Yanuyanutawa the bolter in Australia A squad

[pieter blackie]

Sydney University loosehead prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa is the bolter in the 26-man Australia A squad announced today for the upcoming iRB Pacific Nations Cup.



The blockbusting 23-year-old has been rewarded for an outstanding season with Sydney University in Sydney’s Shute Shield club competition.



The selection of Yanuyanutawa marks an amazing year for the nephew of Fijian Rugby legend Waisale Serevi, who was plucked from third grade to play for the Students in their Shute Shield Grand final triumph against Easts in 2007.



The Australia A squad has seven players with Qantas Wallabies experience – Alister Campbell, Mark Gerrard, Sean Hardman, Guy Shepherdson, Sam Norton-Knight,Tai McIsaac and Morgan Turinui.



Several of the game’s rising stars have also won selection, including Queensland Reds scrumhalf Ben Lucas and Investec Super 14 Rookie of the Series, centreTyrone Smith, cousin of Wallabies flanker George Smith.



Tyrone and his Brumbies team-mate, backrower Mitchell Chapman, along with Queensland centre Turinui, will join the Australia A squad following their commitments with a star-studded Barbarians team, currently touring Europe.



The Brumbies provide the bulk of the Australia A squad with 11 players.



There are six from the Queensland Reds, four each from the NSW Waratahs and Western Force......................



the rest of the story and the full squad here

[pieter blackie]

And for the guys with the slow connection here is the squad

Forwards: Al Campbell (Brumbies), Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies), Pek Cowan (Western Force), Sean Hardman (QLD), Matt Hodgson (Western Force), Leroy Houston (QLD), Van Humphries (QLD), Peter Kimlin (Brumbies), Poutasi Luafutu (QLD), Tai McIsaac (Western Force), Salesi Ma’afu (Brumbies), Julian Salvi (Brumbies), Guy Shepherdson (Brumbies), Jerry Yanuyanutawa (Sydney University).



Backs: Matt Carraro (NSW), Scott Daruda (Western Force), Francis Fainifo (Brumbies), Mark Gerrard (Brumbies). Daniel Halangahu (NSW), Josh Holmes (Brumbies), Ben Lucas (QLD), Sam Norton-Knight (NSW), Patrick Phibbs (Brumbies), Tyrone Smith (Brumbies), Timana Tahu (NSW), Morgan Turinui (QLD).



2008 IRB PACIFIC NATIONS CUP – AUSTRALIA A SCHEDULE

June 8 v Japan in Fukuoka, Japan

June 14 v Samoa in Apia, Samoa

June 22 v Tonga at North Sydney Oval, Sydney

June 29 v Fiji at Ballymore, Brisbane

July 6 v NZ Maori at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

[force addict]

Ohh i do like that squad, Mark Gerrard!! Hodgson! MCISAAC! Daruda!!! umm.... COWAN!

[benny]

Timanu Tahu played two games all season and he's picked.. YOUR JOKING RIGHT !! James O'Connor played three why isn't he there ....

I think they should have a Tri Series with Australia, Australia A, And Australia under 20s... that'll be a great series and great revenue thing for the money strapped ARU.

[force addict]

is o'connor in the under 20s?

[jazza93]

i think he was too young for that

[force addict]

he's 17, three years younger than 20. is that to young? ridiculous

[pieter blackie]

is o'connor in the under 20s?

No he is to young

here is the team http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,53577.html

[jazza93]

oh yea FA, when you were banned from the rugby world, there was this big thing about JOC being to young for the under 20 world cup

[robyn <3]

OMG POOR OCONNOR! all we saw from him was brilliance, and what does the poor guy get? nothing! he should be u/20s at LEAST!

[laura]

You have to be born during a certain period to play. From memory its some time between early 1989 and late 1988 i think.

[BLR]

he's 17, three years younger than 20. is that to young? ridiculous

Yes.

I think they should have a Tri Series with Australia, Australia A, And Australia under 20s... that'll be a great series and great revenue thing for the money strapped ARU.

I can see it now, U20's at 2pm, Australia A at 5pm and Australia at 8pm. That's what I'm talking about right there!