Rugby: Deans casts wide net in talent search

Robbie Deans is leaving no stone unturned as he seeks talent to avoid a repeat of the Wallabies' All Blacks defeat. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Wallabies selectors have responded to the side's capitulation in Wellington by injecting 10 uncapped players into an Australian training squad for the spring tour of Japan and Europe.

Coach Robbie Deans has announced a 43-man squad for a four-day camp next week, to be trimmed to 35 before the tour party is named on October 9.

The Wallabies' heavy defeat by the All Blacks in their last outing left them with a miserable 1-5 Tri-Nations series record in 2009 and means several players are vulnerable as others are considered.

The bolters include 21-year-old Sydney University back-rower Ben McCalman, who has signed with the Western Force for next season, and Australian under-20s halfback Richard Kingi from Queensland.

NSW forward Dave Dennis, who along with McCalman impressed in the Sydney club grand final at the weekend, 21-year-old Waratahs team-mate Damien Fitzpatrick and 20-year-old Western Force winger Nick Cummins are the other surprises.

Brumbies trio Stephen Hoiles, Salesi Ma'afu and Mitchell Chapman were also added, while Matt Dunning, Sekope Kepu and Digby Ioane all return from injuries.

"All of this 43 have been named because we are considering what they are offering us so it is very important what they bring to that camp in every way," Deans told reporters on Monday.

Deans acnowledged concerns about the second row with Nathan Sharpe still to prove his fitness and noted Dennis and McCalman had boosted their claims with their efforts for Sydney University on Sunday.

"It would be fair to say it was confirmed but they were in our mind and that is an area of challenge for us," said Deans.

"There are a number of players who are injured and unavailable."

Brumbies captain Hoiles gets another chance to prove his worth at No.8 alongside players like Richard Brown who have overtaken him in the past year.

Deans was interested to have a look at young halback Kingi.

"He's been thrown a rope, it's just an opportunity to get him in in this context and see how he copes," said Deans.

"He had a good under-20s campaign and once again it's an area where we're not over-endowed.

Wallabies training squad: James O'Connor (Western Force), Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs), Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs), Drew Mitchell (Western Force), Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds), Nick Cummins (Western Force), Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds), Ryan Cross (Western Force), Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies), Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), Matt Giteau (Western Force), Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds), Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds), Josh Valentine (Western Force), Will Genia (Queensland Reds), Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs), Richard Kingi (Queensland Reds), Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs), George Smith (Brumbies), David Pocock (Western Force), Phil Waugh (NSW Waratahs), Stephen Hoiles (Brumbies), Matt Hodgson (Western Force), Rocky Elsom (Brumbies), Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), Richard Brown (Western Force), Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies), Ben McCalman (Sydney University, unsigned), Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), James Horwill (Queensland Reds), Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs), Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs), Matt Dunning (NSW Waratahs), Pekahou Cowan (Western Force), Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs), Salesi Ma'afu (Brumbies), Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs), Damien Fitzpatrick (NSW Waratahs), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs).

- AAP