Rugby
Wallabies dump Waugh
2010-05-27 07:53
Sydney - Australia signalled a new era for their pack on Thursday as they left out veterans Phil Waugh and Al Baxter and picked five uncapped front-rowers for upcoming Tests against Fiji, England and Ireland.
Coach Robbie Deans, with one eye on next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, also gave Western Force flanker Matt Hodgson the chance to win his first cap, along with Waratahs centre Rob Horne.
The 30-man squad includes Reds props Laurie Weeks and Ben Daley and Brumbies prop Salesi Ma'afu, plus uncapped hookers Huia Edmonds of the Brumbies and the Reds' Saia Faingaa as cover for the injured Stephen Moore.
"There's no doubt that we've widened the base a little bit in terms of playing depth," Deans said. "We needed to, and the progress we've made his shown through this year during the Super 14."
Flanker Waugh and Baxter, Australia's most-capped prop, could now be facing the end of long international careers, while Brumbies captain and number eight Stephen Hoiles earned a recall on the back of a positive Super 14.
Rocky Elsom was retained as captain despite Deans openly mulling replacing him with scrum-half Will Genia, who was included despite an injury which could keep him out of the first two Tests.
Hooker Moore, prop Benn Robinson, lock James Horwill and number eight Wycliff Palu were among the senior players unavailable through injury.
Australia play Fiji on June 5 followed by two Tests against England and one against Ireland on consecutive weeks.
Squad:
Backs:
Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), Berrick Barnes (Reds), Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), Luke Burgess (Waratahs), Quade Cooper (Reds), Will Genia (Reds), Matt Giteau (Brumbies), Rob Horne (Waratahs), Peter Hynes (Reds), Digby Ioane (Reds), Drew Mitchell (Western Force), James O'Connor (Western Force), Lachie Turner (Waratahs), Josh Valentine (Brumbies)
Forwards:
Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Richard Brown (Western Force), Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), Pekahou Cowan (Western Force), Ben Daley (Reds), Rocky Elsom (Brumbies/captain), Huia Edmonds (Brumbies), Saia Faingaa (Reds), Stephen Hoiles (Brumbies), Matt Hodgson (Western Force), Salesi Ma'afu (Brumbies), Dean Mumm (Waratahs), David Pocock (Western Force), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), Laurie Weeks (Reds)
Ten additional players named for the Australian Barbarians side, to play two tour matches against England in June:
Backs:
Will Chambers (Reds), Nick Cummins (Western Force), Anthony Faingaa (Reds)
Forwards:
Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies), Kane Douglas (Waratahs), Damien Fitzpatrick (Waratahs), Ben McCalman (Western Force), Pat McCutcheon (Waratahs), Rob Simmons (Reds), James Slipper (Reds)
Tour schedule:
June 5 - Wallabies v Fiji, Canberra
June 8 - Australian Barbarians v England, Perth
June 12 - Wallabies v England (Cook Cup), Perth
June 15 - Australian Barbarians v England, Gosford
June 19 - Wallabies v England (Cook Cup), Sydney
June 26 - Wallabies v Ireland (Lansdowne Cup), Brisbane