Ben and Matt named in spring tour squad
Great stuff Benny Mac and Matt getting selected for the Wallabies spring tour - well done and a reward for both working bloody hard, Matt improving his game so much in 2017 and Ben coming back from a persistent injury
Also great see others including Billy, Tets and Curtis retaining their spots. Adam and Taf were walk-ins
Wallabies spring tour squad named
Blake Enever of the Brumbies and Matt Philips of the Western Force are the two bolters chosen today for the Wallabies’ end of season tour to Japan and Britain.
Though second-rower Lukhan Tui somewhat surprisingly passed a scan on the injured hamstring he acquired yesterday in the Wallabies match against the Barbarians, coach Michael Cheika has still named the two uncapped locks to tour as cover for Izack Rodda, who pulled out of the tour before Bledisloe III to undergo a shoulder operation, and Rory Arnold, who was ruled out with a persistent knee injury.
That meant, sadly, that there was no place for 2015 World Cup final second-rower Kane Douglas of the Queensland Reds or the well-performed Brumbies captain Sam Carter.
On the same note, neither five-eighth on display in the Wallabies-Barbarians match yesterday, Duncan Paia’aua or Quade Cooper was chosen, with Cheika clearly comfortable with having Kurtley Beale and Reece Hodge as back-ups for Bernard Foley.
As feared, in-form backrower Jack Dempsey was not considered after tearing his tendon yesterday and he will face a three month rehabilitation after he has surgery. Force prop Jermaine Ainsley was also ruled out of contention with a syndesmosis injury, while rising Reds flanker Adam Korczyk’s chances were spoiled by a punctured lung.
On a more pleasing note, the Force’s number eight Ben McCalman has reclaimed his place in the 32-man Wallabies, despite playing only twice this season because of a rare shoulder blade injury, while his Perth clubmate, centre Billy Meakes has clinched one of the midfield spots, apparently doing enough against the Baa-Baas to convince Cheika he has what it takes.
In keeping with recent years, Cheika also has chosen two development players to take on the trip as a learning experience, with the Rebels fullback/winger Jack Maddocks and the Reds backrower Liam Wright getting the nod. Development players they might be but if there are any injuries, they could find themselves playing Test football.
The Wallabies will open their tour against Japan in Yokohama next Saturday, with Cheika promising to select his best side. Indeed, that will also apply to the remaining Tests against Wales, England and Scotland.
Squad for Spring Tour of Japan and United Kingdom (with Test caps, NRC side and age in brackets)
Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa (19 Tests, Canberra Vikings, 23)
Adam Coleman (18 Tests, Perth Spirit, 26)
Blake Enever* (uncapped, Canberra Vikings, 26)
Tetera Faulkner (3 Tests, Perth Spirit, 29)
Ned Hanigan (9 Tests, NSW Country Eagles, 22)
Michael Hooper (c) (75 Tests, Sydney Rays, 26)
Sekope Kepu (87 Tests, NSW Country Eagles, 31)
Ben McCalman (49 Tests, Perth Spirit, 29)
Sean McMahon (22 Tests, Melbourne Rising, 23)
Stephen Moore (125 Tests, Queensland Country, 34)
Matt Philip* (uncapped, Perth Spirit, 23)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (78 Tests, Perth Spirit, 32)
Tom Robertson (15 Tests, NSW Country Eagles, 23)
Rob Simmons (78 Tests, Queensland Country, 28)
Scott Sio (39 Tests, Canberra Vikings, 26)
Lopeti Timani (9 Tests, Melbourne Rising, 27)
Lukhan Tui (3 Tests, Brisbane City, 21)
Jordan Uelese (2 Tests, Melbourne Rising, 20)
Backs
Kurtley Beale (67 Tests, NSW Country Eagles, 28)
Bernard Foley (vc) (52 Tests, NSW Country Eagles, 28)
Will Genia (vc) (85 Tests, Melbourne Rising, 29)
Reece Hodge (20 Tests, Melbourne Rising, 23)
Karmichael Hunt (3 Tests, Brisbane City, 30)
Samu Kerevi (14 Tests, Brisbane City, 24)
Marika Koroibete (4 Tests, Melbourne Rising, 25)
Tevita Kuridrani (54 Tests, Canberra Vikings, 26)
Billy Meakes* (uncapped, Perth Spirit, 26)
Izaia Perese* (uncapped, Queensland Country, 20)
Nick Phipps (58 Tests, Greater Sydney Rams, 28)
Joe Powell (2 Tests, Canberra Vikings, 23)
Curtis Rona (2 Tests, Perth Spirit, 25)
Henry Speight (17 Tests, Canberra Vikings, 29)
Development Players
Jack Maddocks* (uncapped, Melbourne Rising, 20)
Liam Wright* (uncapped, Queensland Country, 19)
*denotes uncapped player
