RUGBY NEWS:AUSTRALIA COACH Robbie Deans has selected four Delhi Commonwealth Games silver medallists in his 36-man squad for the Northern Hemisphere tour.
Sevens skipper Pat McCutcheon, scrumhalf Nick Phipps and winger Luke Morahan have a chance to win their first caps in Hong Kong and Europe after helping Australia make the final in Delhi, where they fell to New Zealand. They join team-mate and winger Lachie Turner, who impressed on his return in their last Test against New Zealand in Sydney.
Four other uncapped players were named yesterday, including winger Rod Davies, backrower Scott Higginbotham, Brumbies back Pat McCabe and 34-year-old Queensland Reds lock Van Humphries, who could become the Wallabies’ oldest debutant.
Australia head to Hong Kong for their final Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand on October 30th, before November Tests against England, Wales, Italy and France.
AUSTRALIAN SQUAD: Forwards: B Alexander, R Brown, M Chisholm, B Daley, H Edmonds, R Elsom (capt), S Faingaa, S Higginbotham, M Hodgson, V Humphries, S Maafu, B McCalman, P McCutcheon, S Moore, D Mumm, B Robinson, N Sharpe, R Simmons, J Slipper. Backs: A Ashley-Cooper, B Barnes, K Beale, L Burgess, Q Cooper, R Davies, A Faingaa, W Genia, M Giteau, P Hynes, P McCabe, D Mitchell, L Morahan, J O'Connor, N Phipps, D Pocock, L Turner.
