Prop Sekope Kepu is the most important name among the 39-strong Wallaby squad coach Michael Cheika selected yesterday to take on England in a three-Test series next month.
England coach Eddie Jones will bring a powerful scrum, and Kepu teaming up again with prop Scott Sio and hooker-captain Stephen Moore will more than counter that threat.
Kepu’s on duty with Bordeaux, but with 63 Wallaby caps to his credit he qualifies under the ‘Giteau Law’ of 60 caps to return home for internationals.
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The same qualification apples to former Wallaby skipper and lock James Horwill with 61 caps who has been performing strongly with Harlequins.
The 39 will be trimmed to 30 prior to the series.
In the meantime there are ten Waratahs, ten Brumbies, nine Reds, four Rebels, and four from the Force – plus Kepu and Horwill.
Of the 39 there are ten uncapped Wallabies – Alan Ala’alatoa, Rory Arnold. Adam Coleman. Nick Frisby. Dane Haylett-Petty, Leroy Houston, Karmichael Hunt, Eto Nabuli, Joe Powell, and barnstorming centre Samu Kerevi.
Nabuli is an interesting character.
Former rugby league internationals Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns were in Fiji promoting their code when they saw Nabuli playing two internationals in the Pacific Championship in May 2014, and working as a hotel porter.
On the Fittler-Johns recommendation, Penrith signed Nabuli who played for the Panthers in the 2014 NSW Cup grand final win in the September over the Knights.
Nabuli switched to the Dragons last year, scoring seven tries in 13 games.
To complete Nabuli’s rocketing career, he’s played 13 games for the Reds this season where he’s impressed Cheika on the wing.
With Kurtley Beale out injured for the year, Rob Horne, Samu Kerevi, Karmichael Hunt, and Leroy Houston will be in an intriguing battle for the 12 jersey.
Hunt could double up as Israel Folau’s fullback standby which would make him a dual international.
With the Wallaby front row above and the back row of Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, and David Pocock locked away, the focus will be on the locks.
With Will Skelton and Rory Arnold among the 39, the mouth-watering prospect of them combining could become a reality, making the lineouts a Wallaby dominating.
Let the stats tell the story. Skelton is 203cm and 140kgs. Arnold is 208cm and 120 kgs.
Awesome, there’s nothing like it in world rugby.
The ten Waratahs, with Wallaby caps in brackets
Israel Folau (39), Bernard Foley (27), Michael Hooper (51), Rob Horne (29), Dean Mumm (44), Taqele Naiyaravoro (1), Wycliff Palu (57), Tatafu Polota-Nau (61),Nick Phipps (39), and Will Skelton (14).
The ten Brumbies.
Alan Ala’alatoa (uncapped), Rory Arnold (uncapped), Sam Carter (12), Scott Fardy (30), Tevita Kuridrani (31), Stephen Moore – capt (102), David Pocock (55), Joe Powell (uncapped), Scott Sio (16), and Christian Lealiifano (16).
The nine Reds.
Nick Frisby (uncapped), Liam Gill (15),Greg Holmes (24), Leroy Houston (uncapped), Karmichael Hunt (uncapped), Eto Nabuli (uncapped), Rob Simmons (60), James Slipper (74), and Samu Kerevi (uncapped).
The four Rebels.
James Hanson (10), Mike Harris (10), Sean McMahon (6), and Toby Smith (3).
The four from the Force.
Adam Coleman (uncapped), Dane Haylett-Petty (uncapped), Ben McCalman (47), and Luke Morahan (1).
Plus – Sekope Kepu (63 – Bordeaux), and James Horwill (61 – Harlequins).
Will this side give Eddie’s England a shake?
Jibba Jabba
Guest
No-one likes a coward soapit - and once a coward always a coward...
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Is Matthewson unavailbe because of his previous 4 AB starts - must have been with the force more than 3 yerars now ...
Jibba Jabba
Guest
I think paulie means coleman..
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Kefu, wasn't he the out of control boofhead running around dropping players with cowardly head shots from behind in the World Cup Final - should have been red carded a couple of times - and you want him in the wallabies ???? The man should have been suspended for a year - but the again that's the cheika style.. late and from behind..
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Where he will also drop the ball !!
soapit
Guest
i wonder what is the worlld record for continuous crying?
Faith
Guest
Headline should have been Kepu To Bring Thuggery To A (Jones-Led) Physical England. After what we saw in the RWC 2015 Final Kepu brings a thuggish advantage to Aus in what will be a physical series. High tackles, swinging arms and rakes to the face
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
The subbie got the best bit - it's great to have Kepu for TH depth. The rest of it is a joke
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
You've embarrassed yourself with this article David. I suggest you stick to one sport and really follow who you're writing about. It's no good recycling the Chieka/Beale fanboy pieces anymore. Skelton a line out force.. 'Good Grief'! Fail.
m0b1us
Guest
It'll probably be Itoje/Kruis over Launch/Lawes. Itoje is so athletic (only 6'5) that he's stolen lineouts this year be jumping in front of the opposing lock - without a lifter! He has the most amazing wingspan for a relatively short guy.
tylerzaath
Guest
who have you seen catch him in a fair race and in what games PeterK?
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Nope you are correct Timbo. Te'o wasn't eligible for Australia once he moved to Ireland. He would have had to move back to Australia for another 3 yrs before he requalified on residency grounds.
Ruminate
Roar Guru
His work disrupting mauls is what impresses
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The Vodacom rugby app whose stats are supplied by Opta.
cs
Guest
Where is he credited with those supposed knock-ons?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah. I think it refers to Knock ons. I say that because he's also credited with 11 knock ons...
timbo
Guest
"I agree with Giteau rule, but is there room for a rule to select Australian talent abroad, before that talent is picked up by another? Te’o" How is Te'o, someone born in New Zealand to a Samoan father and English mother 'Aussie talent'? Presumably you could only select him on the residency rule, so once he went abroad there's no mechanism, for Australia to select him unless I'm missing something.
cs
Guest
The statistic actually refers to turnovers conceded. Will doesn't spill many passes (because of said soft hands), but he does get dispossessed in the tackle too frequently, often, perhaps most often, because he's looking to push the pass.
timber
Guest
Slightly off there, Launchbury is 5cm shorter and Lawes is 2cm shorter than Skelton. You're quite right otherwise, both are vastly superior locks to Skelton who's barely Super level.
dru
Roar Rookie
"wallabies do not need a 2nd 5/8". PK, I would change this to "Wallabies do not need a seco d playmaker", the problem is that I find it challenging to call Foley a playmaker. Without one at 10 I really think we need one somewhere else. If not at 12, perhaps coming in from 15. (Hunt?) True playmakers seem to be limited to CLL and Hunt. I know its England, not NZ, but I'd feel a touch queezy without an obvious playmaker outside of Foley.