New Wallabies picked
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has named three uncapped players in his 31-man squad for the Bledisloe Cup test against New Zealand in Japan.
NSW forward Jed Holloway has earned his first squad call-up after an impressive season in Super Rugby while Waratahs team-mate Jake Gordon and Melbourne Rebels flanker Angus Cottrell are the other uncapped players. The untried trio will hope to push their way into Cheika’s spring tour squad and make a late push for consideration for next year’s World Cup in Japan.
Queensland centre Samu Kerevi makes his return to the Wallabies fold after missing the entire Rugby Championship with a biceps injury.
The 25-year-old hasn’t played since the third test against Ireland in June with Reece Hodge starting at centre in all six games in Kerevi’s absence.
Brumbies pair Tom Banks and Rory Arnold will fly to Japan on Sunday after being released for the Canberra Vikings’ National Rugby Championship (NRC) semifinal against Fijian Drua in Lautoka, Fiji.
The clash against New Zealand in Yokohama on Saturday week is set to be a memorable occasion for Sekope Kepu, who is in line to become the Wallabies’ ninth centurion and the first prop to record 100 caps in Australia’s test history.
The squad for the spring tour of Wales, Italy and England will be named after the third and final Bledisloe Cup clash of 2018.
● Meanwhile, Will Genia is a slight favourite to deny the inspirational David Pocock and land his first John Eales Medal as a raft of big-name Wallabies jostle for Australian rugby’s highest individual honour. Pocock, two-time winner Michael Hooper and backline aces Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley loom as Genia’s most serious challengers at tonight’s awards ceremony in Sydney.
Pocock has been Australia’s standout performer since returning from his 2017 sabbatical, but only played eight tests during the voting period after missing last year’s spring tour as well as two outings this season with a neck injury.
The champion back-rower could well claim a second medal, but will need to dominate the voting this year to pip Genia or Hooper.