Michael Cheika has finalised his match-day 23 for the Wallabies first Test of the year against Fiji tomorrow.
After missing out on the starting XV, regular skipper Stephen Moore has made the bench, where he is joined by two debutants in Joe Powell and Richard Hardwick.
Brumbies halfback Powell was a major surprise in the Wallabies squad this time last year, and is now looking the goods to make his first appearance in the green and gold should starter Will Genia be substituted during the Fiji game.
Namibian-born Hardwick also looks likely to make his international debut tomorrow, meaning Cheika is set to blood four new Wallabies in the first game of the year, after naming the uncapped Karmichael Hunt and Ned Hanigan in the run-on side.
The inexperience of Powell and Hardwick is offset by a wealth of experience in the rest of the bench, with fellow reserves Moore (117 caps), Sekope Kepu (77 caps) and Quade Cooper (67 caps) all boasting more than 60 Test appearances for Australia.
Reece Hodge and Rory Arnold, both of whom were regular instalments in the Wallabies side last year, have also been named in the reserves, with backup prop Toby Smith joining them on the bench.
[latest_videos_strip category=”rugby” name=”Rugby”]
1. Tom Robertson (7 Tests)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (68 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (9 Tests)
4. Sam Carter (13 Tests)
5. Adam Coleman (9 Tests)
6. Ned Hanigan*
7. Michael Hooper (c) (65 Tests)
8. Scott Higginbotham (32 Tests)
9. Will Genia (75 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (42 Tests)
11. Henry Speight (11 Tests)
12. Karmichael Hunt*
13. Tevita Kuridrani (45 Tests)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty (14 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (52 Tests)
Reserves
16. Stephen Moore (117 Tests)
17. Toby Smith (4 Tests)
18. Sekope Kepu (77 Tests)
19. Rory Arnold (9 Tests)
20. Richard Hardwick*
21. Joe Powell*
22. Quade Cooper (67 Tests)
23. Reece Hodge (10 Tests)
*Denotes debut
The first Wallabies Test of the year will kick off at Melbourne’s AAMI Park at 3pm tomorrow, before games against Scotland and Italy in Sydney and Brisbane respectively the following weekends. You’ll be able to stay up to date with all the action from all the June Tests with live coverage and highlights right here on The Roar.
FARMER
Guest
The Seth Efricken JACKPOT won that 2014 comp for, ya JackEagle.
Marto
Guest
Cheika does not rate Super Rugby form, PeterK our resident GURU also says Super Rugby from is irrelevant.. ( Folau ) Just ask him..Test form means more. Richard Hardwick has played really good in tes. .oh.. err.. arr.. yeah.. oh.. well.. yeah.. Right ..Good one PeterK..YEAH MAAAAAAAAAATE ..
FARMER
Guest
Sio Alexander Fardy in. Smith Hanigan Robertson out.. That`s 3..
Adsa
Guest
Small world Cynic, small world.
Fionn
Guest
I think Hodge runs at his man too much, Hackett-Petty is much better at running into space. I can't say I have checked the stats, but I imagine his run meters are significantly better, and DHP is a better offloaded and distributor imo. Hodge's boot is bigger, DHPs is more accurate though. Hodge can kick goals though. Either one of them should kick for touch over a Foley, but they won't.
robel
Roar Pro
So it's Namibian born Hardwick, not WA developed Hardwick. Why is it that only WA players have thier birth place mentioned even if all their rugby development was in WA. We never hear of New Zealand born Cooper or Canadian born Matt Dunning etc.
Clelo
Guest
Agree wholeheartedly.
Clelo
Guest
Disagree, Hardwick has surprised me this year and can cover all 3 loose positions quite competently. He is a worth investing in, considering his age and long term hopes of the Wallabies. I ama Force member so have seen a lot of him over last two seasons. Reminds me bit of Ardie Savea.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Yeah I keep reading that Cheika dislikes Timani as he got rid of him from the Tahs. Yet when you win the comp the following year (2014), can you really say it was a bad decision? Timani was well known to be lazy and had little attention to detail. He continued to struggle before getting it together in 2015. You can't pay a guy hoping things might get better in a couple of years time. Sport is a business. There are only so many spots in a squad.
Browny
Guest
He didn't have his act together at the Tahs. It took him a year to get it sorted at the Rebels before he broke out. Only played 2 games for Melbourne in 2014 then had a great 2015 (predominantly at lock). Wallabies selection in 2016.
Browny
Guest
I think Dempsey might have the wood over him there considering the amount of rugby he's played this year...
Cynical Play
Guest
Just to be clear, I was slinging it at Marto. I think Skelton is well on his way to fulfilling his potential as an attacking lock.
Browny
Guest
Yeah... but don't let any of that get in the way of slinging some mud!
Browny
Guest
McMahon, Fainga'a and Jordy Reid have all played 6, 7 and 8 at the Rebels. Doesn't mean any of them have the kind of frame you want as a 6 or 8 in internationals. And McMahok is bigger than Hardwick.
Kane
Guest
Next week Cheika has implemented a new plan: Mondays announcement will be that of the tight five. Tuesdays will contain the loose forwards Wednesday will be the inside backs Thursday will be the outside backs And Friday will be the reserves And finally on Sunday he will release the names of the players that were not sighted in saturdays game. Those thought to be invisible.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Dicky Hardwick works hard, doesn't complain and is a genuinely nice guy.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Actually his second season. He was a fringe player last season. Pretty hard to get on at 7 when Hodson the Captain plays there just like Hoopercat the Tahs. Dicky did play 60 minutes at 7 against the Canes.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Actually his second season. He was a fringe player last season. Pretty hard to get on at 7 when Hodson the Captain plays there just like Hoopercat the Tahs. Dicky did play 60 minutes at 7 against the Canes.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Can't do you a 3rd Hayley-Perty but we could supply the other Arnold twin :-)
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
He played 60 minutes at 7 against the Canes when Hodgson was injured.