SYDNEY:
Wallabies scrum-half Jake Gordon has recovered from harm and was on Thursday added to an prolonged 34-man Australia squad for the the Bledisloe Cup Checks towards New Zealand which is able to spherical off this yr’s Rugby Championship.
Gordon educated with the Wallabies final week and is the one new identify within the squad for the Rugby Championship leaders.
Australia are a bonus level forward of South Africa and New Zealand within the southern hemisphere championship standings, with Argentina a degree additional again in a title race that’s broad open with two rounds to play.
Lock Nick Frost (tight again) and centre Len Ikitau (knee laceration) stay within the squad regardless of lacking the 28-26 Rugby Championship defeat towards Argentina final week in Sydney.
James Slipper is in line to turn out to be the primary Australian to play 150 Checks if he takes the sector towards the All Blacks at Eden Park, Auckland, on September 27.
The squad contains veteran fly-half James O’Connor, who jetted off to England on Monday to affix his new membership Leicester and can now fly on to New Zealand to affix up along with his teammates in Auckland.
Australia need to carry the Bledisloe Cup for the primary time since 2002 and can face a New Zealand facet smarting from a file 43-10 defeat to South Africa in Wellington final week.
“After an intense interval, from the British and Irish Lions collection, enjoying in South Africa and right here in Australia towards Los Pumas, it has been best for gamers to take a breath earlier than heading to Auckland,” stated Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.
“We all know that the championship has been extremely aggressive and that we’ll must be higher than we had been final day trip to have any probability towards a fired-up All Blacks facet.”
New Zealand have an excellent file at Eden Park the place they’re unbeaten in 51 matches courting again to 1994.
Australia will host the second Bledisloe Cup Check towards New Zealand throughout the last Rugby Championship weekend, in Perth on October 4.
South Africa will play Argentina in Durban on September 27 and at Twickenham on October 4.
Australia squad:
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Josh Canham, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson
Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Tane Edmed, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Ryan Lonergan, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami, Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole
