Michael Cheika says leaving ACT Brumbies captain Sam Carter out of a trimmed 34-man Wallabies squad was the toughest decision he had to make, but he believes 20-year-old Queensland Reds rookie Izack Rodda can push for a spot in the Bledisloe Cup opener.Â
Carter was the most notable absentee from Cheika's squad – which featured only six representatives from the Brumbies – followed by Western Force back-rower Richard Hardwick, who was also omitted.Â
The Brumbies' six players in the squad compares with nine representatives from the NSW Waratahs, seven from Queensland, six from Western Australia and five from Melbourne.
Carter, 27, started for the Wallabies in two of the three June Tests but has clearly lost Cheika's faith two weeks out from Australia's next match against the All Blacks in Sydney.Â
"That was probably the most difficult one," Cheika said. "That's a position where we're looking for someone to step up and claim that job.Â
"They're going to be competing against two of the best locks in the world in the matches coming up against New Zealand and we've got to be up to the challenge."
Although Cheika has other second-rowers Adam Coleman, Rory Arnold, Rob Simmons and Kane Douglas at his disposal, the inclusion of Rodda has turned heads given he has played an average of 35 minutes in his 12 Super Rugby appearances.Â
"He's definitely not there as a development player, he's there to contest for the lock position in the team," Cheika said. "He's a big body, I like his attitude. He's tough and he's prepared to push himself, I've seen that in the training. I see a good future for him."Â
In other selection news, Western Force midfielders Billy Meakes and former NRL player Curtis Rona have been retained in a group of seven uncapped players including the likes of Adam Korczyk, Marika Koroibete and Izaia Perese.Â
"All throughout the year they've played with a lot of edge and energy," said Cheika of Meakes and Rona. Â
Jordan Uelese has been named as the third hooker in the group behind Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau following impressive performances at the recent World U20 Championship.Â
Tolu Latu was unavailable for selection given he is still recovering from a neck injury.Â
"There's no risk [playing him]," Cheika said. "If the guy's in the squad he's ready to play. He's going to be inexperienced for sure but mate I've seen the work he's done so far and the stuff he's done with the under-20s and he's eager.
"[Latu] needs a bit more work under his belt to get to that standard before he comes into the team environment."Â
Following Michael Hooper's appointment as full-time Wallabies skipper on Wednesday, Cheika has opted for the experienced pair of Foley (45 Tests) and Genia (78 Tests) to be the side's vice-captains for the upcoming international season.Â
"Willy, I've really been happy with him since he's come back from overseas and he's got a real renewed commitment to excelling here," Cheika said. "For Bernard, it's starting to drop for him finally that he's a senior player and he needs to be setting the standards. He's starting to find his voice a little more. It's a nice fit for the captain."Â Â
Jermaine Ainsley, Pek Cowan, Sef Fa'agase, Taniela Tupou and Campbell Magnay also failed to impress Cheika enough to earn selection.Â
Cheika said the final group of 34 players were selected on a mixture of Super Rugby form but also a degree of reputation.Â
"You want to be picking everyone who has got form in Super Rugby but there's some selections in that squad that aren't Super Rugby form," Cheika said. "Kane Douglas is not. I want to push him to get something out of him.Â
"That Super Rugby form is in the past now. It's not going to give us anything when we turn up on the 19th [of August]."Â
Sefa Naivalu was not included in the squad because of an ongoing ankle injury that proved to be more problematic than first expected when medical staff monitored him in Newcastle last week.Â
Sean McMahon and Nick Phipps are well and truly on the mend from injuries that ruled them out of June, while Tetera Faulkner is back in the mix for the first time since 2014.Â
Cheika expects Kurtley Beale to begin full training next week when the team heads to Cessnock for a camp.
Wallabies 34-man squad for Bledisloe Cup opener
Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa, 12 Tests, Brumbies
Rory Arnold, 12 Tests, Brumbies
Adam Coleman, 12 Tests, Western Force
Jack Dempsey, 1 Test, NSW Waratahs
Kane Douglas, 31 Tests, Queensland Reds
Tetera Faulkner, 2 Tests, Western Force
Ned Hanigan, 3 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Michael Hooper (c), 68 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Sekope Kepu, 80 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Adam Korczyk*, Queensland Reds
Sean McMahon, 15 Tests, Melbourne Rebels
Stephen Moore, 120 Tests, Queensland Reds
Tatafu Polota-Nau, 71 Tests, Western Force
Tom Robertson, 9 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Izack Rodda*, Queensland Reds
Rob Simmons, 71 Tests, Queensland Reds
Scott Sio, 32 Tests, Brumbies
Lopeti Timani, 7 Tests, Melbourne Rebels
Jordan Uelese*, Melbourne Rebels
Backs
Kurtley Beale, 60 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Israel Folau, 55 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Bernard Foley (vc), 45 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Will Genia (vc), 78 Tests
Dane Haylett-Petty, 17 Tests, Western Force
Reece Hodge, 13 Tests, Melbourne Rebels
Samu Kerevi, 8 Tests, Queensland Reds
Marika Koroibete*, Melbourne Rebels
Tevita Kuridrani, 47 Tests, Brumbies
Billy Meakes*, Western Force
Izaia Perese*, Queensland Reds
Nick Phipps, 52 Tests, NSW Waratahs
Joe Powell, 2 Tests, Brumbies
Curtis Rona*, Western Force
Henry Speight, 12 Tests, Brumbies
*denotes uncapped
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