Wallabies boost: David Pocock
Australia will welcome back openside flanker David Pocock, fly-half Berrick Barnes and hooker Stephen Moore for the four-Test tour of Europe.
Pocock, who captained the Wallabies to a series whitewash of Wales, has been sidelined with a knee injury, Moore damaged his hamstring against the All Blacks in August and Barnes missed the last two Tests with a lung problem.
However the trio have been passed fit to lead Australia's challenge against France, England, Italy and Wales.
"Poey has done very well... he's still got a bit to do in terms of being available to be selected but he's clearly going to be available and hence he's coming with us," said coach Robbie Deans.
Scott Higginbotham is omitted after his suspension for a headbutt on All Blacks captain Richie McCaw meant he would miss the opening two Tests of the tour.
"To have included Scott within the 30 would have created an additional challenge in terms of selection for the opening two matches, which would have compromised the group," Deans said.
"Scott was aware once he was suspended that this was a possibility."
Australia: Benn Robinson, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Ben Alexander, Paddy Ryan, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Stephen Moore, James Hanson, Nathan Sharpe, Sitaleki Timani, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, Dave Dennis, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Liam Gill, Wycliff Palu, Radike Samo, Nick Phipps, Brett Sheehan, Kurtley Beale, Berrick Barnes, Pat McCabe, Anthony Faingaa, Ben Tapuai, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane, Nick Cummins, Drew Mitchell, Mike Harris.
Comments
PREEST says...
I will be supporting the Wallabies against all their opponents on this tour. It looks like they might be getting back on track with that draw against an in-form NZ side. Their defense was what halted the ABs. I would like to see them play well on the tour, and reaffirm their status as a top 3 side in the world. Going into a lions series next year, they need all the confidence they can get. Would be great to see the Aussies go unbeaten on their tour of the North. The Wales v Aus game will be particularly good, as ll their games in the last several years have been nail biters.
Posted 08:52 26th October 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Aussies very rarely achieve an unbeaten tour so this could be one of their great achievements should they follow up with 4 wins, something that is crucial ahead of the Lions tour. Good to see Pocock back but then again he wasn't much chop this year and would probably be behind this other chap now I reckon. Hooper looks a busier and appears to be a link player and occasional ball carrier, everything Pocock isn't. Be interesting to see how Robbie and the selectors work it out. Hope we don't see Ashton making them look silly again this year, although the crowd appeared to be going off that day.
Posted 00:50 26th October 2012
Ripzy007 says...
Congrats Trinats2 and the Wallabies on having the #1 and #2 7s oh and having the #2 National team in the World...and yet was that the 5th or 6th strength Wallabies team. Imagine if they have the full strength team you've been telling us, the Wallabies will be impossible to Rank unless there is a ranking #0 or -1..
Posted 20:45 25th October 2012
Ripzy007 says...
@georgesmith...this wallabies team is worse compared to when you were playing? i agree with you :)
Posted 20:24 25th October 2012
melkdave says...
@Trinats2
Still a possiblity bro ,doing ok doesnt mean they win all the tests ,still think they will lose against France,England and Wales but not by huge margins ,because these players seem to have pride and heart for the jersey.
Posted 19:34 25th October 2012
APV1 says...
"Barnes missed the last two Tests with a lung problem" - wasn't it a punctured lung? A bit of an understatement, if you ask me. And good on ya with your recovery BB!
Posted 15:09 25th October 2012
Ferdie says...
georgesmith - do you ever wake up screaming from a recurring nightmare, a whole team of Qantas Wallabies made up of Nathan Sharpe clones?
I think it looks a solid squad - happy to be corrected - but all have test experience, no new caps in there?
Posted 12:07 25th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
new_j4a:
I can see why you rely on my predictions to win money !!!
melkdave:
how is their slide down to 6th or 7th looking ???
Posted 11:47 25th October 2012
zambokke says...
Nice squad. I find it impossible to support the Aussies in any way whatsoever, but I genuinely hope that they do well against England - this is always the exception.
Posted 10:08 25th October 2012
melkdave says...
Thats not a bad squad considering the wallaby problems atm,also as shown by the draw against NZ it doesnt do to write off any wallaby side .I expect they will do ok this aurtum ,as they seem to have alot of pride ect .Despite what QC thinks .
Posted 10:08 25th October 2012
georgesmith says...
Oh god! Why S. Kepu? Isn't he a fourth-grade tighthead. I'm very happy for P.Ryan, J. Hanson, R. Simmons, L.Gill, A. Faingaa, B. Tapuai and N.Cummins,
B. Robinson should be captain and not the over-rated clown in blue head gear, Mr Blunt-man.
I don't think R. Simmons willl get much game time because R. Deans is an ass and blind as well to waste such a talent on the bench. N.. Sharpe is past his prime.
Good chance that W. Palu will get injured during training and be ruled out for another zillion months. D. Dennis doesn't deserve a tour spot because he is so poor. He should be ashamed of his game after watching the no.6s of teams like ABs, Boks, France and Samoa.
Posted 09:36 25th October 2012
georgesmith says...
While going forward, do the Wallabies really need B.Barness in the team. A younger player would have been a more sensible option. Against France and England, what will B.Barnes do, anyway? Kick, kick and kick aimlessly. His form in the Rugby Championship was really poor. R. Deans contract ends soon and he is relying on experience players to win as many games to save his job and money. England and France are good enough to beat the Wallabies on home soil.
Posted 09:27 25th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
Wow world's best 7 coming back to fight out against the Number two 7 in the world !!!
IMHO - Hooper at 7 he's still learning and Pocock at 6.
Posted 08:52 25th October 2012
new_j4a says...
Prediction: 15+ point loss to France if France show up; 7 point win over England; 12 point win over Italy, and a 3 point win over Wales
Posted 07:33 25th October 2012
Ferdie says...
Good to see Berrick Barnes back so quickly - and hope it is not too quickly, cringe to think of that injury happening again in a tackle.
And Samo 'one last tour' great man, or maybe he and Sharpe will be enticed back for the Lions tour?
Posted 07:18 25th October 2012
chisel68 says...
The problem for Deans (and Pocock) is that Hooper has a better game with ball in hand so I think the Wallabies lose a bit by bringing Pocock back - never thought I'd ever say that! Though with Cliffy Palu back they have a better ball carrier than theyve had in that position for the whole of TRC. Would be interesting to see whether the 2 scavengers system would work these days.
The best thing to come out of the horrendous injury run of recent is the exposure of more young players (Hooper, Gill, Tapuai, Douglas, Phipps, Shipperly, Harris etc) to test rugby. They now know what to expect and what a step up it is. ALl the better for when they are called on in the future.
Finally, I hope KB continues to take on the line during the EOYT. As long as he does, the longer QC will remain on the sideline and the more successful Oz will be,
Posted 07:08 25th October 2012