Wallabies abroad: Quade Cooper ready to launch

Fri, Nov 13, 2015, 1:00 AM
AAP
by AAP

Wallabies halfback Will Genia will have to wait another week for his Stade Francais debut after being ruled out of this weekend’s Champions Cup fixture against Leicester.

A knee complaint kept Genia out of the side for Friday night’s clash but he is likely to be fit for the side’s match against Munster on November 22.

His long-time Super Rugby partner in crime, Quade Cooper, looks set to line up for Toulon again this weekend, making his Champions Cup debut against Bath.

Cooper provided some trademark highlights in his first outing for his new club, including a no-look grubber kick that set former Reds teammate Lachie Turner up for a try.

His World Cup teammates Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell are both unlikely to play, with both easing back into Toulon duties after the Wallabies’ campaign.

Wallabies lock James Horwill sat out the Harlequins’ Challenge Cup match against Montpellier on Thursday night.

Horwill has played three of the Quins’ four opening round Premiership matches, after joining the English club ahead of the 2015-16 season.

George Smith’s Wasps will also feature in Champions Cup action this weekend, with teams for that match against Leinster yet to be officially named.

Aussie winger Peter Betham will be lining up for the Leicester Tigers in the match against Stade Francais.

The opening round of the Japanese Top League will not feature Wallabies fly half Bernard Foley, who arrived in Tokyo this week to join his new teammates.

Foley has not been named for the Ricoh Black Rams’ opening fixture but is likely to debut in round two.

Wallabies back rower Ben McCalman has been named on the bench for the Panasonic Wild Knights first round match against Suntory Sungoliath, with 51-cap Wallaby Berrick Barnes the starting flyhalf for the team.

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