Qantas Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has confirmed his 28-man squad for Saturday afternoon’s clash with the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
Test veterans James Slipper and Ben McCalman make their long-awaited returns to the Wallabies fold following injury struggles while young Queensland backrower Liam Wright joins the squad for the first time.
Brumbies centre Kyle Godwin and Reds lock Kane Douglas have also forced their way back into the squad, which features seven uncapped players.
Thirteen players from the victory over New Zealand in Brisbane have been rested ahead of next month’s tour of Japan and the United Kingdom.Michael Cheika’s squad will gather in Sydney later this evening (Sunday) ahead of Australia’s final game on home soil for 2017.
The Wallabies have only played the Barbarians in Australia once before, that back in 2009, when the men in gold ran out 55-7 winners at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
This will be the thirteenth meeting between Australia and the invitational side, and their first since November 2014, in what was also Michael Cheika’s first game as Wallabies coach.
It will also be an interesting clash off the field as well, with Cheika to go toe-to-toe with good friend and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones.
Updated squad for Barbarians clash on Saturday October 28 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Forwards
Jermaine Ainsley*, Western Force
Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Tests, Brumbies
Rory Arnold, 15 Tests, Brumbies
Jack Dempsey, 6 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Kane Douglas, 31 Tests, Queensland Reds
Folau Fainga’a*, Brumbies
Tetera Faulkner, 3 Tests, Melbourne Rebels
Ned Hanigan, 9 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Ben McCalman, 49 Tests, Western Force
Stephen Moore, 125 Tests, Queensland Reds
Tom Robertson, 15 Tests, NSW Waratahs
James Slipper, 86 Tests, Queensland Reds
Lopeti Timani, 9 Tests, Melbourne Rebels
Lukhan Tui, 3 Tests, Queensland Reds
Jordan Uelese, 2 Tests, Melbourne Rebels
Liam Wright*, Queensland Reds
Backs
Israel Folau, 62 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Kyle Godwin, 1 Test, Brumbies
Jake Gordon*, NSW Waratahs
Karmichael Hunt, 3 Tests, Queensland Reds
Samu Kerevi, 14 Tests, Queensland Reds
Billy Meakes*, Western Force
Duncan Paia’aua*, Queensland Reds
Izaia Perese*, Queensland Reds
Nick Phipps, 58 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Joe Powell, 2 Tests, Brumbies
Curtis Rona, 2 Tests, Western Force
Henry Speight, 17 Tests, Brumbies
*denotes uncapped player
