Aussies take in two more for SA trip

Published: Sunday, 7. August, 2011 in category Southern Hemisphere

Coach Robbie Deans has taken two more players into his squad of 26 players to fly across the Indian Ocean to Durban on Sunday - prop Salesi Ma'afu and No.8 Radike Samo.

Ma'afu is recovering from a broken arm and Samo may be included after some disappointment with the Wallaby forward effort against the All Blacks.

No.8 Ben McCalman's position may be in jeopardy as may that of lock Rob Simmons.

At the same time Deans has released Dan Vickerman from the trip as the returning Wallaby is short of game time and so will be involved in Sydney's club rugby instead of sitting on a Test bench as he did in Auckland. Veteran Nathan Sharpe has been recalled to take Vickerman's place.

What makes the selection of Samo stranger, is the fine performance of Scott Higginbotham when he replaced McCalman in the second half in Auckland.

Ma'afu is expected to replace Pek Cowan on the bench in Durban when the Wallabies take on the winless Springboks.