Cooper left out of Wallabies touring squad

Michael Cheika has omitted Quade Cooper from his Australian spring tour rugby squad but named a handful of bolters after late injuries ruled out a number of key players from the team’s trip to Japan and Europe.

Cooper, who had a solid game for the Barbarians on Saturday against the Wallabies, has again been brushed by Cheika in a sign he may have played his last game for Australia.

In terms of injuries, Cheika has had to cover the likes of Jack Dempsey, Rory Arnold and Jermaine Ainsley, who have been ruled out of the tour.

Dempsey will spend three to four months out of the game but Cheika made it clear he had not torn his hamstring off the bone as some had first thought.

Lukhan Tui went down with a hamstring issue in the Barbarians game and looked to be in doubt for the tour but Cheika said he only had a minor strain and would be a chance of playing against England at Twickenham on November 18.

The bolters in the 32-man squad are second-rowers Blake Enever (ACT Brumbies) and Matt Philip (Western Force), as well as development players Jack Maddocks (Melbourne Rebels) and back-rower Liam Wright (Queensland Reds).

Ben McCalman, who has 49 tests to his name, has been rewarded for a fine showing on Saturday.

As expected, Stephen Moore has been given the green light to go on his last Wallabies tour, with Tatafu Polota-Nau and Jordan Uelese the other hookers in the group.

Taniela Tupou will be flown over midway through the tour after finishing his NRC commitments.

The Wallabies will leave for Japan tomorrow before heading to the UK on the Sunday after the game for matches against Wales, England and Scotland.