New talent

Three uncapped players in Wallabies' tour squad

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- With an eye on next year's Rugby World Cup, the Wallabies will use their tour of Argentina, Ireland, England and Italy to blood three previously uncapped players, coach Eddie Jones said Wednesday as he announced the 27-man touring squad.

Australian under-21 and Canberra Vikings fly half Matt Giteau will be the team's third scrum half while newly signed Waratahs hooker Adam Freier will be understudy for Jeremy Paul.

"We need to pick proven players who can win test matches but at the same time we must bring through new talent that could play a role in next year's world cup," Jones said.

Selectors opted for a third scrum half to cover for Wallaby skipper George Gregan who is scheduled to fly home during the tour to attend the birth of his second child.

"Family comes first and George is a great family man and he has the full support of the ARU when the time comes for him to leave the tour and return for the birth," said Australian Rugby Union managing director John O'Neill.

Queensland flanker David Croft also travels with the squad. Although uncapped, he has been named previously in Wallabies squads.

Winger Ben Tune, under fire during the Australian domestic season for a doping violation, also was named to the squad.

Tune was found guilty last month by an Australian doping tribunal of taking the banned drug probenecid while being treated for a knee infection in March 2001.

Tune and his doctor said they did not know that probenecid, a diuretic often prescribed to mask steroid use, is banned by the International Rugby Board (IRB).

The tribunal found Tune guilty of doping but did not punish him, citing "exceptional circumstances."

The ARU said in August that the tribunal did not sanction Tune because he "acted openly and honestly at all times, including notifying the ARU and the Australian Sports Drug Agency that probenecid had been proscribed because it was necessary medically."

The International Rugby Board is studying the decision.

Tune said Tuesday he did not expect the board to take any action.

"I literally don't think about it at all now and, as far as I'm concerned, it's pretty much finished," he said. "If they (IRB) wanted to stop me playing, I would have thought they would have done that by now."

Rising star Giteau said his selection was "completely unexpected."

"I know (flanker) George Smith is pretty happy too considering he's no longer the youngest player on tour and doesn't have to baby sit the Wallaby mascot," he joked.

The squad leaves for Buenos Aires on Oct. 25. The tour features tests against Argentina's Pumas, Ireland, England and Italy.

The Wallaby squad:

Matthew Burke, Matt Cockbain, David Croft, Ben Darwin, Owen Finegan, Elton Flatley, Adam Freier, David Giffin, Matt Giteau, George Gregan (Capt.), Justin Harrison, Daniel Herbert, Toutai Kefu, Chris Latham, Stephen Larkham, David Lyons, Stirling Mortlock, Patricio Noriega, Jeremy Paul, Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor, George Smith, Nick Stiles, Ben Tune, Daniel Vickerman, Chris Whitaker, Bill Young.

 

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