Australia are the latest team to show their hand early for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, with Michael Cheika naming veteran flanker David Pocock and uncapped fullback Jordan Petaia among his 31-man roster.
Pocock missed the three-game Rugby Championship, as well as the second Bledisloe test against the All-Blacks due to a six-month injury layoff with a calf problem, but Michael Cheika says the 31-year old was never going to miss out on selection.
The notable inclusion sees uncapped Queensland Reds 19-yer old Jordan Petaia named in the squad, which will make him Australia's youngest ever World Cup player.
Despite missing much of the Super Rugby season through injury, Cheika says the teenager would have been a test-capped player already if minor injuries hadn't got in the way.
"He came on the (2018 Spring) tour as a development player and then was literally an inch away from making his Test debut against Italy until he got a slight hamstring strain in training on the Tuesday and we didn't want to risk that for him going forward and then he was close the week after in England, again the injury (kept) him out and then he was very close to getting selected here in the second New Zealand game," he said.
"If you look at the composition of the squad - 18 who have never been to a World Cup and 13 who have. So, we'll definitely be looking at those 13 to have an impact because that little bit of extra experience makes those younger players who haven't been there feel comfortable enough to express themselves and go for it," he added.
Despite speculation that Will Skelton would be tempted back from exile at Saracens, the powerful lock isn't included in the side, while the other notable absentees are Brumbies pair Tom Banks (back three) and Pete Samu (back row).
The Wallabies begin their Pool D campaign against Fiji on September 21st.
Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa (34 Tests, Brumbies, 25)
Rory Arnold (22 Tests , Brumbies, 29)
Adam Coleman (33 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 28)
Jack Dempsey (11 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 25)
Folau Fainga’a (11 Tests, Brumbies, 24)
Michael Hooper (c) (95 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 27)
Sekope Kepu (105 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 33)
Tolu Latu (15 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 26)
Isi Naisarani (4 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 24)
David Pocock (77 Tests, Brumbies, 31)
Izack Rodda (21 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (15 Tests, Queensland Reds, 23)
Rob Simmons (97 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 30)
Scott Sio (58 Tests, Brumbies, 27)
James Slipper (90 Tests, Brumbies, 30)
Taniela Tupou (15 Tests, Queensland Reds, 23)
Jordan Uelese (3 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 22)
Backs
Adam Ashley-Cooper (118 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 35)
Kurtley Beale (87 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 30)
Bernard Foley (69 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Will Genia (104 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 31)
Dane Haylett-Petty (32 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 30)
Reece Hodge (37 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 24)
Samu Kerevi (29 Tests, Queensland Reds, 25)
Marika Koroibete (23 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 27)
Tevita Kuridrani (60 Tests, Brumbies, 28)
Christian Lealiifano (22 Tests, Brumbies, 31)
James O’Connor (47 Tests, Queensland Reds, 29)
Jordan Petaia (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 19)
Matt To’omua (46 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 29)
Nic White (26 Tests, Rugby Australia, 29)
Everyone’s in the Team Of Us.
Vodafone. The Official Sponsor of the Irish Rugby Team.
Subscribe to Off The Ball's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
