OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Monday 10.30am.
FORMER Springbok captain Tiann Strauss was on Monday named in Australia’s 22-man squad.
Strauss became eligible to play for Australia this season after completing his three year residential term, although he was named as a replacement.
David Wilson was reappointed as Wallaby rugby captain, replacing injured skipper John Eales.
The Queensland flanker was awarded the captaincy for the second time after previously leading Australia in two Tests in 1997 when Eales was again sidelined.
At this stage, Wilson has been appointed just to lead the side in the opening international of the new season, against Ireland in Brisbane on June 12, although he is certain to remain in charge until Eales returns for the World Cup in October.
”It’s a great honour for me as well as a great challenge,” Wilson said on Monday.
With Eales and a host of other frontline players including Matt Burke and Stephen Larkham unavailable, Australia’s selectors were forced to include several new names for the first of two tests against the Irish.
Chris Latham, who played two tests at the end of last season, was chosen as Burke’s replacement at fullback while Nathan Spooner was handed Larkham’s flyhalf shirt as well as the kicking duties in his Test debut.
ACT backrower Jim Williams and Strauss made the squad as replacements. Strauss joins former Argentine prop Patricio Noriega, who played his first test for Australia last year, in a growing band of players to have represented two countries.
”Given we have a few players out, I’m pleased with the balance and quality of the side,” Australian coach Rod Macqueen said.
”Building player depth in Australian rugby has been one of our priorities and I think this side shows that we’re making good progress.”
The Irish arrive in Australia this week for a four-game tour that includes two Tests. The tour begins with a warm-up match against New South Wales Country on May 31 and ends with the second test in Perth on June 19.
Australia are also scheduled to play England in a one-off test in Sydney on June 26 before the start of the annual Tri-Nations series with New Zealand and South Africa.
Australian squad: Chris Latham; Ben Tune, Daniel Herbert, Tim Horan, Joe Roff; Nathan Spooner, George Gregan; Toutai Kefu, David Wilson (captain), Matt Cockbain, David Giffin, Tom Bowman, Patricio Noriega, Jeremy Paul, Dan Crowley. Reserves: Chris Whitaker, Nathan Grey, Jason Little, Tiaan Strauss, Jim Williams, Andrew Blades, Phil Kearns. — Reuters