Quirindi’s Sam Carter is in line to add to his 13 caps after being named in the 34-man Wallabies squad for the upcoming Test Series against Fiji, Scotland and Italy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Brumbies captain was one of four locks named with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika highlighting strong physicality, strong work-rate and strong defence, as what he was looking for.
Cheika named eight uncapped players in the squad with young forwards Lukhan Tui, Richard Hardwick and Ned Hanigan earning selection in their first Wallabies squad after a series of impressive Super Rugby performances.
Backs Joe Powell, Eto Nabuli and Karmichael Hunt will get their second taste in camp after featuring in the June squad last year, while Marika Koroibete has been named after experiencing his first taste in Wallabies camp on the 2016 Spring Tour.
Jack Dempsey, a development player on last year's Northern Hemisphere Tour, has earned selection in the main squad after returning from an ankle injury last weekend for Gordon in Sydney's Shute Shield.
Queensland forward Scott Higginbotham also re-joins the Wallabies fold for the first time in almost two years, after returning to the Reds this season following a stint in the Japanese Top League.
Will Genia is the only overseas based player named in the squad and will join the Wallabies in Melbourne after fulfilling his duties with French club Stade Francais.
"Last year we made a few changes for a certain reason, around bringing in a newer generation and looking at the longer term. We’re not going to give any Test caps away," Cheika said.
"Out of the 13 debutants last year, there's 11 of them in this squad and add to that a bunch of new guys with a lot of potential.”
The young squad has an average age of 26 years and average Test experience of 24 caps.
"It's a strategy we want to pursue. Making the odd 'out there' selection that isn't expected like Joe Powell last year but it's planting the seed. No one is asking about Joe Powell this year as they know he's made the step up to be in Wallabies contention," Cheika said.
"Our young players are putting form on the board and some of our experienced players are showing they really want to be a part of the squad.”
The squad will convene in Melbourne on Sunday 4 June, following this weekend's round of Vodafone Super Rugby.
Qantas Wallabies 34-man squad for 2017 'Arvo' Test Rugby Series
Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa, 9 Tests, Brumbies
Rory Arnold, 9 Tests, Brumbies
Adam Coleman, 9 Tests, Western Force
Sam Carter, 13 Tests, Brumbies
Jack Dempsey*, NSW Waratahs
Ned Hanigan*, NSW Waratahs
Richard Hardwick*, Western Force
Scott Higginbotham, 32 Tests, Queensland Reds
Michael Hooper, 65 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Sekope Kepu, 77 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Tolu Latu, 4 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Stephen Moore (c), 117 Tests, Queensland Reds
Tatafu Polota-Nau, 68 Tests, Western Force
Tom Robertson, 7 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Scott Sio, 30 Tests, Brumbies
Toby Smith, 4 Tests, Melbourne Rebels
Lopeti Timani, 6 Tests, Melbourne Rebels
Lukhan Tui*, Queensland Reds
Backs
Quade Cooper, 67 Tests, Queensland Reds
Israel Folau, 52 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Bernard Foley, 42 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Will Genia, 75 Tests, Stade Francais
Kyle Godwin, 1 Test, Brumbies
Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Tests, Western Force
Reece Hodge, 10 Tests, Melbourne Rebels
Karmichael Hunt*, Queensland Reds
Samu Kerevi, 8 Tests, Queensland Reds
Marika Koroibete*, Melbourne Rebels
Tevita Kuridrani, 45 Tests, Brumbies
Eto Nabuli*, Queensland Reds
Sefa Naivalu, 6 Tests, Melbourne Rebels
Nick Phipps, 52 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Joe Powell*, Brumbies
Henry Speight, 11 Tests, Brumbies
*denotes uncapped player
