Wallabies centre Stirling Mortlock and prop Bill Young were dropped on Tuesday from the squad to tour Europe in November and told to work on their conditioning.
The pair’s exclusion comes after hooker Jeremey Paul was ruled out of the tour earlier this week because of a neck injury and rookie forward Al Kanaar’s three month suspension for stomping on an opponent’s head.
Australian coach Eddie Jones said Mortlock, who missed the latter half of the Test and Super 12 seasons with a variety of injuries, needed an opportunity to work on his strength and speed.
Jones said Young had played 550 minutes of Test rugby since beginning the season with a groin injury and needed to recuperate.
”He didn’t really get a good off-season, he needs a break from playing and the chance to work on an extensive strength and conditioning programme leading into next year,” Jones said.
Jones’ initial 45-man squad for the tour has now been cut to 42, with Kanaar’s place taken by Australia A lock Adam Wallace-Harrison.
The squad will be cut to a touring party of 30 early next month. Australia will play Tests against France, England, Ireland and Wales during the tour.
Jones is under pressure after the Wallabies suffered five consecutive losses, the worst losing streak since 1968-69, with captain George Gregan and the tight five coming in for particular criticism. – Sapa