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Former captain James Horwill has been recalled to the Australia training squad
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Rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt is also included among 10 uncapped players
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Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and Will Genia are all missing, either injured or unavailable
Australia coach Michael Cheika sprung a number of surprises in his 39-man training squad for the next month’s three-test series against England on Thursday, recalling former captain James Horwill and including 10 uncapped players.
Horwill, who has been playing with Harlequins in the Premiership was sensationally left out of the Rugby World Cup squad last year, but has impressed at his new club.
The long-serving former Queensland Reds captain had previously voiced his willingness to remain available to the Wallabies while overseas.
The Quins man is one of four players in the squad who has been playing in Europe or the United Kingdom, with Bordeaux prop Sekope Kepu, Leroy Houston and Taqele Naiyaravoro.
One of the uncapped players is Rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt while fellow ex-NRL star Eto Nabuli also got the call.
Coach Michael Cheika said: “We’ve been working with an initial squad of 60 players we identified, which has been reduced to 39 for this camp. We’ll trim that number down to 30 for each Test, so competition for spots is everything.”
Squad:
Backs – Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Nick Frisby, Mike Harris, Dane Haylett-Petty, Rob Horne, Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Luke Morahan, Eto Nabuli, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell.
Forwards – Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Adam Coleman, Scott Fardy, Liam Gill, James Hanson, Greg Holmes, Michael Hooper, James Horwill, Leroy Houston, Sekope Kepu, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Toby Smith.