Cheika makes one change to touring party

Fri, Sep 22, 2017, 1:59 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
After a stint in the UK with Wasps Kurtley Beale has hit the ground running back in Australian Rugby with a string on man of the match performances for the Wallabies and producing kind of form that the schoolboy prodigy always promised.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made one change to the squad that will tour South Africa and Argentina, Adam Korczyk left out of the 32-man squad that will make the trip.

Korczyk won't be replaced, with the 33-man squad that trained in Canberra dropping to 32, giving Lukhan Tui, Billy Meakes and Izaia Perese further chance to press their case for a Test debut.

Cheika has elected to leave Karmichael Hunt in Brisbane, where he will return to rugby with Brisbane City next weekend.

Hunt hasn't played since suffering an ankle injury against the Highlanders in the Reds' final game of 2017.Karmichael Hunt won't be on the place to Johannesburg. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyHe was hopeful of returning to the Wallabies fold for the tour but Cheika has taken a cautious approach in planning a path for his return.

The Wallabies depart for Johannesburg tomorrow morning, where they will stay and train before heading to Bloemfontein on Thursday.

That's where they'll face the Springboks, hoping to go one better after a 23-all draw in Perth a fortnight ago.

Bloemfontein holds happy memories for the Wallabies.

The last time they played there, in 2010, Kurtley Beale slotted a penalty after the siren to claim a famous 41-39 win.

The touring party then flies to Buenos Aires, where they'll train before travelling to Mendoza for a clash with the Pumas.

SQUAD

Wallabies squad for tour of South Africa, Argentina

Forwards

Allan Alaalatoa, 16 Tests, Brumbies

Rory Arnold, 15 Tests, Brumbies

Adam Coleman, 15 Tests, Western Force

Jack Dempsey, 3 Tests, NSW Waratahs

Tetera Faulkner, 2 Tests, Melbourne Rebels

Ned Hanigan, 7 Tests, NSW Waratahs

Michael Hooper (c), 72 Tests, NSW Waratahs

Sekope Kepu, 84 Tests, NSW Waratahs

Sean McMahon, 19 Tests, Melbourne Rebels

Stephen Moore, 122 Tests, Queensland Reds

Tatafu Polota-Nau, 75 Tests, Western Force

Tom Robertson, 13 Tests, NSW Waratahs

Izack Rodda, 2 Tests, Queensland Reds

Rob Simmons, 75 Tests, NSW Waratahs

Scott Sio, 36 Tests, Brumbies

Lopeti Timani, 9 Tests, Melbourne Rebels

Lukhan Tui*, Queensland Reds

Jordan Uelese, 2 Tests, Melbourne Rebels

Backs

Kurtley Beale, 64 Tests, NSW Waratahs

Israel Folau, 59 Tests, NSW Waratahs

Bernard Foley (vc), 49 Tests, NSW Waratahs

Will Genia (vc), 82 Tests, Melbourne Rebels

Reece Hodge, 17 Tests, Melbourne Rebels

Samu Kerevi, 11 Tests, Queensland Reds

Marika Koroibete, 1 Test, Melbourne Rebels

Tevita Kuridrani, 51 Tests, Brumbies

Billy Meakes*, Western Force

Izaia Perese*, Queensland Reds

Nick Phipps, 55 Tests, NSW Waratahs

Joe Powell, 2 Tests, Brumbies

Curtis Rona, 2 Tests, Western Force

Henry Speight, 16 Tests, Brumbies

*Denotes uncapped player

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