Michael Cheika’s first team as Australia coach has a decidedly retro feel to it, with halfbacks Quade Cooper and Will Genia restored for the European tour opener against the invitational Barbarians tomorrow.
Flyhalf Cooper and scrumhalf Genia were a fixture of former coach Ewen McKenzie’s tourists last year, but injuries put the pair out of the June series against France and they were overlooked for the latter part of the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship when fit.
Cheika, who took over from McKenzie last week, has put flyhalf Bernard Foley on the bench while leaving scrumhalf Nick Phipps out altogether for the non-test match against the Barbarians at Twickenham.
New South Wales Waratahs duo Foley and Phipps played in the Wallabies’ last match against New Zealand, a 28-27 defeat in Brisbane, and were paired for much of the Rugby Championship.
Cheika has also named Fiji-born Henry Speight on the right wing, giving the newly eligible back his first start in a Wallabies jersey.
Former captain James Horwill, a feature in the sides under Robbie Deans but out of favor under McKenzie, has been named at lock while veteran Western Force skipper Matt Hodgson is to lead the side at openside flanker.
He joins an experienced back row alongside No. 8 Ben McCalman and the abrasive Scott Higginbotham on the blindside.
Long-serving props Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander will also have a chance to press their claims for a recall for the rest of the tour after being named in the starting side.
Regular captain Michael Hooper, utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper, flanker Scott Fardy and lock Rob Simmons have all been rested, though the team boasts ample backline firepower in fullback Israel Folau and center Tevita Kuridrani.
“This team contains a mix of players from our last game and also experienced players eager to push their way into the Test team,” Cheika said in a media release yesterday. “We’re all looking forward to playing our first game for Australia on this tour.”
Cheika has named a nine-man bench, which includes the uncapped Sean McMahon, and is to be chopped to eight for the match.
Following the Barbarians clash, the Wallabies play tests against Wales, France, Ireland and England in successive weeks.
Australia team: Israel Folau, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Rob Horne, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson (captain), Scott Higginbotham, James Horwill, Sam Carter, Ben Alexander, Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson.
Reserves: James Hanson, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Will Skelton, Sean McMahon, Nic White, Bernard Foley, Christian Leali’ifano, Joe Tomane.
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
RSS