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SYDNEY - Four players from the Wallabies' tour of Europe last month have missed selection in a 45-man rugby World Cup train-on squad.
Gene Fairbanks, Scott Fava, Al Baxter and Tai McIsaac will all be absent from the three-day camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from January 3-5 after failing to impress on the seven-match tour.
Queensland prop Ben Coutts, Reds first five-eighths Berrick Barnes and Brumbies flanker Julian Salvi have all gained selection in a Wallabies squad for the first time.
Other players included who were either injured or not selected for the spring tour include Greg Holmes, Jeremy Paul, Adam Freier, Al Kanaar, Daniel Heenan, David Croft, Sam Cordingley and Digby Ioane.
Wallabies coach John Connolly stressed the squad was only a preliminary one and that every player taking the field in next year's Super 14 remained a candidate for final World Cup selection.
"This is a preliminary squad that will get together early in the New Year to do full fitness tests and have one-on-one interviews with the coaching staff about the year ahead," Connolly said.
"This is by no means a final squad for the rugby World Cup.
"We have a Super 14 season to play, then tests against Wales and Fiji followed by the Tri Nations.
"Only after that, will we be able to make a final assessment for our rugby World Cup squad."
Australian World Cup train-on squad:
Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Sam Cordingley, Mark Gerrard, Matt Giteau, George Gregan, Digby Ioane, Stephen Larkham, Chris Latham, Drew Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock, Sam Norton-Knight, Clyde Rathbone, Brett Sheehan, Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth, Morgan Turinui, Lote Tuqiri, Josh Valentine
Forwards: Rodney Blake, Alister Campbell, Brendan Cannon, Mitchell Chapman, Mark Chisholm, Ben Coutts, David Croft, Rocky Elsom, Adam Freier, Daniel Heenan, Nic Henderson, Stephen Hoiles, Greg Holmes, James Horwill, Al Kanaar, David Lyons, Hugh McMeniman, Stephen Moore, Wycliff Palu, Jeremy Paul, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Julian Salvi, Nathan Sharpe, Guy Shepherdson, George Smith, Dan Vickerman, Phil Waugh
- AAP
