC and RWC though.