Jack Dempsey is a chance of making his return to Test rugby against the All Blacks in Japan, having been named in Michael Cheika’s Wallabies squad for Bledisloe 3.
Dempsey has been playing for the Sydney Rays in this year’s NRC, but hasn’t suited up for Australia since badly injuring his hamstring against the Barbarians before last year’s Spring Tour.
Also making his return from injury for the trip to Japan is Queensland Reds centre Samu Kerevi. Kerevi sustained a torn bicep and missed the entire Rugby Championship, with Reece Hodge taking his place at outside centre during the tournament.
However, there is no sign of Kerevi’s fellow centre Tevita Kuridrani, who also missed the Rugby Championship through injury – although in Kuridrani’s case it was a torn pectoral muscle which was the issue.
In truth, there are few eye-raising selections from Michael Cheika, although the inclusion of Jed Holloway in a Wallabies squad for the first time is the biggest surprise. Holloway is one of three uncapped players in the touring party alongside fellow Waratah Jake Gordon and the Melbourne Rebels’ Angus Cotrell.
European-based players Matt Toomua and Tatafu Polota-Nau are back on club duty with Leicester and will miss the Bledisloe clash in Yokohama, while Pete Samu has missed out on selection.
The bulk of the squad will fly out on Saturday night with Bledisloe 3 to follow the week after, however Brumbies and Canberra Vikings duo Tom Banks and Rory Arnold will head to Japan a day later, having been released for the Vikings’ NRC semi-final in Fiji against the Drua.
Cheika won’t name his squad for the 2018 Spring Tour until after Bledisloe 3.
Forwards
Jermaine Ainsley (1 Test, Melbourne Rebels, 23)
Allan Alaalatoa (29 Tests, Brumbies, 24)
Rory Arnold (18 Tests, Brumbies, 28)
Adam Coleman (28 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Angus Cottrell* (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 28)
Jack Dempsey (6 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 24)
Folau Fainga’a (5 Tests, Brumbies, 23)
Ned Hanigan (17 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Jed Holloway* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 25)
Michael Hooper (c) (87 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 26)
Sekope Kepu (99 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 32)
Tolu Latu (9 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 25)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (4 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
David Pocock (74 Tests, Brumbies, 30)
Izack Rodda (13 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
Rob Simmons (90 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Scott Sio (51 Tests, Brumbies, 27)
Taniela Tupou (8 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
Backs
Tom Banks (2 Tests, Brumbies, 24)
Kurtley Beale (80 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Israel Folau (69 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Bernard Foley (64 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Will Genia (96 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 30)
Jake Gordon* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 25)
Dane Haylett-Petty (27 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 29)
Reece Hodge (33 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 24)
Samu Kerevi (21 Tests, Queensland Reds, 25)
Marika Koroibete (17 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Jack Maddocks (5 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 21)
Sefa Naivalu (7 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Nick Phipps (69 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
*denotes uncapped
Marlin
Roar Rookie
Ned has blackmail photos
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
He'll experiment with the Hahosidepoho, replacing all the forwards apart from the props with back rowers.
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
Is he still persisting with Beale as cover? Surely he saw that that didn't work? He needs to get another specialist 10 and get them some serious game time before the RWC.
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
Yes, the art of the line out call, that would be worthy of an article. There is obviously a bit more to it than appears, be great to get an understanding of the complexities and nuances and why you need a specialist caller to keep it functioning.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Hodge is injured.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Is being rested after a long season is the reason given for no Timu.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Cooper wouldn’t make the team based on current form, his defence for starters has been dreadful. Dempsey was superb for the Wallabies, does play SR, has been playing very well in the NRC and deserves to be brought back in. There is not one issue regarding bring a player back who was in great form for the Wallabies, has been out injured and has had game time at the highest level available in Oz.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Only use Simmons if you want to win line-outs and recycle the ball quickly in attack.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Timu was the best player in the NRC last year; he is almost certainly test standard. Don't blame him for Thorn's coaching
QED
Roar Rookie
agreed I don't buy the argument of "well Pocock was Captain and 7 and see we still lost to the Argies". How about this imagine a side where Pocock was captain playing at 7 and we had a more balanced backrow. say maybe I don't know - Fardy 6 and McMahon 8. Oh wait 19 Nov 2016 Wallabies V France win 25-23 http://www.espn.com.au/rugby/report?gameId=281437&league=268561 Quotes from article "A spectacular try to Tevita Kuridrani, a monstrous performance by skipper David Pocock ..... "The match highlighted repeatedly Australia's frailties at the scrum but they were bailed out by a five-star performance from Pocock, in his first match as skipper since 2012, and lively No.8 Sean McMahon." "The pair were pivotal in the Wallabies forcing 10 French turnovers - none more crucial than Pocock's with three minutes to go, five metres out from the Australian tryline." Pocock is and has been for years now - our first pick. He is one of or maybe are only truly world class player. If he does not play the Wallabies are a poorer team for it (note no Hooper in SR and the Tahs don't miss a beat). He is IMO a very good leader as well. Or at the very least a better leader than our current Captain who has an terrible win/loss record.
