Wallabies selection filled with potential

REDS bolter Lukhan Tui is the shocked young lock in the Wallabies overhaul which has dumped Rob Simmons, who has been told to get angry if he wants to make a comeback.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said last night that Tui, 20, wasn’t even in his thinking six weeks ago but a rousing show of potential has won him inclusion in the 34-man squad announced last night.

The kid who playing rugby league in western Sydney until he was 17 was in shock when his new status was relayed in Apia last night.

No.8 Scott Higginbotham is the other big Queensland selection winner who has shaken up his case from outsider to potential starter against Fiji in Melbourne on June 10.

Seven Reds were included as Cheika lopped the experience of 249 Tests from his squad for June’s three Tests because of form, development reasons, shrewd hunches, three stalwarts signing for overseas clubs and Dean Mumm’s end-of-season retirement.

The 119kg Tui will start only his 13th Super Rugby match against the Blues in Samoa on Friday yet has leapfrogged seasoned Reds squadmates Simmons (71 Tests) and Kane Douglas (31 Tests) for a spot.

Cheika delivered the blunt message that the 2015 World Cup duo were omitted because of patchy form while also finding compelling reasons to pick Generation Next options ahead of Leinster-bound Scott Fardy (39 Tests), Northampton signing Rob Horne (33 Tests), Saracens buy Will Skelton (18 Tests) and Mumm. Wallabies squad: Forwards: Stephen Moore (c), Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Sekope Kepu, Tom Robertson, Scott Sio, Toby Smith, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Sam Carter, Lukhan Tui, Richard Hardwick, Michael Hooper, Jack Dempsey, Ned Hanigan, Lopeti Timani, Scott Higginbotham. Backs: Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley, Kyle Godwin, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Dane HaylettPetty, Marika Koroibete, Eto Nabuli, Sefa Naivalu, Henry Speight, Karmichael Hunt, Israel Folau.