Australia coach Robbie Deans has admitted his squad will be tested to its limits on its gruelling seven match tour next month – the European leg of which begins in Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 6th November.
Deans has named a provisional 40-man training squad which features a dozen uncapped players as he begins his preparations for the Bledisloe Cup meeting with New Zealand in Hong Kong at the end of the month before descending on Cardiff to contest the James Bevan Trophy.
The Wallabies face the All Blacks en route to Wales, before a midweek clash with Leicester. They then travel to Twickenham to take on England, play anther midweek game against Munster and finish off with fixtures against Italy and then France on the final two Saturdays in November.
“I’ve no doubt that the demanding schedule we have on this trip, with seven games in five weeks, will test us again,” said the former All Black full-back who began his tenure at the Wallabies helm in 2008.
“Injuries have been a factor on the spring tours we’ve had previously, especially with the addition of the midweek fixtures.”
As well as the 12 new faces Deans has also brought in Reds veteran Van Humphries, who at 34 is the oldest player in the squad, alongside Sevens star Brackin Karauria-Henry, Western Force hooker Nathan Charles and former Reds and now Force lock Pat O’Connor into his squad.
The coach will streamline his squad to 36 before embarking on the tour of Hong Kong and Europe which will bring the Southern Hemisphere season to a close, but he has urged the new faces to make the most of their opportunity to impress.
“It’s a reality that not every player who attends the training camp over the next two weeks will go on the spring tour, but the time we spend together will still be invaluable for everyone involved,” he said.
“Not only are the players who attend the training camp but don’t make the final touring squad in line for call-ups if we have injuries, their involvement also potentially provides opportunities beyond that if they use the experience to their advantage.”
Australia: Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Nathan Charles, Mitchell Chapman, Quade Cooper, Ben Daley, Rod Davies, Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Huia Edmonds, Rocky Elsom, Anthony Faingaa, Saia Faingaa, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Peter Hynes, Van Humphries, Brackin Karauria-Henry, Sekope Kepu, Richard Kingi, Salesi Ma’afu, Pat McCabe, Ben McCalman, Drew Mitchell, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, James O’Connor, Pat O’Connor, David Pocock, Benn Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Matt Toomua.
Tickets to see Wales take on Australia, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand this Autumn at the Millennium Stadium are available now from… www.wru.co.uk/tickets Tel: 08442 777888 and to Personal callers: Cardiff Arms Store, 8 Westgate Street, Cardiff.
Saturday fixtures against the Wallabies, on 6th November, the Springboks, on 13th November and the All Blacks, on 27th November are priced at £25, £40, £60, £65 and £70, with the Friday night clash with Rugby World Cup Pool D opponents Fiji priced at just £20 and £25 with a children and concessions available for just £10.
Official hospitality packages can be purchased from just £99 per person for Wales v Fiji at the official Millennium Stadium website: www.millenniumstadium.com.
Prices start at £169 for games against Australia and South Africa and from £179 for New Zealand – packages include a ticket located in the best seats of the house, a complimentary match programme and a guest speaker from the world of rugby.
