Wallaby Squad named

May 22 • Australia, General News, International • 2214 Views • Comments Off on Wallaby Squad named

Uncapped Waratahs lock Will Skelton and 15 Test veteran Rob Horne are two of the 11 Tahs named in the today’s 32-man Wallaby squad.

The 22-year-old, 135kg Skelton earned his selection against the Lions last Sunday, making his physicality felt by taking his season tally to an impressive 88 crunching ball carries and 12 turnovers (the latter second only to Michael Hooper); proof of a physical presence that’s grown throughout 2014.

Skelton played his first match against international opposition last season when the Waratahs took on the British & Irish Lions. A second season under NSW coach Michael Cheika has him on the radar to play Test rugby.
Rob Horne has played 15 Internationals but he might be the bolter in the squad. On fire for the Tahs since his move to the wing, Horne has brought a committed and aggressive approach to his game and couldn’t be left out after posting two tries in last week’s big win over the Lions.
In the forwards, Waratahs No. 8 Wycliff Palu has fought back from injury to return to the national side. He’s joined by hooker Tatafu Polota Nau, flanker Michael Hooper and prop Sekope Kepu.

An injury to Quade Cooper has NSW flyhalf Bernard Foley in the picture for a start in the upcoming France Tests. His powerful all-round performance in the Waratahs’ 41-13 defeat of the Lions at Allianz Stadium saw him score a try, set up Kurtley Beale’s and land five penalties and two conversions from seven attempts. It clearly wasn’t missed by Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie.
After missing the Wallabies Spring Tour to have shoulder surgery, Waratahs inside centre Kurtley Beale returns to the national squad. Beale is also an option to play flyhalf but can comfortably fill any position in the backline bar nine.
Half Nick Phipps is one of three scrumhalves in the 32-man-squad.
Centre Adam Ashley-Cooper, selected to cover the back three, is a near-certain starter for the Tests against the French, whether it’s at centre or wing, while Israel Folau looks set to will wear the No. 15 jumper against Les Blues in the three Test series.
Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan missed the 32-man squad but has been named in a four man train on squad.
In total, the squad boasts 831 games of Test experience; has an average age of just under 26 and includes representatives from all five Australian Super Rugby provinces, with the NSW Waratahs providing the most (11 players), followed by the ACT Brumbies (10), Western Force (5), Queensland Reds (4) and Melbourne Rebels (2).
The squad will assemble at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast on Sunday 1 June before competing against 2011 Rugby World Cup finalist France in a three-game Test series for the Trophée des Bicentenaires.

The first match of the Qantas Wallabies 2014 Castrol EDGE France Tour schedule takes place on Saturday June 7 in Brisbane, with the second in Melbourne on Saturday June 14. The third and final Test takes place at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday June 21 (3pm kick-off), a week before the Tahs resume their Asteron Life Super Rugby season against the Brumbies at ANZ Stadium. Tickets for the Sydney Test are available from Ticketek.

The Qantas Wallabies 32-man squad for the 2014 Castrol Edge France Tour is:

Player (State, Age, Test Caps)

PROPS

Ben Alexander (ACT Brumbies 29, 62)
Pek Cowan (Western Force 27, 5)
Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs 28, 38)
Scott Sio (ACT Brumbies 22, 4)
James Slipper (Queensland Reds 24, 49)

HOOKERS
Nathan Charles (Western Force 25, uncapped)
Stephen Moore (ACT Brumbies 31, 91)
Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs 28, 46)

LOCKS
Sam Carter (ACT Brumbies 24, uncapped)
James Horwill (Queensland Reds 28, 48)
Luke Jones (Melbourne Rebels 23, uncapped)
Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds 25, 37)
Will Skelton (NSW Waratahs 22, uncapped)

BACKROW
Scott Fardy (ACT Brumbies 29, 10)
Scott Higginbotham (Melbourne Rebels 27, 23)
Matt Hodgson (Western Force 32, 6)
Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs 22, 28)
Ben McCalman (Western Force 26, 29)
Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs 31, 49)

SCRUMHALVES
Will Genian (Queensland Reds 26, 55)
Nick Phipps (NSW Waratahs 25, 14)
Nic White (ACT Brumbies 23, 10)

FLYHALVES
Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs 25, 39)
Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs 24, 4)

CENTRES
Tevita Kuridrani (ACT Brumbies 23, 8)
Christian Leali’ifano (ACT Brumbies 26, 13)
Matt Toomua (ACT Brumbies 24, 10)

BACK THREE
Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs 30, 91)
Nick Cummins (Western Force 26, 12)
Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs 25, 15)
Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs 24, 15)
Pat McCabe (ACT Brumbies 26, 20)