Ewen McKenzie names 30-man squad for next two Rugby Championship matches

Aug 28 • General News, International, Rugby Championship News, Springbok News, Springboks, The Rugby Championship • 2171 Views • Comments Off on Ewen McKenzie names 30-man squad for next two Rugby Championship matches

Australia head coach Ewen McKenzie has named a 30-man squad for their next two Rugby Championship matches and included Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau.
The Wallabies will be without Western Force hooker Nathan Charles for the Test against the Springboks after he suffered a pectoral tear that has ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Charles’ injury leaves the Wallabies vulnerable at hooker as Stephen Moore and Waratahs up and comer Tolu Latu are already on the injury list.

Polota-Nau is currently injured and McKenzie said that he would not be considered for Australia’s match against South Africa in Perth on September the 6th while he recovers from a right knee inury.

Reds hooker Saia Faingaa is expected to start for the Wallabies in the first Test against South Africa and McKenzie hopes that Polota-Nau will be available for selection for the Test against Argentina on September 13.

McKenzie has also called up Western Force centre Kyle Godwin for Pat McCabe who has been forced to retire after suffering a third neck fracture.

The squad is:

ForwardsBen Alexander, Pek Cowan, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Saia Fainga’a, James Hanson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sam Carter, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, Scott Fardy, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Michael Hooper (capt), Ben McCalman, Wycliff Palu.
BacksLuke Burgess, Nick Phipps, Nic White, Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley, Kyle Godwin, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Matt Toomua, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Betham, Israel Folau, Rob Horne.

Courtesy of SARU