Deans clips Wallabies' wings

Sydney - Australia coach Robbie Deans dropped wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner on Thursday as he named his squad for the Tri-Nations that starts this weekend.

Deans axed five players in total from his squad that played tests against Fiji, England and Ireland in June, with props Pek Cowan and Laurie Weeks and hooker Huia Edmonds also all dropped.

He named four uncapped players -- centre Anthony Faingaa, loose forwards Scott Higginbotham and Ben McCalman and lock Rob Simmons -- among the 28-man squad, which he will expand to 30 later.

"We still have some decisions to make," said Deans. "(We) would like to see a little bit more club rugby before settling on the final two positions.

"Given the difficulties that we have experienced this year, in terms of our injury circumstance, we feel that it is prudent to allow ourselves a little bit more time."

The omission of Turner, who was named in Australia's sevens training squad to prepare for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October, and Mitchell means Adam Ashley-Cooper is likely to cover wing rather than return to his preferred fullback spot.

Peter Hynes and Digby Ioane are the only specialist wingers selected, though the injured Ioane is struggling to be fit for the Wallabies' Tri-Nations opener against South Africa on July 24 in Brisbane.

Australia:

Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Mark Chisholm, Quade Cooper, Ben Daley, Rocky Elsom (captain), Anthony Faingaa, Saia Faingaa, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Rob Horne, Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Ben McCalman, Salesi Ma'afu, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, James O'Connor, David Pocock, Benn Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, Rob Simmons, James Slipper

* Two more players to be added