Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has named a 40-man extended squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship leading into the World Cup.
There's been recalls for Toulon pair Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau, while there's a recall for recent Australia returnee Dean Mumm. There are several noticeable absentees from the squad that doesn't include the Honey Badger, Nick Cummins or precocious talent James O'Connor.
Other players whose absence raises an eyebrow include props Pek Cowan and Paul Alo-Emile; locks Lopeti Timani, Luke Jones, and Sam Carter; flankers Liam Gill, Matt Hodgson, and Ita Vaea; and scrumhalf Nick Stirzaker, and the aforementioned O'Connor or Cummins. Lyon's 111-test cap Wallaby George Smith is also excluded, but it likely to join up with the squad at a later date.
There are four uncapped talents in the squad - lock Rory Arnold, centre Samu Kerevi, Edinburgh bound winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, and prop Toby Smith. Each of those had breakout years, and will be looking to make the final 31-man squad for the World Cup.
It's quite hard to figure out where Cheika can drop players from this talented squad, which must strike fear into their pool rivals Fiji, England and Wales.
The Extended Australian RWC Squad 2015:
Looseheads: Scott Sio (Brumbies), James Slipper (Reds), Toby Smith (Rebels)*
Hookers: James Hanson (Reds), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs)
Tightheads: Tetera Faulker (Western Force), Greg Holmes (Reds), Sekope Kepu (Waratahs)
Locks: Rory Arnold (Brumbies)*, James Horwill (Reds), Dean Mumm (Waratahs), Rob Simmons (Reds), Will Skelton (Waratahs)
Blindsides: Dave Dennis (Waratahs), Scott Fardy (Brumbies), Scott Higginbotham (Rebels), Sean McMahon (Rebels)
Opensides: Michael Hooper (Waratahs), David Pocock (Brumbies)
No. 8s: Wycliff Palu (Waratahs), Ben McCalman (Western Force)
Scrumhalves: Will Genia (Reds), Nick Phipps (Waratahs), Nic White (Brumbies)
Outhalves: Quade Cooper (Reds), Bernard Foley (Waratahs)
Inside Centres: Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), Matt Giteau (Toulon), Christian Leali'ifano (Brumbies), Matt Toomua (Brumbies)
Outside Centres: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), Samu Kerevi (Reds)*, Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)
Wingers: Rob Horne (Waratahs), Drew Mitchell (Toulon), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs)*, Henry Speight (Brumbies), Joe Tomane (Brumbies)
Full-backs: Israel Folau (Waratahs)
Possible Australia XV:
1. James Slipper, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Rob Simmons, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Scott Fardy, 7. David Pocock, 8. Scott Higginbotham; 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Drew Mitchell, 12. Matt Giteau, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Israel Folau;
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Tetera Faulker, 19. Dave Dennis, 20. Michael Hooper, 21. Will Genia, 22. Quade Cooper, 23. Adam Ashley-Cooper.
