Tuqiri set to tour

Despite doubts over his likely fitness, Lote Tuqiri is expected to tour with the Wallabies to Europe this November, and should be named in a 33-man tour squad on Tuesday.

Despite doubts over his likely fitness, Lote Tuqiri is expected to tour with the Wallabies to Europe this November, and should be named in a 33-man tour squad on Tuesday.

Tuqiri underwent knee surgery last Monday to remove loose cartilage from the knee, and was given six weeks as a likely recuperation period. It was rumoured he would have to pass a fitness test near the departure date in order to be given his air ticket.

But an ARU spokesman said there was no reason Tuqiri, 29 on Tuesday, shouldn't be named in the squad.

“At this stage he is available to be chosen for the touring squad – his fitness will be monitored over a period of time,” the spokesman said.

“He has a month before the first game, a month to recuperate.”

Waratahs fly-half and Tuqiri's team-mate Kurtley Beale is less likely to be chosen, despite recovering fully from the ankle injury he suffered in the Super 14 final in May, and a broken hand suffered in the gym during rehab.

While he is fit and in the frame for the future, his lack of game-time since May will count against him whe it comes to comparisons with Queensland youngster Quade Cooper or Force teenager James O'Connor who have recently been on tough European tours, as the spokesman admitted.

“He is fit to play, but it's up to the selectors to decide whether he has had enough rugby under his belt to be considered,” he said.

Berrick Barnes is fit to tour after recovering from a shoulder injury, and the rest of the tour squad is expected to feature the Wallabies' 30-strong Tri-Nations outfit, minus departed forwards Dan Vickerman and Rocky Elsom.

The tour begins against the All Blacks – who have already retained the Bledisloe Cup – in Hong Kong on November 1.