Rugby
Mitchell, Turner in Oz squad
2012-07-16 07:53
Sydney - Test wings Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner were named in a 27-man Australian training squad on Monday ahead of next month's inaugural four-nation Rugby Championship.
The injury-hit New South Wales Waratahs pair missed Australia's games against Scotland and Wales in June, but have recently returned to the field in Super Rugby.
Veteran Force lock Nathan Sharpe was rested from the July 24-26 camp in Sydney, while Wallaby back James O'Connor was unavailable as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
No Reds players were considered for selection in the training squad because of their Super Rugby playoff commitments.
"The camps provide us with an important opportunity for training background," Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.
"It gives us the chance to bring the whole group together and familiarise them with the Wallaby method as they are at the end of their different state programmes from Super Rugby."
Australia will play the opening Test in the Rugby Championship against New Zealand in Sydney on August 18, with South Africa and Argentina also involved in the southern hemisphere tournament.
Australia squad
Backs: Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Lachie Turner, Nick Cummins, Cooper Vuna, Rob Horne, Mitch Inman, Pat McCabe, Bernard Foley, Berrick Barnes, Nick Phipps, Nic White.
Forwards: Ben Mowen, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Sitaleki Timani, Sekope Kepu, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Paddy Ryan, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau.