Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has named two uncapped players in his 30-man squad to tour South Africa and Argentina over the next two weeks.
Melbourne Rebels flanker Angus Cottrell will join the Wallabies fold for the first time with the workhorse impressing during the Super Rugby season and in the opening rounds of the National Rugby Championship for the Melbourne Rising.
Uncapped scrumhalf Jake Gordon will also tour with Joe Powell to remain in Canberra to gain game time in the NRC for the Canberra Vikings while Tolu Latu will get vital match minutes for the NSW Country Eagles.
Meanwhile, backrower Pete Samu will miss the next four weeks after suffering a knee injury in the opening half against Argentina on the Gold Coast.
Also missing from the tour squad is Lukhan Tui who Cheika said was taking a break from rugby after his altercation with a fan after the Test against the Pumas on the Gold Coast.
New @qantaswallabies flanker Angus Cottrell is stoked to be following in the footsteps of his late grandfather - and former Australian captain - Nev "Notchy" Cottrell.https://t.co/yawUUO4ENB
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) September 22, 2018
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said: “There’s an opportunity presented to us now to get some good victories overseas and that’s going to come from consistency in the way that we play.
“We have got some news additions to the squad and these guys have shown plenty of grit and determination to get an opportunity at a higher level so now we’re looking for them to add that to the mix.
“We’re very determined to make sure that we repay the faith and show people what we’re about in the way we play,” Cheika said.
The Wallabies will square off against South Africa at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth next Saturday (19:00 UAE time) before flying to Argentina to face the Pumas in Salta the following weekend.
Wallabies 30-man squad for Rugby Championship tour of South Africa and Argentina
(Test caps, Vodafone Super Rugby side and age)
Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa (27 Tests, Brumbies, 24)
Rory Arnold (17 Tests , Brumbies, 28)
Adam Coleman (26 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Angus Cottrell* (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 28)
Folau Fainga’a (3 Tests, Brumbies, 23)
Ned Hanigan (15 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Michael Hooper (c) (85 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 26)
Sekope Kepu (97 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 32)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (3 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
David Pocock (72 Tests, Brumbies, 30)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (86 Tests, Leicester, 33)
Tom Robertson (24 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 24)
Izack Rodda (11 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
Rob Simmons (89 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Scott Sio (49 Tests, Brumbies, 26)
Caleb Timu (2 Tests, Queensland Reds, 24)
Taniela Tupou (6 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
Backs
Tom Banks (2 Tests, Brumbies, 24)
Kurtley Beale (78 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Israel Folau (67 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Bernard Foley (62 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 28)
Will Genia (94 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 30)
Jake Gordon* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 25)
Dane Haylett-Petty (25 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 29)
Reece Hodge (31 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 23)
Marika Koroibete (15 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Jack Maddocks (4 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 21)
Sefa Naivalu (7 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Nick Phipps (67 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Matt Toomua (37 Tests, Leicester/Melbourne Rebels, 28)
*denotes uncapped
Rugby Championship (Results and Fixtures)
Wallabies 13 v New Zealand 38 at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Saturday August 18
New Zealand 40 v Wallabies 12 at Eden Park, Auckland, Saturday August 25
Wallabies 23 v South Africa 18 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Saturday September 8
Wallabies 19 v Argentina 23 at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast, Saturday September 15
South Africa v Wallabies at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, Saturday September 29 17.05 UAE Time
Argentina v Wallabies at Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta, Sunday 7 October 03.40am UAE Time
