Wallabies name Horwill as captain as Lions squad revealed

Wallabies name Horwill as captain as Lions squad revealed

The final six places in the Qantas Wallabies squad for the DHL Australia 2013 Lions Tour have been confirmed today with Hugh McMeniman arriving in from Perth to join Kurtley Beale, Digby Ioane, Pat McCabe, Peter Kimlin and Scott Sio as the newcomers at the training base on the Sunshine Coast ahead of the three Test series, which opens in Brisbane on June 22.

Melbourne Rebels halfback Luke Burgess and the Queensland Reds hooker James Hanson will remain with the squad this week as training cover.

In addition, Australia’s 2011 Tri-Nations-winning skipper James Horwill has been confirmed as Qantas Wallabies skipper, returning to the role he last held on the Spring Tour two years ago, before a hamstring injury last year ruled him out of the entire Test season.

McCabe and McMeniman proved their fitness for selection during last weekend’s Australian only Super Rugby round, turning out for the Brumbies and Western Force respectively, while Beale and Ioane were all involved in some capacity during last week’s preliminary squad training camp in Sydney.

Kimlin, who has been a mainstay for the Brumbies and finished last Friday night’s win over the Melbourne Rebels as captain of the side, gained his call up after playing the only two Tests of his career to date against Italy at Canberra and Melbourne in 2009.

The sixth new addition is the uncapped Brumbies prop Scott Sio, who has impressed during his full rookie Super Rugby season with the Australian conference winners, having been blooded briefly while on a development contract last term.

The powerful 21-year-old, who is one of four uncapped players in the squad, is the son of Tevita Sio; who anchored the Manu Samoa front-row during that country’s maiden Rugby World Cup voyage.

Deans, who attended both the Brumbies-Melbourne Rebels and Queensland Reds-British & Irish Lions fixtures last weekend; says the selection of the final places in the squad hadn’t been easy, being further complicated by additional injuries – most notably to the Brumbies halfback Nic White and prop Dan Palmer.

The in-form number nine White, who started off as the Brumbies captain during last Friday’s win over the Rebels and had attended last week’s Qantas Wallabies training camp in Sydney, sustained a small fracture in his shoulder during the early stages of that match which has ruled him out for three to four weeks.

“Ultimately it’s come down to the balance of the group. And there has been a ‘ripple effect’ so to speak, with the decisions made in some areas having repercussions in others,” Deans said.

Beale’s versatility, having proven himself at Test level at both fullback and flyhalf, won his place, with Deans saying he had no concerns as to either the players’ physical state or mental well-being despite his limited on-field preparation as he has attended to off-field issues.

While the process of counselling for alcohol-related issues is on-going, Deans doesn’t believe it is a distraction for either Beale or the team.

McCabe’s inclusion adds another experienced midfield hand to counter the Lions’ massive backline, with the hard-running Brumbies inside centre having acted as both a member of the team’s leadership group and as its defensive rock in recent seasons.

Ioane’s attendance at last week’s camp allowed medical staff to assess the progress on the rehabilitation of his right knee following surgery, clearing the way for his involvement, with a return date to be determined as his training load increases.

Kimlin returns to the Wallabies after a four-year absence, offering versatility to the forward unit having featured at lock, the blindside flank and No 8 in Super Rugby this year.

For McMeniman, who made a successful return from a shoulder injury last Sunday in Perth; selection rewards his decision to return to Australia and Super Rugby this year after four years playing in Japan.

The versatility of the hard-nosed 29-year-old, who has played 21 Tests, has helped vault the lock-blindside flanker into the squad after the Wallabies lost the injured Sitaleki Timani and Scott Higginbotham from these positions in the penultimate round of Super Rugby prior to the start of the DHL Australia 2013 Lions Tour Test series.

Deans, who capped McMeniman on nine occasions prior to his departure for Japan at the end of 2008, says his return to the national side should offer encouragement for other Australian players based overseas to not give up on another shot at the Wallabies if they return home.

One who fits into that category is the 37-Test halfback Burgess, who last Friday resumed his Australian career after two seasons with the glamour French Top 14 club Toulouse, by appearing as a replacement for the Rebels during their loss in Canberra.

