Rugby World Cup 2011
Deans calls on Turner and Hodgson
ESPNscrum Staff
October 2, 2011
The Waratahs' Lachie Turner fends off two Western Force defenders, Western Force v NSW Waratahs, Super Rugby, NIB Stadium, Perth, Australia, April 9, 2011
Lachie Turner will hope to impress Robbie Deans in a bid to secure a first-team spot © Getty Images
Enlarge

The Wallabies have opted call up winger Lachie Turner and flanker Matt Hodgson to replace the injured duo Drew Mitchell and Wycliff Palu.

Winger Mitchell succumbed to a grade one strain to his left hamstring in the 55th minute of Australia's 68-22 win over Russia on Saturday after he had already crossed the try-line twice for the Wallabies. No.8 Palu suffered a similar injury in the 54th minute of Australia's 67-5 defeat of the USA on September 23 .

The duo had been injury doubts going into the tournament with Mitchell struggling with a dislocated ankle while Palu recovered in time from a knee injury. But both Mitchell and Palu had shown solid performances during the pool stage and after the realisation that Mitchell was returning home, Deans called upon his team to rally saying: "It's up to the boys now to represent him."

NSW Waratahs winger Turner, who played in Sydney club side Eastwood's Shute Shield winning team last weekend, made his Wallabies debut against France in 2008. He has since played 14 Tests, with his most recent appearance being off the bench during last year's 59-16 defeat of then Six Nations champions, France.

The 30-year-old Western Force flanker Hodgson returns to the Wallabies after playing in Tests against Samoa and South Africa at Sydney's ANZ Stadium in July. Turner and Hodgson were in the 40-man squad picked by Deans earlier this year in preparation for this Rugby World Cup 2011 campaign but failed to make the original cut. Their inclusion comes at the expense of the high-profile absentee Matt Giteau who has again been overlooked by Deans.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.