Wallabies team for Tri Nations Test 3 – v. All Blacks in Auckland

Update 4/8/11: Final 22 announced — the two non-playing reserves are Timani and Hodgson.

The 24-man Wallaby squad to travel to Auckland on Wednesday for this weekend’s All Blacks Tri Nations–Bledisloe blockbuster has been announced.

Are there any surprises? Maybe one or two little ones…

The additions from the Bokke test are the Waratahs quartet of halfback Luke Burgess, winger Lachie Turner and second rowers Dan Vickerman and Sitaleki Timani.

The main casualties are Sharpie and Phipps. With Phipps you can understand, now that Burgo is back from his hand injury.

Sharpie is an entirely different proposition. Unless he’s being ‘rested’ to allow Vickers and Timani a chance to compete for an RWC position, then it’s a poor decision in my view.

I have a gut feeling that he’s been dropped, full-stop. Why would you not select your top team to play a crucial Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup match in NZ, where we haven’t won in the past 10 years, and where the result may have some impact in the battle for supremacy come October?

Nathan Sharpe has been our premier lock over the past two seasons. This year he’s had a big Super Rugby tournament — without doubt one of the best performed locks around, while Vickers was not playing in Australia and whose fitness has been under a cloud all year.

Likewise Timani, who looked OK for half a dozen Super Ruby games and may be a player for the future, but he ain’t a patch on what Sharpie has to offer. In fact, I’m not convinced at all about his workrate and effectiveness. How did he go against Samoa? Better than Sharpie?

It’s all well and good to bring young talent along but a month or so out from the RWC is not the time to do it. Not happy Jan….

As for the inclusion of Lachlan Turner Overdrive — well, it’d be Drew Mitchell if he was fit so he’s probably only warming the spot. Not that Turner isn’t up to it or anything. He’s a solid player with utility value who peformed well the last time he was there.

I expect Timani and Turner to be the two non-playing reserves this weekend but you never know. I think Timani might get game time against the Boks. A further two from the wider squad will be added on Sunday to travel to South Africa next week.

Matt Giteau wasn’t included, as expected. That’s been telegraphed for a while now; however, I’d include him in my 30-man RWC squad, although I’m not sure Robbie’s going to now that Berrick is back in the running.

There’s been a lot of comment about the Queensland connection missing out — Robinson and Samo in particular, in lieu of McCalman and Hodgson. That’s fair enough too and it’s probably time for the latter two to pull digit out and show us what they can do. Last chances maybe?

The team is probably the closest we’ve gotten so far to our best selection (injuries notwithstanding) although it might need to be tweaked a body or two. I guess we’ll be finding out on Saturday?

This is probably our best chance for a win in a long while — but don’t get too excited, didn’t we say that last time? Whatever the result, let’s put the friggin’ wind up them!

Tri Nations 3 Wallaby Team to Play NZ

24-MAN WALLABY SQUAD