Wallaby 40 Man Training Squad: Van’s the Man

The Wallaby 40-man Spring Tour training squad for 2010 has been announced.

Twelve uncapped players have been included ahead of the seven-match Wallabies Spring Tour of Hong Kong and Europe.

The most notable newcomer is Mr Let’s Roll the C__s: Queensland Reds lock Van Humphries, who is the oldest player named at 34.

Van missed out on selection earlier in the year, despite impressing during the Reds’ mighty Super 14 revival. He’s recently overcome an ankle injury.

The others fresh to the scene are Queensland’s Rocket Rod Davies, who was unavailable for selection earlier in the year due to a torn hamstring, Australian Sevens representative, centre Brackin Karauria-Henry, Western Force hooker Nathan Charles; and the ex-Queensland and Western Force second row Pat O’Connor, currently playing with Northland in the ITM Cup.

O’Connor actually did attend Wallaby training sessions in Brisbane earlier in the year. He had an injury plagued career with the Force and has now signed with the Tahs for 2011. 

Other uncapped players include recent tourists Mitch Chapman, Dave Dennis, Scott Higginbotham, Richard Kingi, Pat McCabe, Matt Toomua and Kane Douglas. All have had involvement with the national squad or Australian Barbarians.

A medial ligament strain in his left knee forced McCabe to miss the Commonwealth Games Sevens, however, it is still possible he will be fit for the Spring Tour.

While injury remains a factor influencing selection, the Wallabies are at least able to welcome back props Ben Alexander and Sekope Kepu who both missed nearly all of the domestic Test season due to injury.

No members of the Australian Sevens squad, currently in its final preparations for next week’s Commonwealth Games tournament in New Delhi, India, were considered.

Deans says players from that group will come into calculations for the final 36-man touring squad which will be named in Sydney on 14 October. There will be no ‘live’ trial matches either.

It will be interesting to see which players don’t make the cut and you’d have to think that Lachie Turner would be strong contender to make the tour squad.

Players not able to be considered for selection due to injury:

Will Chambers, Mark Chisholm, Stephen Hoiles, Rob Horne, James Horwill, Digby Ioane, Stirling Mortlock, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu Polota Nau