The big M. Checks has picked the squad for the 1st Wallabies squad, and he has a pocket full of bolters.
There are 7 uncapped players in the squad of 34. While capped, Jack Dempsey, Tetera Faulkner, Ned Hanigan, and Joe Powell only have 10 caps between them, a further sign of this squad’s youth.
2 of those uncapped are former leaguies – Curtis Rona and Marika Koroibete – while the biggest bolter of them all is surely Jordan Uelese, with the Rebels young’un seemingly being the third-choice hooker.
Adam Korczyk, Izack Rodda, Izaia Perese and Billy Meakes are the other 4 debutants in the squad.
As announced earlier this week, Michael Hooper is the new permanent Wallabies captain. Old captain Stephen Moore makes the squad, and it’ll be interesting to see if he or TPN – or maybe even Uelese – is given the 2 or 16.
Bernard Foley and Will Genia have been named as vice-captains.
Meanwhile, Japan-bound Sean McMahon has made the cut.
rugby.com.au has helpfully also compiled a list of those cut and/or injured, who were in the Wallabies camp or may have made the Wallabies camp.
Cut: Jermaine Ainsley, Sam Carter, Pek Cowan, Sef Faagase, Richard Hardwick, Campbell Magnay, Taniela Tupou
Injured: Kyle Godwin (knee), Karmichael Hunt (ankle), Tolu Latu (neck), Eto Nabuli (knee), James Slipper (achilles), Lukhan Tui (knee), Sefa Naivalu (ankle), Jake Gordon (ankle)
Forwards:
Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Jack Dempsey, Kane Douglas, Tetera Faulkner, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper (c), Sekope Kepu, Adam Korczyk*, Sean McMahon, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Izack Rodda*, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Lopeti Timani, Jordan Uelese*
Backs:
Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley (vc), Will Genia (vc), Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete*, Tevita Kuridrani, Billy Meakes*, Izaia Perese*, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Curtis Rona*, Henry Speight.
Players per club: Brumbies, 6; Force, 6; Rebels, 5; Reds, 7; Waratahs,8; Other (Beale, Genia), 2.
