THE WALLABIES continued their "new faces" policy yesterday, with coach Robbie Deans including four youngsters in an extended 34-man squad for the end-of-season tour of Hong Kong and Europe.
The inclusion of Western Force openside breakaway David Pocock, 20, Force utility back James O'Connor, 18, Queensland Reds five-eighth Quade Cooper, 20, and Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu, 22, takes the tally of newcomers Deans has selected in his first year as Wallabies coach to 12.
And every one of those first-year Wallabies will be involved in this five-Test tour, as Ben Alexander, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes, Dean Mumm, Timana Tahu and Lachie Turner all had their names read out yesterday. Deans also proved he is loyal, as the only person missing through form from his original squad picked in June is Stephen Hoiles, while Cameron Shepherd and Rocky Elsom are unavailable.
The most interesting selection for the November-December tour is that of teenager O'Connor, who if he plays on tour will become the second youngest to appear in a Wallabies Test jersey.
And O'Connor will certainly hope his Test career is longer than the youngest Wallaby, Brian Ford, who, when aged 18 years and 90 days, played as the only Queensland representative in the Australian team beaten 22-9 by New Zealand in Brisbane in 1957. It was Ford's one and only international appearance, and two years later he retired after being told by his employer he had to decide between work and football.
Thankfully for O'Connor, who is today 18 years and 81 days but will be older than Ford when he takes the field, football is work.
The most important selection is that of Pocock, as it puts the two established openside breakaways, George Smith and Phil Waugh, on notice that if they make a slip on the tour or beyond, an able replacement is hovering.
Pocock, who captained Australia at the under-20 World Cup and also led the Western Force's development tour of the UK, is being tipped as the man who will lead Australia at the 2011 World Cup. His Wallabies selection also came six years to the day that the Pocock family settled in Australia after leaving Zimbabwe.
Cooper is the most contentious pick, as there was a concerted push for his Waratahs counterpart Kurtley Beale. The most expected was Kepu, as for some time he has been regarded as the next best prop running around.
And Deans had a simple explanation for his pursuit of youth. It has to do with the attrition rate.
"Out of necessity there had to be a regeneration," Deans said yesterday. "You just have a look at the number of senior players who have left the Wallabies, including significant contributors like [George] Gregan, [Stephen] Larkham and [Chris] Latham. So there is a big void to fill. We're under way."
Still experience is crucial, which is why second-rower Nathan Sharpe and halfback Sam Cordingley are there, giving the Test team the required hard edge, until the newcomers in those positions get their acts together.
However, doubts remain whether another of the senior players, Lote Tuqiri, will tour. Judging from Deans's caution yesterday when explaining Tuqiri's knee problems, it's likely that when he has to decide next month whether the winger will travel to Hong Kong, Italy, England, France and Wales, Deans could well be convinced to leave him at home.
Deans said the damage to Tuqiri's knee "was more extensive than first thought".
"The implications of that is that his rehabilitation will be a little bit longer," he said. "We don't want to compromise his future. He has been lurching from week to week in recent times, and it's really important he gets a good off-season so that he enters next year in top shape."
If Tuqiri is not fit in a month, the Wallabies will travel with 33 players, with Turner the most likely to take his Test wing spot.
Conditioning was also a factor why Beale missed out.
"The priority for him [Beale] is entering next year in top shape," Deans said. "He hasn't had a lot of rugby of late, and as a result is not in great condition. But I'm sure by the time the Super 14 comes around he will be."
As for Cooper: "He has the opportunity that Kurtley would have liked to have had. It's over to him now to turn this into something meaningful."
WALLABIES SQUAD
Forwards: Ben Alexander, Al Baxter, Richard Brown,
Mark Chisholm, Matt Dunning, Adam Freier, James Horwill, Sekope Kepu, Hugh McMeniman, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, George Smith, Phil Waugh.
Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Matt Giteau, Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock (c), James O'Connor, Brett Sheehan, Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Lachie Turner.
Itinerary: Nov 1 v New Zealand (Hong Kong), Nov 8 v Italy (Padova)
Nov 15 v England (Twickenham), Nov 22 v France (Paris),
Nov 29 v Wales (Cardiff), Dec 3 v Barbarians (Wembley).
