Scott Higginbotham is back from the Wallabies’ wilderness while eight uncapped players – including Karmichael Hunt – have made Michael Cheika’s 34-man squad for June’s trio of Tests.
But veterans Dean Mumm, Scott Fardy and Rob Horne and World Cup locks Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas and Will Skelton have been left out for the clashes with Fiji, Scotland and Wales, as Cheika casts an eye to the future.
Mumm’s Test career appears to be over, with the 33-year-old set to retire at the end of the season, while Fardy (Leinster), Horne (Northampton) and Skelton (Saracens) have signed for European clubs.
Douglas and Simmons, who started in the World Cup final defeat to New Zealand, were excluded due to a lack of form.
Cheika said culling established names was the toughest part of picking the squad and admitted those who had committed to overseas moves had paid the price.
“Those guys are not out of the picture,” Cheika said.
“If we thought we were going to pick those guys in the starting team, yes, we’ll bring them in.
“But around the squad as a whole, it’s an opportunity to develop a couple of younger guys who will be here in 2018 and 2019, who we think we will benefit.
“I think that’s a pretty sound philosophy.”
The inclusion of 32-Test back-rower Higginbotham is perhaps the biggest surprise.
The Queensland Reds’ dynamo was not invited to any of Cheika’s mid-season Wallabies meet-ups, but his sterling form since returning to Australian rugby had seemingly forced the coach’s hand.
Higginbotham, 30, hasn’t played for Australia for nearly two years but will compete for the No.8 role with Lopeti Timani, who had made five starts in that position on last year’s European tour.
“He’s come back with a certain goal in mind, I imagine. He’s a step closer to that,” Cheika said.
Hunt, Lukhan Tui, Richard Hardwick, Ned Hanigan, Jack Dempsey, Joe Powell, Marika Koroibete and Eto Nabuli are the eight players yet to make a Test appearance.
Cheika said Hardwick would be used as back-up to vice-captain Michael Hooper at openside flanker, while NSW Waratahs pair Hanigan and Dempsey would battle for the No.6 jersey, up for grabs in the absence of Mumm and Fardy.
Hunt is in line to become Australia’s 48th dual-code international but he might have to settle for a bench utility role, with Cheika indicating Israel Folau will remain at fullback.
Nick Phipps (ankle), Scott Sio (knee) and Dane Haylett-Petty (hamstring) have all been named despite recent injuries.
Phipps and Haylett-Petty could play Super Rugby this weekend. Sio won’t recover in time for the opening Test against Fiji on June 10 in Melbourne, but Cheika expects he will be available after that.
Halfback Will Genia is the only overseas-based player in the squad.
WALLABIES:
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Sam Carter, Jack Dempsey, Ned Hanigan, Richard Hardwick, Scott Higginbotham, Michael Hooper, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Stephen Moore (capt), Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Scott Sio, Toby Smith, Lopeti Timani, Lukhan Tui.
Backs: Quade Cooper, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Kyle Godwin, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Eto Nabuli, Sefa Naivalu, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Henry Speight.
