Australia
George Smith should go to World Cup: Phil Waugh
April 23, 2015
George Smith has not played for Australia since the 2013 British & Irish Lions series © Getty Images
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Australia are blessed with two world-class openside flankers, but Phil Waugh wants them to add 34-year-old George Smith to the mix after the Australian Rugby Union relaxed its selection policy to allow the selection of overseas-based players with 60 Test caps and seven years experience as a professional player in Australia.

"He's got that experience ... 111 Tests, he's played in two World Cups ... I think George Smith might be the bolter," Waugh said on Fox Sports. "He's such a good guy to have in your team. If you turn around in the changing room, and you see George Smith there, you get a lot of comfort. For me, he's probably going to be the greatest beneficiary here."

Smith currently is playing for French club Lyon, but he hasn't played Test rugby since his cameo against the British & Irish Lions in 2013 having returning temporarily from Japan to replace the injured Pocock at the Brumbies.

Waugh doesn't like the chances of reigning European Player of the Year Matt Giteau returning to the Wallabies fold, saying "in terms of our halves, I think Bernard Foley, [Christian] Leali'ifano, [Matt] Toomua, Kurtley Beale ... we are pretty good there".

"Obviously Matt Giteau has been sensational over in France but in terms of those 10 and 12 positions, those four players are playing very, very well."

Waugh does, however, see room in the national set up for his former Waratahs team-mate Drew Mitchell, who is playing with Giteau at Toulon in France.

"There may be some openings there because we don't have the depth of wingers with real speed and finishing ability like Drew Mitchell has," he said.

© AAP

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