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Australia Head Coach Michael Cheika has named his roster for the Rugby Championship. The 36-man squad will train today in the coming week in the Hunter Valley.
The team will be captained by flanker Michael Hooper. He is to be surrounded by plenty of experience with fellow veterans Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Will Genia, Sekope Kepu, David Pocock, and Scott Sio all on the roster.
Cheika’s Wallabies also has youth. Included are six uncapped players – Jermaine Ainsley, Folau Faingaa, Tom Banks, Jack Maddocks, Billy Meakes, and 18-year-old Jordan Petaia. The call-up for Petaia comes following the losses of Tevita Kuridrani and Samu Kerevi to injury.
Back in the mix is hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau. Now at the Leicester Tigers in England, Polota-Nau is one of four hookers named in the squad. Also included is Matt Toomua who is to leave Leicester to play for the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby in 2019.
Aside from Polota-Nau and Toomua the remainder of the roster play their rugby in Australia. All were involved in this year’s Super Rugby competition for one of the Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels, Reds or Waratahs. All four faced Los Jaguares.
AUSTRALIA
Forwards: Jermaine Ainsley*, Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Folau Faingaa*, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper (capt.), Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Izack Rodda, Pete Samu, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Caleb Timu, Lukhan Tui, Taniela Tupou
Backs: Tom Banks*, Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Jack Maddocks*, Billy Meakes*, Sefa Naivalu, Jordan Petaia*, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Curtis Rona, Matt Toomua
*uncapped
AUSTRALIA FIXTURES
August 18: Australia vs New Zealand, Sydney
August 25: New Zealand vs Australia, Auckland
September 08: Australia vs South Africa, Brisbane
September 15: Australia vs Argentina, Gold Coast
September 29: South Africa vs Australia, Port Elizabeth
October 06: Argentina vs Australia, Salta
