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Michael Hooper To Lead Wallabies In Opening Wales Test

Michael Hooper To Lead Wallabies In Opening Wales Test

Michael Hooper will captain the Wallabies on their tour to Japan and the UK next month, when his side will provide the first opposition to Wales in the 2017 Under Armour Series. The Wallabies will arrive for the game at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, 11 November on the back of a five-match unbeaten Test run and a 31-28 win over the Barbarians in Sydney at the weekend. Locks Blake Enever, of the Brumbies, and Matt Philip, of the Western Force, are the two bolters in the 32-strong tour party, while former Gloucester centre Billy Meakes and Queensland Reds utility back Izaia Perese are the other uncapped players.

Michael Hooper will captain the Wallabies on their tour to Japan and the UK next month, when his side will provide the first opposition to Wales in the 2017 Under Armour Series.

The Wallabies will arrive for the game at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, 11 November on the back of a five-match unbeaten Test run and a 31-28 win over the Barbarians in Sydney at the weekend.

Locks Blake Enever, of the Brumbies, and Matt Philip, of the Western Force, are the two bolters in the 32-strong tour party, while former Gloucester centre Billy Meakes and Queensland Reds utility back Izaia Perese are the other uncapped players.

Coach Michael Cheika has also bolted on 20-year-old Jack Maddocks and teenager Liam Wright as development players to the tour party. The Wallabies meet Japan in Yokohama on Saturday before heading to the Welsh capital.

Back row man Jack Dempsey has been ruled out of the tour after undergoing surgery, while Queensland Reds flanker Adam Korczyk’s chances were spoiled by a punctured lung. Western Force prop Jermaine Ainsley was also ruled out of contention with an ankle injury.

There is a return to the international fold for the experienced No 8 Ben McCalman despite only playing two games this season. He played in the 31-28 win over the Barbarians at the weekend in Sydney.

Kurtley Beale, Will Genia, Reece Hodge, Tevita Kuridrani and Michael Foley will provide class and experience behind the scrum, while veteran hooker Steve Moore will get the chance to make a 14th appearance against Wales on what will be his farewell tour before he hangs up his boots at international level.

Australian Tour Party
Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa (19 Tests, Brumbies)
Adam Coleman (18 Tests, Western Force)
Blake Enever* (Brumbies)
Tetera Faulkner (3 Tests, Western Force)
Ned Hanigan (9 Tests, NSW Waratahs)
Michael Hooper (75 Tests, NSW Waratahs, captain)
Sekope Kepu (87 Tests, NSW Waratahs)
Ben McCalman (49 Tests, Western Force)
Sean McMahon (22 Tests, Melbourne Rebels)
Stephen Moore (125 Tests, Queensland Reds)
Matt Philip* (Western Force)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (78 Tests, Western Force)
Tom Robertson (15 Tests, NSW Waratahs)
Rob Simmons (78 Tests, Queensland Reds)
Scott Sio (39 Tests, Brumbies)
Lopeti Timani (9 Tests, Melbourne Rebels)
Lukhan Tui (3 Tests, Queensland Reds)
Jordan Uelese (2 Tests, Melbourne Rebels)
Backs
Kurtley Beale (67 Tests, NSW Waratahs)
Bernard Foley (52 Tests, NSW Waratahs)
Will Genia (85 Tests, Melbourne Rebels)
Reece Hodge (20 Tests, Melbourne Rebels)
Karmichael Hunt (3 Tests, Queensland Reds)
Samu Kerevi (14 Tests, Queensland Reds)
Marika Koroibete (4 Tests, Melbourne Rebels)
Tevita Kuridrani (54 Tests, Brumbies)
Billy Meakes* (Western Force)
Izaia Perese* (Queensland Reds)
Nick Phipps (58 Tests, NSW Waratahs)
Joe Powell (2 Tests, Brumbies)
Curtis Rona (2 Tests, Western Force)
Henry Speight (17 Tests, Brumbies)