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Cheika allows six players fly back to Australia before Saturday's opener in South Africa

By Online Editors
Christian Leali'ifano has an injury and is one of six Wallabies heading home before Saturday's Test match (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Australia coach Michael Cheika has trimmed his squad ahead of their weekend Rugby Championship opener against South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

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Six players will return to Australia with Jack Maddocks and Rob Valetini released for club duties this weekend.

Scott Sio (adductor) and Christian Leali’ifano (shoulder) will miss the Test against South Africa and will now complete their injury rehabilitation in their home cities before re-joining the squad in Brisbane next week.

Tom Robertson suffered an ankle injury at training on Tuesday and will return to Sydney for scans, but it is expected that he will miss next weekend’s clash with Argentina at Suncorp Stadium.

Marika Koroibete will also fly home to Melbourne to be with his family after the birth of his second child and will meet the official squad in Brisbane. NSW Waratahs prop Harry Johnson-Holmes will now join the squad in Johannesburg.

Cheika will name his side on Thursday in Johannesburg ahead of their 2019 campaign kicking off on Saturday (4.05pm BST). The Wallabies will then travel to Brisbane for their first home Test of 2019 when they face Argentina at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, July 27.

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Koroibete had only flown out to South Africa after the squad had already departed. That delay allowed Cheika to switch over the flight booking to accommodate James O’Connor, who has since become eligible to play after signing a two-and-a-half year Rugby Australia deal to play for the Reds.

Saturday will be Australia’s first match under new attack coach Shaun Berne, the former Melbourne Rebels assistant who used to play for Cheika when they were together at Leinster.    

“I want to do whatever I can to make the Wallabies successful this year,” said Berne. “I want to contribute to the team by focusing on the things that will serve us best when we are under pressure, like passing, catching, alignment, running lines and deception – on and off the ball.”

WATCH: Nic White talks about his return to the Wallabies squad for the first time since 2015

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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