The George Gregan-led Wallabies take on the Six Nations wooden-spooners in Melbourne on June 13th and Sydney on June 19th before playing world champions England in Brisbane on June 26th.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said the expanded squad provides a strong mix of experience and new young talent who have proven themselves in the Super 12 southern hemisphere provincial series. "We have 22 players who were involved in the Rugby World Cup last year and five new guys who will add talent and enthusiasm to the squad," Jones said at the official squad announcement here on Tuesday.
"We've picked the squad on form, from performances during the entire Super 12, but Test match rugby is another level of intensity all together.
"I'm confident Mark Chisholm, Mark Gerrard, Clyde Rathbone, Nic Henderson and Radike Samo have the ability to play at the next level and it's appropriate to introduce them at this time.
"This is the first squad of the season and with a bit over two weeks before we play Scotland in Melbourne, it's important we prepare well and switch our focus to Test match rugby."
The squad has 12 players from the Brumbies, 10 from the NSW Waratahs and five from the Queensland Reds, and will begin training at their Coffs Harbour base in northern New South Wales on June 1st.
The Australian Rugby Union said injured players Mat Rogers (ankle), Daniel Heenan (shoulder), Chris Whitaker (knee) and Stirling Mortlock (knee) were considered unavailable for selection in the initial squad.
Australia: Alastair Baxter, Matthew Burke, Brendan Cannon, Mark Chisholm, Matt Dunning, Elton Flatley, Mark Gerrard, Matt Giteau, George Gregan (captain), Justin Harrison, Nic Henderson, Stephen Larkham, Chris Latham, David Lyons, Jeremy Paul, Clyde Rathbone, John Roe, Joe Roff, Wendell Sailor, Radike Samo, Nathan Sharpe, George Smith, Lote Tuqiri, Morgan Turinui, Daniel Vickerman, Phil Waugh, Bill Young.
AFP - 2004.
