Barnstorming hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau will make his long-awaited return to Test rugby on the Wallabies’ grand slam tour of Europe next month.
Polota-Nau has been included in a 32-man squad for the five-Test spring tour where Australia will play the four home union nations as well as Italy in Turin.
The injury-plagued Waratahs rake has been sorely missed by the Wallabies this year but has been cleared of a hamstring problem to add to his 44 Test caps.
He is one of three hookers in Ewen McKenzie’s squad named on Friday alongside Stephen Moore and Saia Faingaa.
The Australian Rugby Union will also draw from the squad for Saturday week’s third Bledisloe Test against the All Blacks in Dunedin.
In-form blind-side flanker Scott Fardy has been ruled out of the dead-rubber battle against New Zealand due to an eye injury sustained in the 54-17 rout of Argentina in Rosario last weekend.
As well as Polota-Nau, McKenzie has recalled Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan, Queensland flanker Liam Gill, halfback Nick Phipps, Reds utility back Mike Harris and Western Force winger Nick Cummins to his squad.
Front-rower Albert Anae and winger Peter Betham made way for the returns of Polota-Nau and Cummins (broken hand).
The squad will gather in Sydney on Sunday before it is pruned to 24 on Tuesday for the trip to New Zealand.
The Wallabies’ European campaign kicks off against England at Twickenham on November 2 before playing Italy, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
“The decision to choose 32 players now just made sense,” coach McKenzie said. “We’ve only got a week’s lead-in once we fly to England on the other side of the world, so anything we can do now to expedite the training process is important.
“Tatafu hasn’t had much of an opportunity due to injury over the past six months but we’re picking him on reputation.
“He is also an experienced scrummager, which will be valuable in the UK.”
Wallabies squad:
Forwards – Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan, James Slipper, Saia Fainga’a, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Kane Douglas, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Sitaleki Timani, Dave Dennis, Scott Fardy, Liam Gill, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Ben Mowen.
Backs – Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Matt Toomua, Christian Leali’ifano, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mike Harris, Tevita Kuridrani, Nick Cummins, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Joe Tomane, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley.
