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WESTERN Force flanker Richard Brown has been selected in the Australia A side for Sunday's Pacific Nations Cup clash against Tonga in Sydney.
Force winger Drew Mitchell returns from injury for a spot on the reserves bench.
Brown is one of seven Wallabies squad members seconded to the Australia A team. Mitchell joined the squad on Monday as a replacement for the injured Mark Gerrard....
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what? why not with Wallabies![]()
Be There. Be Heard. Be The Force Behind The Force
Not playing this weekend.
Australia A has named a 22-man team, including seven of the current Qantas Wallabies squad, to play Tonga at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.
In a boost to the squad, which recorded victories in Japan and Samoa in the first two rounds of the iRB Pacific Nations Cup, Wallabies Coach Robbie Deans has released seven players, who were not part of the match day squad against the Irish in Melbourne, for Australia A duties.
Wallabies forwards Mark Chisholm, Ben Alexander, Richard Brown and Stephen Hoiles and backs Digby Ioane, Brett Sheehan and Lachie Turner have all been included in Australia A’s first home match of the campaign.
Joining Alexander in the front row is Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu and Queensland Reds hooker Sean Hardman.
Mark Chisholm and Peter Kimlin will form the second row, while Richard Brown, Stephen Hoiles and Wallabies World Cup lock Hugh McMeniman, enjoying his first hit-out since Round 2 of Super 14, make up and impressive back row.
Australia A coach Phil Mooney has opted for an all-Waratahs halves combination with Brett Sheehan at scrumhalf and Sam Norton-Knight at flyhalf.
Captain Morgan Turinui and Timana Tahu resume their combination in the centres, while Digby Ioane and Matt Carraro will patrol the wings.
Lachie Turner will get his chance to press for a Test spot against the French when he lines up at fullback.
The match against the Tongans will also see the return from injury of Wallabies World Cup winger Drew Mitchell, who will start from the bench.
Australia A coach Phil Mooney said the match will provide the Wallabies squad players with valuable game-time and give them the opportunity to push for selection for the two-Test series against France.
“Robbie Deans wants his players to have regular game-time and has released these squad players so they can maintain their match fitness and press for Test selection against France with a strong performance this weekend,” said Mooney.
“Having these players in the Australia A squad has increased the competition for starting places and I’m looking forward to a professional performance against the Tongans on Sunday.”
Mooney also urged Sydneysiders to come down to North Sydney and enjoy some good quality international rugby.
“With so many Wallabies on show as well as some very promising young prospects, we’re hoping to see a good crowd at North Sydney on Sunday afternoon.”
rugby.com.au | Australia A welcomes Wallabies for Tonga clash
Australia A team to play Tonga
North Sydney Oval
Kick off: 2:00pm
Tickets available through Ticketek on 132 849 or Ticketek Australia
1. Ben Alexander
2. Sean Hardman
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Mark Chisholm
5. Peter Kimlin
6. Hugh McMeniman
7. Richard Brown
8. Stephen Hoiles
9. Brett Sheehan
10. Sam Norton-Knight
11. Digby Ioane
12. Timana Tahu
13. Morgan Turinui
14. Matt Carraro
15. LachlanTurner
Reserves
16. John Ulugia
17. Guy Shepherdson
18. Al Campbell
19. Julian Salvi
20. Patrick Phibbs
21. Daniel Halangahu
22. Drew Mitchell
woohoooo![]()
BOKKE“Let me put it this way, A Springbok team contains Afrikaners, Englishmen, coloureds and blacks. It has parochial foes in Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs and Lions. It is a recipe for war! Yet in all the years of John Smit’s captaincy, there has never been one unhappy customer, not one voice of rebellion against his leadership. He is the glue that holds the Springboks together. The man is a legend!”- Jake White
14. Matt Carraro
who is he and why isn't he on the bench rather than drewby
Be There. Be Heard. Be The Force Behind The Force
I'd suggest Drew isn't sure whether he's 100% right now. Carraro played last week, didn't stuff up too badly and will probably do OK this weekend. Drew is probably on the list for 20 minutes at the end of the game, with his immediate future hanging on how he pulls up. If he's proppy at the end of the game, he'll play Oz A again, if he's feeling good he'll hit the bench for the Wallabies....God knows they could use him!
C'mon the![]()
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Another step closer for Brown to get in to the Wallabies. But where is Pec this week Injured?
Pek is at the u/20 World Cup 5-8 play offs
Whoops...no he isnt...sorry
Last edited by travelling_gerry; 18-06-08 at 20:53.
Not sure he is Gerry, otherwise he wouldn't have played Aus A last week.
He isn't listed to play Samoa U20's anyway.
Looks like a pretty decent team though, would suggest that nearly all of them would have an eye on Wallaby Squad selection and will be playing out of their skins.
Tonga generally have a pretty decent Front Row and imaing they would have saved their best for For Aus A and the Maori's.
Be very timely for Alexander, Kepu, Ulugia and Shepherdson to have the match of their careers.
Be a great match to watch if you have the misfortune to be in Sydney this weekend!
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
He was mainly playing #7 in '06 as I recall James, alternating with Hodo.
The ability to currently play all three would certainly help his chances as he has the lineout ability too.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Just thinking on the selection of Bambam at 8 for the under 20's. Imagine bambam at 8 and brownie 6???