Arstralia name squad for Rugby Championship...

...The Arstralian squad named is captained by Michael Hooper and includes Fiji-born flyer and former Mooloo Man Henry Speight -- the only uncapped member of the group -- not even eligible to represent Australia ...too funny.

...Two other players who were unavailable for the France series in June due to injury -- Ben Alexander and Joe Tomane -- have also been included.

Players not selected this time round due to injury include, among others, Stephen Moore (knee), David Pocock (knee), scrumhalf Will Genia (ankle) and flyhalf Quade Cooper (shoulder).

After opening its Rugby Championship campaign against New Zealand in Sydney, Australia plays the All Blacks again on August 23 in Auckland, South Africa on September 6 and 27 and Argentina on September 13 and October 4.

Australia squad:

Props: Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Pek Cowan (Western Force), Sekope Kepu (Waratahs), Scott Sio (Brumbies), James Slipper (Reds).

Hookers: Nathan Charles (Western Force), James Hanson (Reds), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs).

Locks: Sam Carter (Brumbies), James Horwill (Reds), Rob Simmons (Reds), Will Skelton (Waratahs).

Back-rowers: Scott Fardy (Brumbies), Scott Higginbotham (Rebels), Matt Hodgson (Western Force), Michael Hooper (Waratahs), Ben McCalman (Western Force), Wycliff Palu (Waratahs).

Scrum-halves: Luke Burgess (Rebels), Nick Phipps (Waratahs), Nic White (Brumbies).

Fly-halves: Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), Bernard Foley (Waratahs).

Centres: Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), Christian Leali'ifano (Brumbies), Matt Toomua (Brumbies).

Back-three: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), Henry Speight (Brumbies), Israel Folau (Waratahs), Rob Horne (Waratahs), Pat McCabe (Brumbies), Joe Tomane (Brumbies).

...Good depth and plenty of options for McKenzie, with the Tahs having a good Super XV bolstered by Tongan league convert Israel Folau .....the Brumbies also looking good - their game has evolved out of the boring play epitomised by the Jake White era....anyone's game on Saturday night, should be bonza mate...

  Airgun Bean Brain,...haha that's an Aussie greeting I think....Mate ol Jake the flake will probably wish he WAS back in Australia after Saturday night...I'm guessing that's when the Sharks season will come to a sticky end my friend....the Sharkies need to dump him for a quality coach - i'd go with a Kiwi coach if I was them haha..

As for the Wobblies, I notice they're on to standoff number three after Cruden embarrassed QC and Toomua last year ... Foley's chance to step up or will it be Kurtley Beale ?? ...that's the battle I'm looking forward to...and Nonu and Fekitoa in the centres Ben Smith and Savea on the wings , Dagg at fullback we can't go wrong mate...

Aussies should be better than last year though Bean Brain so your Dad's army team will have to lift their game otherwise like Jake White, Heineken Meyer might be looking for another job ...