Returning stars lift Wallabies
Young guns added to Cheika’s squad as…
MICHAEL Hooper has finally been given the green light to resume full-contact training when the Wallabies start their two-week Bledisloe Cup training camp today in another major boost to Australia’s chances of knocking the All Blacks off their pedestal.
With a nod to the future, Michael Cheika has picked six uncapped players in an expanded 36-man squad that will spend the next week training in Cessnock before being trimmed, initially to 28 players then finally to 23.
The inclusion of teenage sensation Jordan Petaia and 10 other players under the age of 24 is all part of a bold strategy to develop the next wave of players before the next World Cup and the one after that.
“The one big thing about this team that we’ve assembled from a coaching point of view is that we want to build some foundations for the future as well,” Cheika said. “That’s something we haven’t been good at over maybe the past 10 or 12 years.
“It’s a very, very fresh outlook and if it gives us a foundation if we can stave off the overseas pirates to keep a strong group of players going through, not just in 2019 but beyond.”
But the future may have to wait just a little longer. When it comes to the Bledisloe, Cheika knows he’ll need his senior players firing on all cylinders to beat New Zealand, and that starts with the skipper.
Hooper has been itching to get back on the training paddock after injuring his hamstring against Ireland last month and will be joined by halfback Will Genia who made his return from a busted leg with a 35-minute cameo in Friday’s trial match at Leichhardt Oval.
Veteran hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is back from England along with his Leicester teammate Matt Toomua and all of a sudden, things are starting to fall into place at the right time for the men in gold.
“We’re working together with Leicester as well to make these players don’t get burnt to a crisp,” Cheika said.
“We understand that performing well for their club – even though it’s not an Australian club – is also going to help them perform well for us.”
Along with 18-year-old Petaia, Tom Banks, Jack Maddocks, Jermaine Ainsley, Billy Meakes and Folau Faingaa make up the six uncapped players in the squad, all of whom pushed their case for inclusion with big performances in the trial game.
Banks and Maddocks may not have to wait that long as both are already right in contention for the final cut with injuries to Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani opening up a spot for an extra outside back.
THE ONE BIG THING ABOUT THIS TEAM THAT WE’VE ASSEMBLED FROM A COACHING POINT OF VIEW IS THAT WE WANT TO BUILD SOME FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE...
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