Cheika cuts down Wallabies squad

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has named two uncapped players in a 31-man squad for the Rugby Championship.

The trimmed squad will travel to Brisbane and Mendoza over the next fortnight for Tests against the Springboks and Argentina.

Nine players were omitted from the wider training group that assembled on the Sunshine Coast this week, but uncapped duo Rory Arnold and Taqele Naiyaravoro have retained their places and are likely to make their debut for Australia in the tournament.

Cheika has also retained backs Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper and Matt Toomua, despite their injury struggles, while Toulon's Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell have made the cut for the opening two games. 

Eighthman Wycliff Palu and utility back Christian Lealiifano are the biggest casualties from the nine dropped players that includes Dave Dennis, James Hanson, Tetera Faulkner, Toby Smith, Samu Kerevi, Nick Cummins and Nic White.

Wallabies squad – Rory Arnold, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, Scott Fardy, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, Scott Higginbotham, Greg Holmes, Michael Hooper, Rob Horne, James Horwill, Sekope Kepu, Tevita Kuridrani, Stephen Moore, Drew Mitchell, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Dean Mumm, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane.

Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Post by