Big names included in Australia 'A' squad
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Veterans Bernard Foley and James O’Connor will get a chance to push for World Cup selection after being named in the Australia ‘A’ squad to face Tonga next month.
Currently in South Africa preparing for the Wallabies’ opening Rugby Championship Test this weekend, coach Eddie Jones has named a 25-player squad for the July 14 match in Nuku’alofa.
He has included 13 Wallabies in the group including 76-Test veteran Foley and O’Connor, who has played 59, Jake Gordon and Jock Campbell, as well as forwards Folau Fainga’a and Harry Wilson.
The returning Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has been selected in the squad as well as Brumbies speedster and former Australian Sevens representative Corey Toole.
The match will be a key fixture as both the Wallabies and Tonga continue their preparations ahead of the World Cup in France, which kicks off in September.
It will take place on the 50th anniversary of Tonga’s victory over the Wallabies at Ballymore in Brisbane; a match where Fatai Kefu, the father of current Tonga coach and Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu, represented the Ikale Tahi.
The Australian outfit will be led by head coach Jason Gilmore with Brumbies duo Rod Seib and Laurie Fisher his assistants.
Australia ‘A’ squad: Lachlan Anderson, Jock Campbell, Josh Canham, Pone Fa’amausili, Folau Fainga’a, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Bernard Foley, Josh Flook, Jake Gordon, Ned Hanigan, Tom Lambert, Lachlan Lonergan, Cadeyrn Neville, James O’Connor, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Ollie Sapsford, Blake Schoupp, Lachlan Swinton, Sam Talakai, Corey Toole, Seru Uru, Rhys Van Nek, Joey Walton, Brad Wilkin, Harry Wilson.
