Qantas Wallabies named for 2009 Spring Tour

Seven uncapped players have been included among the 35-man Qantas Wallabies squad announced today for the 2009 Spring Tour, among a travelling party which also includes a new captain, Rocky Elsom, and vice captain, in Berrick Barnes.

The tour, which kicks off at the end of the month in Japan, will incorporate Australia’s first attempt at a Grand Slam of the four British Home Unions in 25 years.

While Western Force flanker Matt Hodgson and NSW Waratahs utility back Kurtley Beale had been involved within the Qantas Wallabies set-up during the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series earlier in the year, the tour will represent the first Qantas Wallabies’ involvements for five others.

These are Queensland Reds halfback Richard Kingi, NSW Waratahs midfield back Rob Horne, Brumbies blindside flanker Mitchell Chapman, NSW Waratahs lock Dave Dennis and ACT Brumbies prop Salesi Ma’afu.

The new leadership group is headed up by Elsom, 26, who has played 44 Tests for his country, having debuted against Samoa in 2005. He returned to Australia earlier this year in time to play four times during the Tri Nations, after a successful off-season in Ireland where he helped the Dublin-based Leinster club annex its maiden European Cup title. He now becomes Australia’s 76^th Test captain.

Stirling Mortlock was the incumbent captain when Deans took over last year.

“Stirling has done a good job as Australian skipper, both before I became involved, and over the last 16 months. He also understands that this initiative has no meaning in terms of his playing future. He has indicated a desire to continue not only to play but also to lead and we respect that,” Deans says.

For Deans, leadership has never been about title, but more about actions.

Deans has also historically shown a preference for the captain to be in the forward pack.

“Although George [Smith] did a sound job taking over once Stirling [Mortlock] was injured this season, we feel the role has never really sat naturally with him. Captaincy requires a big commitment both on and away from the field and we believe George is better served not being saddled with the additional responsibility. He still has the opportunity to contribute leadership within the group.”

Deans says Elsom appealed as the best option for the position, both due to his certainty in terms of selection, and ability to lead from the front.

“Rocky has the respect of his team-mates because of his approach and the total commitment he brings to the game,” Deans says.

Twenty seven of the players selected today featured for the Wallabies earlier in the year, in either the mid-year Test window or during the Tri Nations.

Three players who were members of the pre-tour training squad – lock Nathan Sharpe, uncapped winger Nick Cummins and flanker Phil Waugh, were not considered due to injury. Sharpe and Cummins both have injuries which ruled them out for the entire tour while Waugh was not going to be available for the first fixtures.

The other player to miss selection from the Tri Nations squad is prop Al Baxter.

“The nature of the playing schedules is such that we get few windows of opportunity outside of Tests in which to introduce players,” Deans says.

“This tour provides us with a development opportunity, through our two midweek games. That is why we have opted to introduce some younger players, as opposed to taking along players whose capabilities we are already aware of.

“Clearly players who fall into that category are the likes of Baxter and possibly Waugh.”

Deans says the uncapped players selected today had all been closely monitored, both at state and club level and also through their involvement in national programmes; most recently during this week’s four-day training camp.

“That was a valuable exercise,” Deans says of the four days spent together by a training squad of 43, earlier this week in Sydney.

“Not only did it allow us an opportunity to work closely with a few players for the first time and observe their habits – both off the field and on the training paddock – we were also able to bed in a few standards ahead of the tour itself.”

Deans says the fact that eight additional players not selected today were exposed to the camp may prove advantageous down the line.

“History suggests we will suffer breakages, in terms of injured players, while we are away,” Deans says.

“If that happens, we have some other blokes who have been exposed to the methodology within the camp that we can call on if required.”

The Wallabies assemble in Sydney next week, before departing for Tokyo, and this season’s final Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks, on 24 October.

The tour then moves on to the British Isles, with England first-up during a four-week period where the squad will face four Tests, alongside mid-week matches against English Premiership club Gloucester and a still to be confirmed opponent in Wales.

The Qantas Wallabies Squad for the 2009 Spring Tour, incorporating Australia’s first Grand Slam attempt in 25 years, is:

* = captain

** = vice captain

Tour Schedule

* all kick offs are in local times (Australian kick off times in italics, British games are the following morning, AEST). A midweek match in Wales is still to be confirmed.

Grand Slam Tour Notes

• This is the eighth potential Grand Slam tour of the British Isles to have been conducted by an Australian team since the 1928-29 NSW Waratahs, who beat Wales and Ireland but lost to Scotland and England.
• Further Grand Slam attempts were made in 1947-48 (won three, lost to Wales), 1957-58 (lost all four Tests), 1966-67 (won two, lost to Scotland and Ireland), 1975-76 (beat Ireland, lost the other three) & 1981-82 (beat Ireland, lost the other three).
• Australia finally achieved its maiden Grand Slam at its seventh attempt in 1984, beating England 19-3, Ireland 16-9, Wales 28-9 and Scotland 37-12. Flyhalf Mark Ella scored tries in all four Tests.
• The 1984 tourists, who were the eighth Wallabies to tour the British Isles, played 18 matches during their two month visit, winning 13, losing four and drawing one. As well as the Grand Slam, the ’84 side also beat the Barbarians in the tour finale, 37-30.
• Seventeen members of the Qantas Wallabies squad named today to under-take Australia’s latest attempt on a Grand Slam hadn’t been born when the successful 1984 tour was made.
• South Africa has successfully achieved a Grand Slam of the British Isles on four occasions (1912-13, 1931-32, 1951-52 & 1960-61) from eight attempts, but has failed in its three most recent attempts – including 2004 when the then reigning Tri Nations champions lost to both Ireland and England.
• New Zealand failed in its first four Slam attempts & had to wait until 1978 & the All Blacks’ seventh tour of the British Isles before a quartet of Test victories was finally achieved. The All Blacks have now achieved the Slam on each of their last three attempts – 1978, 2005 and 2008.