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Seven uncapped players have been included among a 30-man Qantas Wallabies squad named today for next month’s Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series.
The squad, which will again be led by Brumbies flanker Rocky Elsom, faces Fiji, two Cook Cup Test matches against England, and a one off Test against Ireland for the Lansdowne Cup through June.
A further ten uncapped players have been included as part of the Australian Barbarians team which will play two midweek Tour matches against England next month.
Members of the Qantas Wallabies squad will also be involved in the Barbarians line-up, with the full group of 40 being prepared for their respective engagements by the Qantas Wallabies coaching staff.
The uncapped players named today in the Wallabies are hookers Saia Faingaa and Huia Edmonds, props Ben Daley, Laurie Weeks and Salesi Ma’afu, flanker Matt Hodgson and centre Rob Horne.
Faingaa’s twin-brother Anthony has made it a double celebration for the family after being included among the Barbarians players.
While acknowledging that injury and unavailability had played a part, Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says the inclusion of such a significant number of uncapped players among the 40 named highlighted the development that had taken place in Australia through the last 12 months.
This includes both last year’s Spring Tour, where nine uncapped players were involved in the touring party, and also this year’s Investec Bank Super 14.
“There’s no doubt that we’ve widened the base a little bit in terms of playing depth,” Deans says.
“We needed to, and the progress we’ve made has shown through this year during the Super 14.”
The Australian Barbarians’ two Tour matches against England, at Perth on 8 June and Gosford on 15 June, provide an opportunity to expose a wider group of players, outside of Test ranks, to international rugby.
The importance of those matches, Deans says; is underlined by today’s selection of the 30-man Qantas Wallabies squad, which includes three uncapped players with previous touring experience.
Loose forward Matt Hodgson, prop Salesi Ma’afu and centre Rob Horne were all involved on the Wallabies Spring Tour last year, with selection today offering them an opportunity to push on and nail a Test place.
“Those three players have all kicked on in this year’s Super 14, showing a level of consistency in their performance which indicates to us that they have the ability to step up to the next level,” Deans says.
Although today’s selection is notable for the inclusion of a handful of players who are carrying injuries, and will not be immediately available to play, Deans says all eventualities have been catered for in terms of selection.
“We looked at the situation with regards to each of the players who are injured. When they would be able to play again and what contingency options we had, prior to their inclusion, both in the case of the Wallabies squad, but also the Barbarians group,” Deans says.
“In some instances, players have been included for development purposes as much so that they can gain background with us in terms of our methodology and training, as for when they will be back on the field.
“If these players beat their scheduled recovery timelines, and are available to us sooner than is currently expected, that will be a bonus.”
This policy is consistent with practices Deans has employed previously, most notably last year during the Tri Nations with Elsom, although he admits the greater number of injuries currently experienced has exacerbated the requirement of “carrying” players.
“From a selection perspective on a week-to-week basis, it’s certainly not ideal, but if we are going to add to our playing base ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup, we need to get guys started. This programme, which incorporates the midweek Tour matches played by the Australian Barbarians, was designed to allow us to do that.”
Australia kicks off the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series against the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-finalist Fiji in Canberra on 5 June before playing back-to-back Cook Cup Tests against England in Perth on 12 June, and Sydney on 19 June.
The Lansdowne Cup Test against Ireland follows in Brisbane on 26 June, before a four-week recess ahead of the Bundaberg Rum Tri Nations Series.
England and Ireland have named strong squads to tour Down Under as they rekindle their relationship with the Qantas Wallabies following last year’s tight Test matches on the Spring Tour.
Australia beat England 18-9 in London, but was then denied a shot at a Grand Slam of the United Kingdom and Ireland, as Ireland scored a late try to force a 20-20 draw the following week in Dublin.
“Those games were great spectacles, but exceedingly tight games. We’re not anticipating these matches being any different,” Deans says.
“In the case of England, their manager Martin Johnson knows the value of achieving in Australia. He experienced those benefits himself as a player seven years ago. Make no mistake his team will be well motivated.”
As captain, Johnson led England to back-to-back wins in New Zealand and Australia in June 2003 before returning to Australia later that same year to win the Rugby World Cup.
Deans also expects stern competition from Ireland.
“The result last year will provide Ireland with a great incentive for the Test in Brisbane,” he says.
“They’ve still got the nucleus of the side that won last year’s Six Nations Grand Slam and they’ll be an ideal opponent to conclude our June programme with in preparation for the Tri Nations.”
