The Wallabies are currently going through a rigorous training camp in Newcastle, New South Wales ahead of their Bledisloe Cup opener against the All Blacks on August 19.

Michael Cheika is firmly putting an emphasis on fitness and he wants his Australian side to be the fittest of the four teams competing in this year’s Rugby Championship. This culminated in some strange scenes last week when the players trained with tape across their mouths so that they would only breathe through their nose.

Further to this, the Wallabies have been hit with some injury problems with the news emerging that Karmichael Hunt has been ruled out for two months with an ankle injury. Cheika has confirmed that he won’t call up Quade Cooper as Hunt’s replacement but that he will keep an eye on Cooper in the NRC Championship.

There are also some familiar faces taking in Wallabies training over the past week, both Wallabies legend George Gregan and All Blacks colossus Brad Thorn have both been spotted in Wallabies gear as they assist Cheika and his staff in camp.

Cheika had this to say about Gregan’s inclusion:

“He [Gregan] is going to do a bit of off-field stuff,” Cheika told Western Australia Today. “For me, he’s the No.1 around his attitude, leadership, work ethic … he’s just got all those things. “He has been a player who has been there and is well respected. It was logical for him to come in.”

Thorn has been coaching with the Queensland Reds since his retirement but now seems to be involved in the national setup which must be an endorsement of his coaching credentials.

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