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Liam Gill’s commitment to play for Toulon after the Super Rugby tournament has cost him a berth in the 33-man Wallaby squad to meet England in a three-Test series starting in a week.
Wallaby coach Michael Cheika named a 39-man squad on May 26, to be culled to 30.
Obviously Cheika couldn’t leave three more out, so 33 is the final squad.
Joining Gill on the outer are Brumby half Joe Powell, a bolter in the first place, Reds Leroy Houston, and Elo Nabuli, Rebel hooker James Hanson, and Force lock Adam Coleman who stands 204cm, and tips the scales at 122 kgs.
That’s a mighty big unit to cull.
The other interesting selection is 21-year-old Rebel utility back Reece Hodge who has only played nine Super Rugby games.
Hodge was named as a replacement for the injured Rebel Mike Harris who was injured after the 39-man squad was announced.
But Hodge has greatly impressed Cheika at the Wallaby camp to retain his place.
The biggest question is where will Cheika select Israel Folau – in the centres or his customary fullback slot?
Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has switched Folau to outside centre, where he’s been an instant success.
But with Tevita Kuridrani the incumbent Wallaby outside centre and Kurtley Beale out for the season after knee surgery, Cheika might be tempted to look at Folau as inside centre.
A Folau-Kuridrani Wallaby centre combination is a mouth-watering proposition, and while Cheika is fearless when it comes to selections, he might stick to Folau as fullback with no outstanding alternatives.
So that leaves Rob Horne, Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, and the bolter Reece Hodge as possible inside centres.
Nick Phipps will be the halfback with Nick Frisby his deputy, Bernard Foley the fly-half, Rob Horne will be one winger if not inside centre, leaving Kerevi, Taqele Naryaravoro, and Luke Morahan to do battle for the other.
In the pack the front row is a given with Scott Sio, skipper Stephen Moore, and Sekope Kepu, so too the backrow with Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, and David Pocock.
That leaves the locks with Will Skelton, James Horwill, Sam Carter, Dean Mumm, and Rory Arnold in contention making the locks the hardest selection.
The revised 33-man Wallaby squad to meet England:
From the Waratahs – Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Michael Hooper. Ron Horne, Sekope Kepu, Dean Mumm, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Wycliff Palu, Nick Phipps, Tatafa Polota-Nau, and Will Skelton.
From the Brumbies – Alan Ala’alatoa, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Stephen Moore, David Pocock, and Scott Sio.
From the Reds – Nick Frisby, Greg Holmes, Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, Rob Simmons, and James Slipper.
From the Rebels – Reece Hodge, Sean McMahon, and Toby Smith.
From the Force – Dane Haylett-Petty, Ben McCalman, and Luke Morahan,
Plus James Horwill from Harlequins.