Rugby

Four Fijians named in Wallabies RWC squad

August 23, 2019 11:20 am

Samu Kerevi, Isi Naisarani, Tevita Kuridrani and Marika Koroibete

Four Fijians have forced their way in the Wallabies 31-member squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The four Fijians are Samu Kerevi, Isi Naisarani, Tevita Kuridrani and Marika Koroibete.

This is the first time that four Fijians will play for the Wallabies in the World Cup.

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Michael Cheika has revealed his 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, making some brutal calls on big names.

Evergreen Adam Ashley-Cooper and fledgeling Jordan Petaia have bolted into the most experienced Australian squad ever named to contest a Rugby World Cup.

Adam Ashley-Cooper will feature in his fourth Rugby World Cup while 19-year-old Jordan Petaia will become the youngest to be named in a Wallabies World Cup squad.

Boasting 45 caps per player, Cheika’s Test-hardened group features a record three centurions in Ashley-Cooper, halfback Will Genia and prop Sekope Kepu along with two others poised to raise three figures in Japan — captain Michael Hooper and lock Rob Simmons.

Ashley-Cooper, 35, becomes the oldest Wallaby selected for a World Cup and Petaia, at 19, the youngest.

Ashley-Cooper has played the third-most Wallabies Tests (118) and scored the third-most tries (37). He joins Will Genia as the only Australians to attend four editions of the global tournament.

It rewards the Waratahs veteran for his bold call to spurn the riches of Japanese club rugby this year to pursue another crack at the Webb Ellis Cup.

At the other end of the spectrum is uncapped Queensland Reds back Petaia, a selection based on raw attacking potential.

Petaia suffered a serious foot injury in early March and has won selection on the back of recent club action on return to fitness.

Twelve of the squad were involved in the 2015 campaign when Cheika defied the odds by overseeing a trip to the Twickenham final, won by the All Blacks. Seven of those players were also at the 2011 tournament.

A born-again James O’Connor attended 2011 but missed 2015.

O’Connor is among a raft of midfield backs named by Cheika.

Nine of his squad have started a Test at inside or outside centre, and Petaia is poised to become the 10th.

Cheika has gambled on just two specialist halfbacks, while only five loose forwards have been named, including veteran David Pocock who hasn’t played since March because of injury.

Cheika said his balance was carefully planned. “It’s also important that we select a squad that will handle the tournament play and our draw in particular at the Rugby World Cup, as well as maintain a strong competition for places in the team,”.

Among the unluckiest omissions are fullback Tom Banks, halfback Joe Powell, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and flankers Liam Wright and Luke Jones, who will join the World Cup squad as train-on players at a 10-day preparation camp in New Caledonia.

They return to play Samoa in Sydney on September 7, two weeks out from an opening group game against Fiji in Sapporo.

The other pool opponents are Wales, Uruguay and Georgia.

“These next few weeks are about building and adding that little extra edge as a squad and we’ll be working hard to make sure we deliver on the qualities we want people to see when we run out on the field in Japan,” Cheika said.

Fiji will play the Wallabies in their first World Cup match on the 21st of next month at 4:45pm but the tournament officially kicks off on the 20th with host Japan taking on Russia.

WALLABIES SQUAD

Backs: Kurtley Beale, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Jordan Petaia, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, James O’Connor, Samu Kerevi, Matt Toomua, Christian Lealiifano, Bernard Foley, Nic White, Will Genia.

Forwards: Isi Naisarani, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper (capt), David Pocock, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Rory Arnold, Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Sekope Kepu, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Tolu Latu, Folau Fainga’a, Jordan Uelese.

[Source: news.com.au]