Rugby: Burgess in Wallabies squad to play ABs

Luke Burgess. Photo / Getty Images

Scrumhalf Luke Burgess has recovered from a fractured hand to be included in the 24-man Wallabies squad to travel to New Zealand ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener against the All Blacks.

Also returning to Robbie Deans Tri-Nations squad named Tuesday are winger Lachie Turner and locks Dan Vickerman and Sitaleki Timani, who joined the squad at the expense of scrumhalf Nick Phipps and lock Nathan Sharpe.

Australia opened its international season with an upset loss to Samoa in Sydney before rebounding to beat a below-strength South Africa squad 39-20 the following weekend in the opening match of the Tri-Nations tournament.

New Zealand thrashed South Africa 40-7 last weekend and is set to be close to full strength for Saturday's match at Eden Park, where the All Blacks have not lost a test in 17 years.

Matt Giteau's World Cup prospects have not improved with the center failing to regain his place in the Wallabies squad after being dropped for the match against the Springboks. The 33-year-old Sharpe, a 95-test veteran, is also in danger of missing the World Cup after being overlooked for the Bledisloe Cup match.

Burgess returns after proving his fitness following rehabilitation for his injured hand, which he broke during training in June ahead of the NSW Waratahs' Super 15 semifinal against the Auckland Blues, the Australian Rugby Union said in a statement.

Turner is included after impressive performances with Sydney club Eastwood, while Vickerman also featured strongly for Sydney University last weekend.

Vickerman, a 56-test veteran, returned to the Wallabies for the first time since 2008 in the loss to Samoa after spending three years at Cambridge University.

Timani made his international debut against Samoa after some impressive performances in the Super 15 for the Waratahs.

The Wallabies squad will fly to Auckland on Wednesday and heads to South Africa after the Auckland match, with the squad for the match against the Springboks at Durban on Aug. 13 extended to 26 players.

Australia Squad: Kurtley Beale, James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (captain), James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu. Reserves: Saia Fainga'a, Pekahou Cowan, Matt Hodgson, Scott Higginbotham, Anthony Fainga'a, Luke Burgess, Lachie Turner, Dan Vickerman, Sitaleki Timani.

- AAP