Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has announced a 32-man squad to take part in August’s Rugby Championship.
Brumbies winger Henry Speight was the headline inclusion for the Aussie team set to kick of its Rugby Championship campaign against New Zealand on August 16 at ANZ Stadium, despite the winger being ineligible for selection in three of the Wallabies’ first six Tests.
The Fijian native will miss the Sydney opener, the back-to-back in Eden Park and a clash against South Africa and Patersons Stadium while he waits for his residential approval on September 11, two days out from a Skilled Park hit out against Argentina.
“I didn’t know much about him till June and I was very impressed with him, on and off the field,” McKenzie said of Speight’s three-year wait to join the side. “Given he wasn’t formerly involved, he was a great contributor.”
Injured Will Genia has been left off the initial squad, replaced by Melbourne halfback Luke Burgess, however the scrum-half is expected to be recalled in mid-September after recovering from an ankle injury. A shoulder complaint will also sideline Quade Cooper.
“I spoke to Will this morning,” McKenzie said Wednesday. “He’s back running but he’s still way off being able to play. Quade’s obviously looking at further along in the series. We’ll keep tracking them.”
Wallabies 2014 Rubgy ChampionshipSquad:
Forwards – Wycliff Palu, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Michael Hooper (captain), Matt Hodgson, Scott Fardy, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, Sam Carter, Ben Alexander, Pek Cowan, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Scott Sio, James Hanson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Nathan Charles.
Backs – Israel Folau, Rob Horne, Henry Speight, Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley, Luke Burgess, Nic White, Nick Phipps.
Schedule
Saturday, August 16 – Australia v New Zealand @ ANZ Stadium
Saturday, August 23 – New Zealand v Australia @ Eden Park
Saturday, September 6 – Australia v South Africa @ Patersons Stadium
Saturday, September 13 – Australia v Argentina @ Skilled Park
Saturday, September 27 – South Africa v Australia @ Newlands
Saturday, October 4 – Argentina v Australia @ Estadio Malvinas Argentinas
Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
