Nine rookies named in Wallabies 33-man Test squad

The Australian Wallabies have today announced a 33-man squad for the 2006 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series, including nine Test rookies.

Currently in camp in Sydney to begin preparations for the opening Test of the season, against World Champions England at Telstra Stadium on Sunday 11 June, the squad was announced at today’s launch of the 2006 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series.

Brumbies Gene Fairbanks and Guy Shepherdson join Waratahs Sam Norton-Knight, Wycliff Palu and Benn Robinson, Queensland’s Rodney Blake and Josh Valentine and Western Force pair Tai McIsaac and Cameron Shepherd to make up nine uncapped players in the squad.

Reds scrumhalf Josh Valentine is the only player to be drafted into the squad from outside of the train on squad which camped in Sydney last week.

Another Reds scrumhalf, Sam Cordingley, earns selection in a Wallaby squad for the first time since 2000. At 30 years of age, he last played for Australia aged 24.

New National Coach John Connolly said that form was a major criteria for selection.

“I’ve said throughout that we would pick the squad on form. There were a few unlucky omissions but we feel that the squad we’ve selected is the strongest possible one,” said Connolly.

“It’s a young squad but there’s a good mixture of youth and experience,” he said.

Connolly acknowledged that the team was under pressure to perform in the short term as well as looking forward to the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

“You could suggest that we’ve picked a squad with a view to the future, but the supporters expect the National team to perform well in every Test and rightfully so,” said Connolly.

Connolly said that the team would build towards its goal of winning the World Cup.

“Our focus is on making the little steps now. If we get the little steps right, then the big step will look after itself,” he said.

George Gregan will shoot towards John Eales’ record of 55 Tests as Captain of the Wallabies after he was announced as team Captain at today’s launch.

Gregan will be deputised by two newly-elected vice captains in Waratahs lock Dan Vickerman and Brumbies Captain Stirling Mortlock.

“There are a lot of players that are going to be exposed to this level of rugby for the first time and with a new coaching regime it sets us up for an exciting season,” said Gregan.

“A lot of players in the squad had first come into the team last season and have had the benefit of another full season of Super 14, plus we have some more experienced players coming back into the squad which gives us a good balance,” he said.

Gregan said that the new Coaching regime has brought about a strong focus on forward play.

“There will be a strong focus on our set piece, being very competent and becoming a tough side in those aspects,” he said.

Gregan said that the tough schedule for the 2006 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series would provide the team with an ideal build up to next year’s World Cup.

“We’ve got nine big Tests in thirteen weeks against high quality opposition in England, Ireland and three matches each against New Zealand and South Africa.

“It’s a big season and that is what it’s all about leading into a World Cup year,” he said.

The Wallabies will play nine Tests this winter including six in Australia, two each against England and South Africa, Ireland for the Lansdowne Cup in Perth and New Zealand for the Bledisloe Cup at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 29 July.

The three away matches include two against the All Blacks in New Zealand and a Mandela Plate/Tri Nations clash with South Africa in Johannesburg.

The blockbuster opening Test of the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series is against England at Telstra Stadium in Sydney on Sunday 11 June.

Wallaby Squad Highlights

• Youth – The average age of the 2006 Squad is 25.8 years, with thirteen squad members aged 23 and under.
• Experience – Over half (19 of 33) of the 2006 Squad have played in 10 or less Test Matches.
• Towards France - The Qantas Wallabies have 19 Tests remaining before the start of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
• Captain George Gregan is the oldest member of the Squad at 33 years, while the youngest is Waratahs prop Benn Robinson, 21.