QED
Roar Rookie
I don't buy the argument of "well Pocock was Captain and 7 and see we still lost to the Argies". How about this imagine a side where Pocock was captain playing at 7 and we had a more balanced backrow. say maybe I don't know - Fardy 6 and McMahon 8. Oh wait 19 Nov 2016 Wallabies V France win 25-23 http://www.espn.com.au/rugby/report?gameId=281437&league=268561 Quotes from article "A spectacular try to Tevita Kuridrani, a monstrous performance by skipper David Pocock ..... "The match highlighted repeatedly Australia's frailties at the scrum but they were bailed out by a five-star performance from Pocock, in his first match as skipper since 2012, and lively No.8 Sean McMahon." "The pair were pivotal in the Wallabies forcing 10 French turnovers - none more crucial than Pocock's with three minutes to go, five metres out from the Australian tryline." Pocock is and has been for years now - our first pick. He is one of or maybe are only truly world class player. If he does not play the Wallabies are a poorer team for it (note no Hooper in SR and the Tahs don't miss a beat). He is IMO a very good leader as well. Or at the very least a better leader than our current Captain who has an terrible win/loss record.
QED
Roar Rookie
I don't buy the argument of "well Pocock was Captain and 7 and see we still lost to the Argies". How about this imagine a side where Pocock was captain playing at 7 and we had a more balanced backrow. say maybe I don't know - Fardy 6 and McMahon 8. Oh wait 19 Nov 2016 Wallabies V France win 25-23 http://www.espn.com.au/rugby/report?gameId=281437&league=268561 Quotes from article "A spectacular try to Tevita Kuridrani, a monstrous performance by skipper David Pocock ..... "The match highlighted repeatedly Australia's frailties at the scrum but they were bailed out by a five-star performance from Pocock, in his first match as skipper since 2012, and lively No.8 Sean McMahon." "The pair were pivotal in the Wallabies forcing 10 French turnovers - none more crucial than Pocock's with three minutes to go, five metres out from the Australian tryline." Pocock is and has been for years now - our first pick. He is one of or maybe are only truly world class player. If he does not play the Wallabies are a poorer team for it (note no Hooper in SR and the Tahs don't miss a beat). He is IMO a very good leader as well. Or at the very least a better leader than our current Captain who has an terrible win/loss record.
TimO
Roar Rookie
Kerevi does have the distribution skills on attack and doesn't read the game well enough on Def to be a starting 13 at international level. Could play as a crash the ball up 12, or impact of bench. Otherwise, not a bad suggested team.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hi Kirky, Pretty right there I think mate, as Shag hasn't taken the extra 19, along for a sight seeing tour to Japan. No doubt, he will giving these "newbies", a run, with next years RWC in mind. Those 19, will be returning to Aotearoa, after the Japan leg, whilst the rest of the squad continue on to Europe. Being in the position he is in, gives him a nice option.
Piripiri
Guest
Bc the ABs choose 3 ?
Piripiri
Guest
My thoughts exactly. Such a big song and dance about NZ being slow to release Samu and now not to be selected? He’s got to be wondering what’s he got himself into. Mind you he really didn’t have a chance in NZ rugby so good on him for putting his hand up. Still, I feel sorry for him that he has to put up with chek and co...wat a step down!!
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Looks like Hodge will be out. Fan of Kerevi but let's hope we don't forget the last time he came back from an extended injury and Grey's defensive tactics that day.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Giggle
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't be surprised in the least if Pete Samu does a runner back to New Zealand either seeing as he wasn't given any consideration for the team at all, ~ and one would have to say that it's not as if the Wallabies as picked are overly endowed with any outstanding players.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Regardless of whoever Coach Cheika picks, the Wallabies should surely be confident of a good result as the Rubber is a dead one and I very much doubt the All Blacks will field anything like their top team so, it will be a great opportunity for the Aussies' to ''make hay while the sun shines''. They have a habit of doing just that when there's nothing riding on the result, twice in quite recent memory in fact: It's a good chance for the Kiwi Selectors to chance their arm and pick a few bolters who will be trying to impress with the World Cup in mind: