RugbyRebels

39-man squad named, a few bolters in there.

Hookers
James Hanson (Melbourne Rebels)
Stephen Moore (Captain, Brumbies)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)

Props
Alan Ala'alatoa (Brumbies)
Greg Holmes (Queensland Reds)
Sekope Kepu (Bordeaux)
Scott Sio (Brumbies)
James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels)

Locks
Rory Arnold (Brumbies)
Sam Carter (Brumbies)
Adam Coleman (Western Force)
James Horwill (Harlequins)
Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
Will Skelton (NSW Waratahs)

Loose Forwards
Scott Fardy (Brumbies)
Liam Gill (Queensland Reds)
Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs)
Leroy Houston (Queensland Reds)
Ben McCalman (Western Force)
Sean McMahon (Melbourne Rebels)
Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
David Pocock (Brumbies)

Halfbacks
Nick Frisby (Queensland Reds)
Nick Phipps (NSW Waratahs)
Joe Powell (Brumbies)

Five-Eighths
Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs)
Christian Leali'ifano (Brumbies)

Midfielders
Samu Kerevi (Queensland Reds)
Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)

Back Three
Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs)
Dane Haylett-Petty (Western Force)
Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
Luke Morahan (Western Force)
Eto Nabuli (Queensland Reds)
Taqele Naiyaravoro (NSW Waratahs)

Utility Backs
Mike Harris (Melbourne Rebels)
Karmichael Hunt (Queensland Reds)

Never heard of them.

STRAYA.

Lots of people 'ondey-boo' to keep the lazy commentators happy. but seriously the backroom of which pub in Brisbane was where the squad decided? Nine Queenslanders, which is six more than the number of wins they have had this season.

Can't see what benefit that KHunt brings to the squad.

The Reds tight 5 players (Slipper, Holmes, Simmons) and Gill deserve their selection. Frisby and Kerevi, I'm also comfortable with considering the paucity of other options (surprised Genia wasn't selected, TBH). Houston hasn't actually played with the Reds in donkey's years, and Hunt is clearly being selected on name value only - something that Jones has prior form in when it comes to ex-NRL players. I'm guessing he's there to also shore up the options available in the midfield. Based on the backline options in that squad, they've got Leali'ifano and Harris with extensive experience at 12, but this is clouded by 1. the Wallabies selectors having an obsession with playing Leali'ifano at 10 despite him playing at 12 with the Brumbies and 2. Harris is largely more a utility back now, and has spent more time at 15 as a safe-as-houses option with a big boot.

The one that I honestly think is inexplicable though, despite what I said earlier is Liam Gill. He's been one of the better Aussie opensides in the last couple of years, but he's signed with Toulon with only 15 caps. It seems like a short-term selection, or perhaps an attempt to convince Gill to walk from Toulon (or go for a Naiyaravoro deal where he sticks around for a year or two and then buggers off).