Wallabies

Kerevi keen to combine with Beale

Kerevi's 2016 Wallabies debut came at a time when Beale was out injured, prior to his departure for Wasps.

That crossing of stars has left the pair with very little on field time together but that will, in all likelihood, change this year with Beale back on deck and Kerevi in career best form this Super Rugby season.

The star outside centre was cut down by injury in the Reds' loss to the Blues but prior to that he was the clear standout 13 in the competition and that was recognised this week, when he was named in the Super Rugby Team of the Year.

Cheika makes final call on Bledisloe Cup squad

Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu has played little part in training after a neck injury, with Uelese's impressive showing in camp putting him right into Test contention.

Uelese is one of five Rebels in the camp, with the Waratahs having nine representatives, Queensland seven and the Brumbies and Force six.

Kurtley Beale, likely to be the first-choice 12, is set for a Wallabies return, though Cheika has kept on all bar one of his squad centres for the first Test

Wallabies to target Retallick and Whitelock

The formidable duo of Retallick and Whitelock has been one of the great strengths of the world champion All Blacks' forward machine in recent years and both are used to winning against the Wallabies.

Whitelock has tasted defeat just three times in 20 games Tests against Australia and Retallick once in 15.

Rising Wallabies lock Rory Arnold acknowledged getting an edge over the duo was key for his team.

"They've been world-class locks now for a number of years, so if we want to dominate up front we know we've got to go at those blokes," said Arnold.

Kerevi backs Cooper to rediscover form

Kerevi made his return to the Wallabies fold this week after missing the June series with an ankle injury, but it was without his long-time Queensland teammate, who was a high-profile absentee from Michael Cheika’s Rugby Championship training squad.

Cooper’s omission was an that surprised players and fans alike, coming after a challenging year at the Reds.

The 70-Test Wallabies flyhalf has taken the chance to head on an overseas holiday while the Wallabies are in camp and Kerevi said Cooper was staying positive despite being overlooked.

Gregan helping Wallabies leaders

Though Gregan’s on-field quality is undisputed, his advice has been attitudinal in nature, helping players with leadership and their mentality.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said Gregan was an invaluable resource to have.

“He’s going to do a bit of work, just our off-field stuff with some of our lads,” he said.

“There’s no one better - he’s the number one around his attitude, leadership, work ethic, he’s got all those things.

Hunt out, Cooper still unwanted

Hunt, who started at inside centre in all three of Australia's June tests, was a notable absentee at training on Monday in Newcastle. 

The 30-year-old will spend about two months on the sidelines, putting him in doubt for at least the Wallabies' first four matches of the Rugby Championship. 

Although Hunt has played mostly in the midfield, the Wallabies are low on playmakers and many assumed Cooper would return despite being overlooked last week in Cheika's extended squad. 

Australia hoping for strong performance over Italy

A home defeat at the hands of Scotland last weekend saw the twice world champions drop to fourth in the rankings behind New Zealand, England and Ireland, adding to a bank of dark cloud hanging over the game Down Under.

With the country's Super Rugby sides in the doldrums on the pitch, and the almost farcical attempt to remove one of them for next season triggering a public relations disaster off it, Australian rugby desperately needs some good news.

Folau's rugby league flashbacks paying off

He can understand the frustration but strongly believes that it's only a matter of time before the Wallabies produce some high quality rugby.

"Personally, I didn't have a read (of Quigley's post)," he said.

"Only because I believe in the group that we have here and the team that we have, the coaching staff and all the work that goes in.

"I just think personally, as well, I'm sure he's a great guy but everyone is always going to have an opinion - whether that's good or bad.

Ireland pushes Wallabies into fourth spot

Ireland have moved up one spot following their 50-22 win over Japan while Scotland beat the Wallabies in Sydney 24-19.

Joe Schmidt's Irish side added seven tries to the nine they managed against the USA the week before in Philadelphia as they registered another convincing victory in the second match of their three-game tour of North America and Japan.

Australia are now fourth on the world rankings, just ahead of Scotland.

Scotland leap-frogged South Africa into fifth place.

Genia: 'I was responsible for 14 of Scotland's points'

Genia had one of his worst games in recent memory, with two errors that led directly to Scotland’s opening tries, one an errant pass that led to Tatafu Polota-Nau throwing an intercept and the other a charge down that put Finn Russell over.

“I was responsible for 14 points there with a poor pass and a charge down which was quite big in terms of the result of the game. So, I take responsibility for that and it's obviously disappointing.”