Recall: playmaker Will Genia has been named in the touring squad for the Wallabies’ trips to South Africa and Argentina.
Will Genia and Benn Robinson have been called up to the injury-hit Wallabies for their two-week tour of South Africa and Argentina.
With no less than 13 players ruled out through injury, McKenzie has turned to two assured Test performers to boost the Wallabies for two tough Tests on the road.
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Genia has played two games for Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship since returning from ankle surgery, while 66-Test prop Robinson has earned his call-up after being overlooked by McKenzie in the domestic series against France and the first four rounds of the Rugby Championship.
Both players trained with the side on the Gold Coast last week, and will lend much-needed big game experience to the squad as they prepare to play the Springboks in Cape Town and the Pumas in Mendoza.
In more much-needed good news for the Wallabies, vice captain Adam Ashley-Cooper has been cleared to travel after missing the side’s 32-25 win over Argentina on the Gold Coast with a nerve compression injury in his neck.
Together with Genia and Robinson, the trio add a combined 218 Tests worth of experience to the Australian team. At Cbus Stadium last Saturday, Israel Folau was the most experienced back in the starting side with 22 caps and Slipper the most experienced forward, with 56 caps.
“It’s pleasing to be able to bring in some experienced guys for what will be an extremely challenging tour of South Africa and Argentina,” McKenzie said.
“We took a conservative approach with Adam’s injury in our most recent Test against Argentina, and we’re confident the additional week off will serve him well going into the next stage of our campaign.
“Collectively, we add almost 250 games of Test experience to our squad through the inclusion of Adam, Will, Benn and [hooker Saia] Fainga’a. They’ve all had good exposure to our program this year, so we expect them to be able to contribute immediately when we get into camp.”
No.8 Wycliff Palu will remain at home to continue his recovery from a head knock in the clash with South Africa in Perth 10 days ago, and NSW teammate Peter Betham will join him on the rehab couch after aggravating his foot injury against Argentina.
Waratahs second rower Will Skelton was unlucky to miss the cut for this tour. He dropped out of the match-day 23 against the Pumas and has not been selected in the smaller, 28-man squad that leaves for Cape Town on Monday.
Western Force talent Kyle Godwin has also missed out, but Brumbies winger Joe Tomane will travel after training with the squad last week.
Fainga’a and Brumbies hooker Josh Mann-Rea will join James Hanson in the forwards after ankle syndesmosis ruled out Tatafu Polota-Nau for up to eight weeks.
Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale were named again as five-eighth options, with Matt Toomua, Christian Leali’ifano and Tevita Kuridrani listed as centres.
Wallabies squad for South Africa/Argentina tour:
Props: Ben Alexander, Pek Cowan, Sekope Kepu, Benn Robinson, James Slipper
Hookers: Saia Fainga’a, James Hanson, Josh Mann-Rea
Locks: Sam Carter, James Horwill, Rob Simmons
Loose Forwards: Scott Fardy, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman
Scrumhalves: Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Nic White
Flyhalves: Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley
Centres: Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Matt Toomua
Back Three: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Israel Folau, Rob Horne, Joe Tomane