The decision to train Burgess and Hanson alongside the squad acts as insurance in case of injuries in these specialist positions during the Test series.

“Not only will it help us prepare, it gets them started in case we need them, either against the Lions or down the track in The Rugby Championship,” Deans says.

Wallabies squad:

Backs - Kurtley Beale, Berrick Barnes, Israel Folau, Digby Ioane, Nick Cummins, Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Pat McCabe, Christian Leali'ifano, James

O'Connor, Will Genia, Nick Phipps.

Forwards - Wycliff Palu, Ben McCalman, Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Liam Gill, Dave Dennis, Peter Kimlin, Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Kane

Douglas, Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Benn Robinson, Scott Sio, Stephen Moore, Saia Faingaa.

not really surprised to see cooper not there, u cant have anyone whose not prepared to put the team first. i have it on good authority from a prominent wallaby, that coopers comments about the toxic enviroment might have ruffled a few feathers, but it was his comments in the same interview where he said if he were able to play that weekend and was selected, he would refuse to play, that was the money shot where his wallaby fate has been decieded, cos that fudged off everyone from staff, management, aussie media "AND" the wallaby players.

i still think the wallabies will have no problems beating the lions, lions will be lucky to walk away with one tests like they did 12  and 4 years ago against the wallabies and Boks (All Blacks had no problems whitewashing them, but thats neither here nor there, LMAO, :oP).

i like that scott sio was included kimilin were included, i rate both of them and i can understand burgess inclusion, but i dont think hes ready, his experience and the wallabies looking light in the halves is a big reason for his inclusion IMO.
i am disappointed that mogg didnt make the squad though, hes a lot better then half the players deans recrutied in the backline, but i still think the wallabies will win all three.

my starting wallaby 23 for first test,,,
1 b alexander, 2 s moore, 3 j slipper, 4 r simmons, 5 j horwil (c), 6 b mowen, 7 m hooper, 8 w palu, 9 w genia, 10 j bieber, 11 i folau, 12 c leilafano, 13 AAC, 14 honeybadger, 15 k beale
16 s faainga, 17 b robinson, 18 s kepu, 19 k douglas, 20 d dennis, 21 n phibbs, 22 b barnes, 23 r horne

once digby gest back for test 2, hed go straight to 11 and folau to 14, while honeybadger aka cummins goes to the bench for horne.
best thing about the wallabies team in the last few years is the versatility the players have with many able to cober more then one position and some even three or 4.

Wallabys have a talented backline. Lions best chance maybe the first test - before the Wallabys really hit their straps.

But I am trusting the Wallabys will put these overgrown puddas in their place once more lest we have the nh oaks getting too uppitty. You know how they are if they win. EG should the lions tour be scapped as the combined unions are to strong for any opposition.This was actually a view expressed some while back.

Go Oz its time to do the Lion taming bit!

@mikey,

digby wont be playing the first test as hes injured, but i would have the worlds best winger in at 11 easy if he was fit.

i prefer leilafano over barnes, especially against the lions who will have a size advantage. barnes IMO is useless aganst bigger opponents on defence, while leilafano is solid.

normally i would prefer douglas over simmons, but the reds locking partnership in 2013 has been insane, the best in OZ and right up there with romano and whitelock who hae been the form locking combo of the spXV.

scott sio has been impressive, but kep has been better and hes played more games both this year and for the wallabies.
sios time will come though, he reminds me of a olo brown.

d dennis only makes my bench cos of his utility factor, if he could cover loosie, i would have put gill ove r him instead.
i cant see a team without palu, his form prob dosent warrant it, but he is a powerful runner and with higginbothams injury, theyre going to need someone like palu hwos a big powerful runner with silky feet.

hugh mcmeniman for test 2 maybe, but hes just come back from injury and if i were robbie, i would have let him play aginst the lions in todays match too, just to give him some game time, but if it wasnt for that, i wouldnt just have him in the 22, i would prob have him in the starting XV, even over simmons.

Sasuke, I agree with most of your points but I think Rob Simmons is very average and the Wallabies will miss Sitaleki Timani.