Robbie Deans announces 24-man squad for Wallabies’ second 2011 Tri Nations encounter against All Blacks
Australia’s Rugby Union team, also known as the Wallabies, has announced their 24-man squad for their second 2011 Tri Nations, encounter against the All Blacks. Wallabies head coach, Robbie Deans, has announced his squad for their first of two away matches
of the tournament on Tuesday, August 2.
All Blacks will host the Wallabies at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday, August 6.
Deans have included four New South Wales Waratahs players in his squad. This includes the scrum half Luke Burgess, locks Sitaleki Timani and Dan Vickerman and winger Lachie Turner. The remaining 20 players are the same lineup which defeated the Springboks
in the 2011 Tri Nations opener.
However, the Western Force’s captain, Nathan Sharpe, has been dropped from the Wallabies squad that is on a quest to register their first win in the 25 years at Eden Park. The exclusion from the squad has raised serious concerns over the place of the veteran
Sharpe in the Wallabies final 30-man squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC).
Even after having played 94 tests, Sharpe was sidelined to mark the return of the South African born Wallabies international, Dan Vickerman, into the side. Vickerman has 52 tests appearances to his name.
Waratahs scrum half, Luke Burgess, has been included in the squad, after recovering from a hand injury which he sustained during the 2011 Super Rugby competition. Meanwhile, Turner marks the return to the national side, following an impressive performance
in his comeback game against Parramatta.
Wallabies will depart for Auckland on Wednesday, while Deans will announce his match 22 on Thursday, August 4.
The 24-man Wallabies squad announced by Deans on Tuesday includes,
Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Pekahou Cowan, Rocky Elsom, Anthony Fainga'a, Saia Fainga'a, Will Genia, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, James Horwill, Digby Ioane, Sekope Kepu, Pat McCabe, Ben McCalman, Stephen
Moore, James O'Connor, David Pocock, Rob Simmons, Sitaleki Timani, Lachie Turner, Dan Vickerman
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