Weakened Wallabies to tour UK

Weakened Wallabies to tour UK

7 Nov 2011

Robbie Deans named a 26-man squad for the Wallabies’ end-of-year tour to Europe, which has nine World Cup players missing.

Fullback Kurtley Beale (hamstring), wing Drew Mitchell (hamstring), centre Pat McCabe (shoulder), flyhalf Quade Cooper (knee), No 8 Wycliff Palu (hamstring), flanker Rocky Elsom (hamstring), lock Dan Vickerman (shoulder) and prop Sekope Kepu (eye) are all ruled out due to injury after the recent tournament in New Zealand. Scrumhalf Luke Burgess misses out on selection because of his move to France.

This sees three uncapped players called up in Reds backs Ben Tapuai and Ben Lucas, and Waratahs loose forward Dave Dennis. Western Force front rower Pek Cowan also returns to the Wallabies squad after missing the World Cup.

The Wallabies face the Barbarians at Twickenham on 26 November and Wales in Cardiff on 3 December.

Wallabies squad – Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Pek Cowan, Dave Dennis, Anthony Faingaa, Will Genia, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Rob Horne, James Horwill (c), Digby Ioane, Ben Lucas, Salesi Ma’afu, Ben McCalman, Stephen Moore, James O’Connor, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota Nau, Radike Samo, Nathan Sharpe, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Ben Tapuai, Lachie Turner.


8 Comments

  • 1.Staal: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2011, 08:47 am

    Walla Dragons!

  • 2.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2011, 09:17 am

    Still a strong team. They are starting to build some depth.

  • 3.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2011, 11:49 am

    Watch this Wallabie team start to put serious heat on the Boks and AB’s the next 2 years.
    They are a pretty solid team with serious resolve. The semi v New Zealand was just a big game that was a little too big an occassion for many of the youngsters. That said, the way that they held our Bokkies in the QF’s says a lot for their ability to sustain pressure and their belief in themselves.

  • 4.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2011, 17:16 pm

    @BULLET(BULLET)-3: I would also have alot of belief in myself if I had Bryce in my pocket.

  • 5.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2011, 21:23 pm

    @Airwell(Airwell)-4:
    Suppose the Ozzies had Morne Steyn in their pocket as well.
    I mean surely a drop kick from one of the best kickers in the world would have won the game. With all the possesion and territory the boks should have atleast scored some more points or did the Ozzies have the ball in their pocket as well?
    Fact is Ozzies have been a better team than the Boks over the last 2 years and dont be surprised they are going to get a lot better.
    But by all means if blaming the ref for your teams unability to adapt makes you feel better then go for it.

  • 6.jeest: Reply to this comment
    8 Nov 2011, 00:06 am

    @Airwell(Airwell)-4: Seriously when are we going to stop blaming the ref.

    You didn’t see Aus blame the ref in the 3 v 4 playoff – despite being absolutely robbed when Wales were allowed 2 tries that were not tries. They still did enough to win..which is what the Boks should have done in the QF. Bryce also destroyed any chance they had in the Ireland game, but they didn’t blame him then either.

    The reffing in general was atrocious – lets just let it all go.

    We had our fair share of luck before that game – it had to go against us eventually. Truth is, we weren’t the best team this time.

  • 7.man1a: Reply to this comment
    8 Nov 2011, 21:01 pm

    as they say in NFL, ‘any team can beat any other team on any given sunday’. Aus have the players to beat any side, including boks and AB’s. they just need to create a winners mentality and be a lot more consistent.
    @Airwell(Airwell)-4:
    still going on about the refs? really? fair nuff. get it out of your system. i said the same thing after the 2007 WC vs France and I went on and on about it for a year. eventually i got over it but it was hard. i feel for the boks supporters, all i can say is that there are no answers or solutions to what your feeling. critique and look at the situation and absorb the lessons but once done; get rid of all the negativity and only keep what you’ve learnt.
    NZ did this for 24 years. we finally won a WC and still we’re not happy.
    hopefully southAfrica gets over it soon so you can concentrate on unlearning every thing the PDV taught and get on with being the harda55 adversaries that the boks are famous for.

  • 8.iceman: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2011, 07:56 am

    No rest for the guys!

    I wonder if this was a good idea coming off the back of the World Cup and another heavy season ahead??????

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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