Connolly names 32-man squad for training camp
August 9, 2006

Wallabies Coach John Connolly has named a thirty-two man squad for a seven-day training camp starting in Canberra tomorrow ahead of the Wallabies' final Bledisloe Cup clash of the season against New Zealand in Auckland next Saturday.

Four new faces will join the squad following last week's 20-18 defeat of South Africa in Sydney.

New South Wales scrumhalf Brett Sheehan, Australian Under 21 World Championships star half Josh Holmes, Brumbies lock Al Campbell and new Western Force recruit Drew Mitchell will join the squad for the Wallabies' first visit to the Nation's Capital since 2000.

Mitchell impressed during the two-match series for Australia A against Fiji last month, while Waratahs halfback Sheehan will be watched closely with reserve scrumhalf Sam Cordingley battling a foot injury ahead of next Saturday's vital Tri Nations Test.

Cordingley received results from MRI and X-ray scans on his injured foot today and is in extreme doubt for the third and final Bledisloe Cup encounter.

Wallaby team doctor Martin Raftery said that there was "some concern" over Cordingley's scan results; however the full extent of the injury will not be known until Cordingley undergoes a formal medical assessment after the squad arrives in Canberra.

"At this stage it's highly unlikely that he'll be fit to play in Auckland," said Raftery.

Coach John Connolly believed that the Wallabies would benefit by preparing for the Auckland Test in Canberra, where the August climate is very similar.

"It will certainly provide some benefit for us, training in the colder conditions, but we had planned to bring the team to Canberra before the start of the series," he said.

"We've made an effort to take the team back into the Cities, and I'm sure that the team will be embraced in Canberra given the extraordinary support that the Brumbies have enjoyed there over the past decade," he said.

The Wallabies will hold an Open training session at Viking Park tomorrow (Thursday 10 August), commencing at 3.15pm.

Injured Queensland Reds duo Hugh Mc Menimen and Berrick Barnes will also join the squad from Thursday until Saturday to undergo treatment with the Wallaby medical staff.

Qantas Wallabies Squad for Canberra training camp August 10-16

Al Baxter, Rodney Blake, Al Campbell, Mark Chisholm, Sam Cordingley, Rocky Elsom, Scott Fava, Mark Gerrard, Matt Giteau, George Gregan (c), Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes, Josh Holmes, Stephen Larkham, Chris Latham, Tai McIsaac, Drew Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock (vc), Wycliff Palu, Jeremy Paul, Clyde Rathbone, Benn Robinson, John Roe, Mat Rogers, Nathan Sharpe, Brett Sheehan, Cameron Shepherd, Guy Shepherdson, George Smith, Lote Tuqiri, Dan Vickerman (vc), Phil Waugh.

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