The Qantas Wallabies Squad for the 2010 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series is:
Player Position Team Age Caps
Ben Alexander Prop Brumbies 25 18
Adam Ashley-Cooper Fullback-Wing Brumbies 26 37
Berrick Barnes Inside centre-Flyhalf NSW Waratahs 23 21
Kurtley Beale Fullback NSW Waratahs 21 1
Richard Brown No 8/Loose Forward Western Force 25 12
Luke Burgess Halfback NSW Waratahs 26 21
Mark Chisholm Lock Brumbies 28 48
Quade Cooper Flyhalf Queensland Reds 22 11
Pekahou Cowan Prop Western Force 23 3
Ben Daley Prop Queensland Reds 21 Uncapped
Rocky Elsom Flanker Brumbies 27 49
Huia Edmonds Hooker Brumbies 28 Uncapped
Saia Faingaa Hooker Queensland Reds 23 Uncapped
Will Genia Halfback Queensland Reds 22 11
Matt Giteau Flyhalf Brumbies 27 78
Stephen Hoiles No 8 Brumbies 28 16
Matt Hodgson Loose forward Western Force 28 Uncapped
Rob Horne Centre NSW Waratahs 20 Uncapped
Peter Hynes Wing Queensland Reds 27 22
Digby Ioane Centre/Wing Queensland Reds 24 8
Salesi Ma’afu Prop Brumbies 27 Uncapped
Drew Mitchell Wing/Fullback NSW Waratahs 26 41
Dean Mumm Lock/Loose-forward NSW Waratahs 26 19
James O’Connor Fullback Western Force 19 14
David Pocock Flanker Western Force 22 15
Tatafu Polota-Nau Hooker NSW Waratahs 24 23
Nathan Sharpe Lock Western Force 32 79
Lachie Turner Wing/Fullback NSW Waratahs 23 11
Josh Valentine Halfback Brumbies 27 6
Laurie Weeks Prop Queensland Reds 24 Uncapped
Australian Barbarians Squad members:
Will Chambers Centre Queensland Reds 22 Uncapped
Mitchell Chapman Loose Forward/Lock Brumbies 27 Uncapped
Nick Cummins Wing Western Force 22 Uncapped
Kane Douglas Lock NSW Waratahs 20 Uncapped
Anthony Faingaa Inside Centre Queensland Reds 23 Uncapped
Damien Fitzpatrick Hooker NSW Waratahs 20 Uncapped
Ben McCalman Lock/Loose Forward Western Force 22 Uncapped
Pat McCutcheon Loose Forward NSW Waratahs 22 Uncapped
Rob Simmons Lock Queensland Reds 21 Uncapped
James Slipper Prop Queensland Reds 20 Uncapped
Squad Notes:
• Of the 40 players named today, just 11 boasted Test experience with the Qantas Wallabies prior to the start of 2008, when Robbie Deans took over as national coach.
• Four of those – Berrick Barnes, Digby Ioane, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Josh Valentine – had played four Tests or less.
• The average age of the 30-man Qantas Wallabies squad is 24 years and eight months.
• When the statistics of the ten uncapped Barbarians players are factored in, the mean age within the group drops to 24.
2010 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series (includes Tri Nations)
DATE MATCH TROPHY VENUE KICK OFF
Sat 5 June Qantas Wallabies v Fiji Canberra Stadium 7.35pm
Sat 12 June Qantas Wallabies v England Cook Cup Subiaco Oval, Perth 6.05pm
Sat 19 June Qantas Wallabies v England Cook Cup ANZ Stadium, Sydney 8.05pm
Sat 26 June Qantas Wallabies v Ireland Lansdowne Cup Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 8.05pm
Sat 24 July Qantas Wallabies v Springboks Tri Nations & MP Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 8.05pm
Sat 31 July Qantas Wallabies v All Blacks Tri Nations & BC Etihad Stadium, Melbourne 8.05pm
Sat 7 Aug All Blacks v Qantas Wallabies Tri Nations & BC AMI Stadium, Christchurch 7.35pm
Sat 28 Aug Springboks v Qantas Wallabies Tri Nations & MP Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 5pm
Sat 4 Sep Springboks v Qantas Wallabies Tri Nations & MP Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein 5pm
Sat 11 Sept Qantas Wallabies v All Blacks Tri Nations & BC ANZ Stadium, Sydney 8.05pm
* all kick offs are in local times (NZ – 2 hours, AEST, SA +8 hours, AEST)
Australian Barbarians versus England
Tue 8 June Australian Barbarians v England Perth 7.05pm
Tue 15 June Australian Barbarians v England Gosford 7.35pm