Deans reveals training squad

Robbie Deans: Has named a 27-man training squad

Australia coach Robbie Deans included Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner in his training squad for the Rugby Championship.

Deans has initially named 27 players - with two back-rowers and an outside back from the national rugby academy programme supplementing the squad.

Mitchell and Turner earn their places after proving their fitness, while Western Force winger Nick Cummins, Rebels centre Mitch Inman and Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan are notable inclusions.

No players from the Reds, though, have been considered due to their Super Rugby commitments, while Nathan Sharpe is rested. James O'Connor misses out due to a hamstring injury, with Salesi Ma'afu, Dan Palmer, James Horwill, Ben McCalman, Wycliff Palu, Christian Lealiifano and Joe Tomane also sidelined.

Method

Deans will hold a second training camp in Sydney on August 1-3, with the final 30-man squad for inaugural Rugby Championship to be finalised afterwards.

"The camps provide us with an important opportunity for training background," Deans said.

"It gives us the chance to bring the whole group together and familiarise them with the method: 'tune' them in to Wallaby content if you like, coming as they are, out of the conclusion of their different state programmes from FxPro Super Rugby."

Australia: Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), Lachie Turner (Waratahs), Nick Cummins (Western Force), Cooper Vuna (Melbourne Rebels), Rob Horne (Waratahs), Mitch Inman (Melbourne Rebels), Pat McCabe (Brumbies), Bernard Foley (Waratahs), Berrick Barnes (Waratahs), Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels), Nic White (Brumbies), Ben Mowen (Brumbies), David Pocock (Western Force), Michael Hooper (Brumbies), Dave Dennis (Waratahs), Kane Douglas (Waratahs), Cadeyrn Neville (Melbourne Rebels), Hugh Pyle (Melbourne Rebels), Sitaleki Timani (Waratahs), Sekope Kepu (Waratahs), Benn Robinson (Waratahs), Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Paddy Ryan (Waratahs), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs).