The 2006 Australian national rugby union team tour to Europe, known in Australia as the 2006 Wallabies Spring Tour, was part of a 2006 end-of-year rugby test series and took place in November 2006. The tour consisted of test matches against Wales, Italy, Ireland and Scotland as well as midweek games against Ireland A, Scotland A and Welsh team, the Ospreys.
The tour was the first time this decade that captain George Gregan would miss out on a Wallabies tour, opting to miss in preparation ahead of the 2007 Rugby World Cup. With this, Stirling Mortlock was named captain but missed out on the opening match due to injury. Phil Waugh was subsequently named as captain.Wallabies switch roles for Wales BBC Sport 2 November 2006
On 11 October, Wallabies half-back Sam Cordingley pulled out of the tour to rest a nagging foot injury, leaving Australia without their top two half-backs. Another injury concern for the Wallabies was the injury to prop Greg Holmes, who announced that he was unable to tour due to a neck injury sustained during training; Brumbies prop Nic Henderson was called into the squad.
Squad
Props Nic Henderson Rodney Blake Guy Shepherdson Al Baxter Benn Robinson
Hookers Brendan Cannon Tatafu Polota-Nau Tai McIsaac (also prop) Stephen Moore
Locks Nathan Sharpe James Horwill Mitchell Chapman Mark Chisholm Alister Campbell
Back row George Smith Rocky Elsom (also lock) Phil Waugh (vice-captain) Wycliff Palu David Lyons Scott Fava Stephen Hoiles
Scrum-halves Josh Valentine Brett Sheehan
Fly-halves Stephen Larkham (also centre) (vice-captain) Mat Rogers (also centre, wing and fullback) Gene Fairbanks (also centre)
Centres Matt Giteau (also scrum-half and fly-half) Stirling Mortlock (captain) Adam Ashley-Cooper (also fullback) Morgan Turinui (also wing, fly-half and flanker)
Wings Mark Gerrard (also centre, fly-half and fullback) Lote Tuqiri (also centre) Clyde Rathbone (also centre) Cameron Shepherd (also fullback)
Fullbacks Chris Latham (vice-captain) Drew Mitchell (also wing) Scott Staniforth (also centre and wing)
Injured players Dan Vickerman – Injured in test against Wales. Replaced by Mitchell Chapman. Hugh McMeniman – Injured in match against Ospreys. Replaced by Scott Fava. Greg Holmes – Injured in pre-tour Training. Replaced by Nic Henderson. Sam Cordingley – Injured in pre-tour training. Replaced by Josh Valentine. George Gregan – Opted not to tour in favour of preparation for 2007 Rugby World Cup. Not included in original squad.
Matches
DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenueStaus1 NovemberOspreys 24–16 XVLiberty Stadium, SwanseaTour match4 November29–29Millennium Stadium, CardiffTest match11 November18–25Stadio Flaminio, RomeTest match15 November17–24 XV Thomond Park, LimerickTour match19 November21–6Lansdowne Road, DublinTest match21 November20–44XV McDiarmid Park, PerthTour match25 November15–44Murrayfield Stadium, EdinburghTest match
Wales: 15. Kevin Morgan, 14. Gareth Thomas, 13. Tom Shanklin, 12. Gavin Henson, 11. Shane Williams, 10. Stephen Jones (c), 9. Dwayne Peel, 8. Ryan Jones, 7. Martyn Williams, 6. Jonathan Thomas, 5. Ian Evans, 4. Ian Gough, 3. Adam Jones, 2. Matthew Rees, 1. Gethin Jenkins, – Replacements: 17. Duncan Jones, 21. James Hook – Unused: 16. T. Rhys Thomas, 18. Alun Wyn Jones, 19. Gavin Thomas, 20. Mike Phillips, 22. Mark Jones Australia: 15. Chris Latham, 14. Clyde Rathbone, 13. Lote Tuqiri, 12. Stephen Larkham, 11. Cameron Shepherd, 10. Mat Rogers, 9. Matt Giteau, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh (c), 6. Rocky Elsom, 5. Dan Vickerman, 4. Nathan Sharpe, 3. Rodney Blake, 2. Tai McIsaac, 1. Al Baxter, – Replacements: 16. Brendan Cannon, 18. Mark Chisholm, 19. Stephen Hoiles, 20. Josh Valentine – Unused: 17. Benn Robinson, 21. Mark Gerrard, 22. Adam Ashley-Cooper
Italy: 15. Gert Peens, 14. Marko Stanojevic, 13. Gonzalo Canale, 12. Mirco Bergamasco, 11. Pablo Canavosio, 10. Ramiro Pez, 9. Paul Griffen, 8. Sergio Parisse, 7. Mauro Bergamasco, 6. Alessandro Zanni, 5. Marco Bortolami (c), 4. Santiago Dellapè, 3. Martin Castrogiovanni, 2. Carlo Festuccia, 1. Andrea Lo Cicero, – Replacements: 17. Carlos Nieto, 19. Josh Sole – Unused: 16. Leonardo Ghiraldini, 18. Carlo Del Fava, 20. Simon Picone, 21. Andrea Scanavacca, 22. Walter Pozzebon Australia: 15. Chris Latham, 14. Clyde Rathbone, 13. Stirling Mortlock (c), 12. Stephen Larkham, 11. Lote Tuqiri, 10. Mat Rogers, 9. Matt Giteau, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. George Smith, 6. Rocky Elsom, 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. Nathan Sharpe, 3. Guy Shepherdson, 2. Brendan Cannon, 1. Al Baxter, – Replacements: 16. Stephen Moore, 17. Nic Henderson, 18. Alister Campbell – Unused: 19. Stephen Hoiles, 20. Josh Valentine, 21. Mark Gerrard, 22. Cameron Shepherd
Ireland: 15. Geordan Murphy, 14. Shane Horgan, 13. Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12. Gordon D'Arcy, 11. Denis Hickie, 10. Ronan O'Gara, 9. Isaac Boss, 8. Denis Leamy, 7. David Wallace, 6. Neil Best, 5. Paul O'Connell, 4. Donncha O'Callaghan, 3. John Hayes, 2. Rory Best, 1. Bryan Young, – Replacements: 16. Frankie Sheahan, 17. Marcus Horan, 18. Malcolm O'Kelly, 19. Simon Easterby, 20. Peter Stringer, 21. Paddy Wallace, 22. Girvan Dempsey Australia: 15. Chris Latham, 14. Clyde Rathbone, 13. Lote Tuqiri, 12. Stirling Mortlock (c), 11. Mark Gerrard, 10. Stephen Larkham, 9. Matt Giteau, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh, 6. Rocky Elsom, 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. Nathan Sharpe, 3. Guy Shepherdson, 2. Tai McIsaac, 1. Al Baxter, – Replacements: 16. Stephen Moore, 17. Benn Robinson, 18. Alister Campbell, 19. George Smith, 20. Josh Valentine, 21. Mat Rogers, 22. Scott Staniforth
Scotland: 15. Chris Paterson (c), 14. Sean Lamont, 13. Marcus Di Rollo, 12. Andrew Henderson, 11. Simon Webster, 10. Dan Parks, 9. Mike Blair, 8. David Callam, 7. Kelly Brown, 6. Simon Taylor, 5. Scott Murray, 4. Alastair Kellock, 3. Euan Murray, 2. Dougie Hall, 1. Gavin Kerr, – Replacements: 16. Ross Ford, 17. Allan Jacobsen, 18. Jim Hamilton, 19. Alasdair Strokosch, 20. Rory Lawson, 21. Phil Godman, 22. Hugo Southwell Australia: 15. Chris Latham, 14. Mark Gerrard, 13. Stirling Mortlock (c), 12. Scott Staniforth, 11. Lote Tuqiri, 10. Stephen Larkham, 9. Matt Giteau, 8. David Lyons, 7. George Smith, 6. Rocky Elsom, 5. Alister Campbell, 4. Nathan Sharpe, 3. Guy Shepherdson, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson, – Replacements: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Al Baxter, 18. Mark Chisholm, 19. Phil Waugh, 20. Wycliff Palu, 21. Josh Valentine, 22. Mat Rogers
See also 2006 end-of-year rugby union tests The Wallabies Australia A Ireland Gli Azzurri Scotland Wales
References
External links Tour schedule Gregan Pulls out of Tour Mortlock to miss Spring Tour Opener Spring Tour Squad Announced Holmes to Miss Tour Ospreys Review Wales Review Italy Review Ireland A Review Ireland Review Scotland A Review Scotland Review