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Australian Head Coach Michael Cheika has finalized his roster for the Rugby Championship. Having named 36 players, the updated squad of 33 sees Nick Frisby, Luke Morahan and Toby Smith all released.
The final roster sees a contingent of players back from France. Toulon backs Matt Giteau and Quade Cooper may yet combine to start together in the halves. The former continues to be Australia’s leading export while the latter struggled to perform to hist best level in the Top 14 and is now back in Australia.
Prop Sekope Kepu has also returned, leaving Bordeaux for family reasons. Adam Ashley-Cooper, Will Genia and Drew Mitchell are the remaining foreign-based players on Cheika’s roster.
The team is to be captained by Stephen Moore of the Brumbies. His team was Australia’s best in Super Rugby and included Argentine Tomás Cubelli as the starting scrum half.
Of the 33 players four are uncapped – Allan Alaalatoa, Reece Hodge, Tom Robertson and Lopeti Timani. Ashley-Cooper, Giteau and Moore all have more than 100 caps respectively.
The Wallabies will open their Rugby Championship campaign against New Zealand on August 20. Set to be played in Sydney it will be the first of three Bledisloe Cup test matches this year. The remaining two are to be played in Wellington and Auckland.
Australia’s two Rugby Championship matches against Argentina will be played in rounds four and six. The Wallabies will host Argentina in Perth on September 17 and play away at the neutral venue of Twickenham on October 08.
AUSTRALIA
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Adam Coleman, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, James Hanson, Michael Hooper, Sekope Kepu, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Stephen Moore (capt.), Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Lopeti Timani.
Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Quade Cooper, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Rob Horne, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Drew Mitchell, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua
