Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie today unveiled his 30-man squad for the Rugby Championship.

by Brendan Bradford –

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie today announced eight uncapped players in a 30-man squad to contest the Rugby Championship.

The squad was narrowed down from an initial 40-players following a five-day training camp in Sydney with Bernard Foley and Matt Toomua joining Quade Cooper as playmakers while halfback Nic White edged out Nick Phipps. Foley’s Waratahs teammate Benn Robinson was a surprise omission, as McKenzie opted for the Reds’ James Slipper and promising Brumbies prospect Scott Sio as potential loosehead props.

Joining Foley, Toomua, White and Sio are fellow uncapped players, hooker Albert Anae, backrowers Scott Fardy and Jake Schatz and centre Tevita Kuridrani.

Just reward: Waratahs five-eighth Bernard Foley has been named in the Wallaby squad for the Rugby Championship

The Brumbies were rewarded for a strong Super Rugby campaign with 11 selections while the Reds have nine, the Waratahs have six, the Force have three and the Rebels one.

With an average age of just under 25, the youthful side will now ramp up its preparations ahead of the opening Rugby Championship game against the All Blacks next weekend.

“I was really impressed with how each individual responded to the competitiveness of the opening week of camp and I’m pleased to say that the player’s attitude and uptake of our program was at a very high level,” McKenzie said.

While Robinson’s ommission was a surprise, McKenzie left the door open for the 56-Test cap loosehead to return to the fold.

“It’s unfortunate that a number of good players missed out although this isn’t necessarily a case of poor performance but rather a reflection of some of the quality we have coming through in Australian Rugby right now.

“For the moment though, we’ve narrowed our way down to a group of players we believe are capable of getting the job done against the All Blacks in just over a week.

“That doesn’t mean the players chosen won’t change in the future and that those who have missed out this time will be forgotten.”

With a combined total of 575 Test appearances, the squad is now fully focused on getting a winning start to its Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup campaigns.

“There has understandably been a large amount of content to get through on the field but we’ve also been focusing on the mental side and ensuring we have the right mindset going into the game,” he said.

“The reality is not one player in the current squad has lifted up the Bledisloe Cup before, but if they are good enough over seven days and two matches then this will change.

“That’s an exciting challenge and one the group must get their minds around quickly if we are going to be successful.”

The Wallabies face the All Blacks over two consecutive weekends in Sydney and Wellington before home games against South Africa in Brisbane on September 7 and Argentina in Perth on September 14. The side then travels to Newlands to play the Springboks on September 28 and Rosario for the Pumas on October 5. A third Bledisloe Cup match will be played in Dunedin on October 19.

The Qantas Wallabies 30-man Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship squad is: