Wales could face Australia scrum-half Will Genia in the opening autumn Test – even though he is currently another victim of the club v country dispute.
Arguably the Wallabies’ most influential player, Genia has been named in coach Michael Cheika’s squad for their European tour.
His French club, Stade Francais, have so far said he is only available for the Test matches that form the international window, meaning he would not be released for their first game against Wales on November 5.
But the Australian management are in discussions with Stade and are hopeful they can negotiate his release in the same way Wales have done with their English-based players.
Genia, 28, also missed the Wallabies’ 37-10 Bledisloe Cup defeat to New Zealand last Saturday as that was also outside of agreed Test dates.
But with 72 caps under his belt, Genia – who did much to help beat Wales in last year’s World Cup – remains a key player for Cheika and they will argue hard to try and arrange his release.
Fellow French-based players Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Drew Mitchell were always going to miss out, having all returned to play in France during the Rugby Championship.
Wales could also be facing Australian rugby league star Marika Koroibete in the opening November Test – even though he’s yet to play any Super Rugby.
Koroibete is one of three uncapped players named by Australia coach Michael Cheika in the tour squad due to meet Wales in Cardiff.
The Fiji-born Koroibete played for Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League but has switched to the 15-a-side code and could potentially make his international debut before playing Super Rugby for the Melbourne Rebels.
Hooker Tolu Latu and outside back Kyle Goodwin are the other uncapped players picked in the squad that will attempt to win the Grand Slam – victories at the home grounds of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England – for the first time since 1984.
But there is no place for Samu Kerevi who has been ruled out the tour after undergoing surgery on the ankle.
The 23-year-old suffered the injury against the All Blacks last weekend.
Koroibete could be the first player to make his Wallabies debut before his maiden Super Rugby outing since Tatafu Polota-Nau debuted in 2005, before a 2006 Super Rugby start with the Waratahs.
Giteau was the most recent before that, playing his first Test in 2002 before making any provincial appearances, running out in Super Rugby for the Brumbies from 2003.
Koroibete boosts the Wallabies outside backs stocks for the tour, joining Henry Speight and Sefa Naivalu as the specialist wingers in the team.
The 24-year-old played 74 NRL matches, scoring 46 tries, most recently playing in the NRL grand final with the Storm.
