This was published 9 years ago
Will Genia and Benn Robinson in, Will Skelton out as Wallabies invest in experience
It is out with the new and in with the old for the Wallabies after Ewen McKenzie reached for two of his most experienced players ahead of an opportunity to "create reputation and credibility" against South Africa in Cape Town next week.
Out is Will Skelton, the Waratahs' promising young second-row behemoth who developed a cult following after a stunning Test debut against France this year but has struggled to crack the match squad for the past two weeks.
Back in the fold: Will Genia.Credit: Getty Images
In is Will Genia, the 55-Test former Wallabies captain who has played two games in the National Rugby Championship since returning from ankle surgery, and Skelton's teammate Benn Robinson, one of the country's most experienced props who paid the price for McKenzie's focus on building depth over the past two seasons.
With the Wallabies and Springboks tied for second spot on the Rugby Championship ladder with two games to go, McKenzie declared it was time to "invest in some experience" after blooding a host of young players in key positions.
Genia and Robinson were named in the 28-man squad to tour South Africa and Argentina, joining former captain James Horwill and 97-Test veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper, who returns from a one-week absence through injury.
"It's a bit of a cycle. As you go along you explore the depths of your positions and at some point in time you recognise you can't keep going deeper and deeper. You have to invest in some experience," McKenzie said.
"I think we are a bit deeper in the hooking position and we brought Benn Robinson in last week to see where he's up to [and] we were pleased with what we saw. It's adding a bit of experience onto the front-row group, particularly around tactics."
There will be no covering up the Wallabies' exposure at hooker, where injuries to Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau left a gaping hole in the side's plans around scrum and lineout. Queensland rakes James Hanson and Saia Fainga'a will be joined by Brumbies journeyman Josh Mann-Rea in South Africa after injuries also ruled out rookies Nathan Charles, Tolu Latu and Heath Tessman.
For Skelton it is back to the National Rugby Championship and a gruelling fitness regime to whip him back into peak physical condition, with the five-game spring tour in mind.
McKenzie was at pains to point out the three-Test second-rower was firmly in the Wallabies' sights long-term, but said he was better off playing rugby than training but not playing with the Test team.
"We've got a high opinion of him but he's also a young player and his contribution around the squad has been on the fringes of late, so we've made the decision that the best thing for him at the moment is to play," he said.
"By not going [away] he can play three games over the next three weeks and get some decent football under his belt."
Skelton will be in good hands at home, with games for the Sydney Stars punctuating gruelling weeks under the supervision of the Waratahs' athletic development manager Haydn Masters. Masters was responsible for transforming the 22-year-old giant into a dynamic impact player for the Waratahs in the space of two seasons.
Genia's return will put welcome heat on incumbents Nick Phipps and Nic White, who have battled it out for starting honours since their Queensland rival's departure during the June series against France.
A notorious competitor, Genia reported for duty on the Gold Coast last week looking sharp and fit.
"They're all different styles of player, they all bring something completely different. We also recognise that Will has contributed a lot and is one of the more experienced players we've got," McKenzie said.
"I've got an open mind about [the pecking order]. I don't make changes quickly, so it's up to people to earn it. Will had a bit of a cameo last week, so you expect him to come in and show his competitiveness and show us where he's up to exactly."
The Wallabies assemble in Sydney on Friday before flying to Cape Town on Monday and Mendoza the week after.
"The next 10 days there are opportunities there that can create reputation and create credibility," McKenzie said.
"We've been pretty consistent but we've still got to keep working. We haven't won everyone over and we are our own toughest critics, so the next game we've got is a big game."
Wallabies squad
Backs: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Joe Tomane, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali'ifano, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Nic White, Will Genia.
Forwards: Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Michael Hooper (c), Matt Hodgson, Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, James Horwill, Sekope Kepu, Ben Alexander, James Slipper, Pek Cowan, Benn Robinson, James Hanson, Saia Fainga'a, Josh Mann-Rae.