Godwin to Wallabies' rescue?
Australia turned to 22-year-old Western Force centre Kyle Godwin as they look to turn their Rugby Championship campaign around.
Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie on Wednesday announced a 30-man squad for the next stage of their 2014 Rugby Championship campaign – against South Africa in Perth.
Godwin will join the Wallabies squad for the first time in 2014.
Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau also re-joins the group, although he will not be considered for selection in Australia's clash against South Africa (on Saturday, September 6) – as he continues to rehabilitate an injured knee.
His availability will be re-assessed for the following week's clash against Argentina on the Gold Coast.
The Wallabies endured two further injuries in their recent clash against the All Blacks in Auckland and will be without hooker Nathan Charles and wing Pat McCabe.
A breakthrough campaign from Charles has come to a premature end with the Western Force hooker to miss the remainder of the 2014 Test season with a pectoral tear.
Further details on McCabe's injury will be available on Thursday.
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie congratulated Godwin on his inclusion.
"Kyle is someone who has been on the national radar for some time, but unfortunately hasn't had much of an opportunity to join the Wallabies environment due to injury," McKenzie said.
"He now gets his chance to join the squad, and we'll look forward to learning more about him."
While the team is in Perth, Western Force hooker Heath Tessman and prop Tetera Faulkner will be invited to train with the Wallabies squad.
Australian squad:
Forwards: Ben Alexander, Pek Cowan, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Saia Fainga'a, James Hanson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sam Carter, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, Scott Fardy, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Michael Hooper (captain), Ben McCalman, Wycliff Palu.
Backs: Luke Burgess, Nick Phipps, Nic White, Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley, Kyle Godwin, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali'ifano, Matt Toomua, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Betham, Israel Folau, Rob Horne.
Schedule for Australia's remaining Rugby Championship matches:
Saturday, September 6: v South Africa – Patersons Stadium, Perth
Saturday, September 13: v Argentina – CBus Stadium, Gold Coast
Saturday, September 27: v South Africa – Newlands Stadium, Cape Town (Sunday, September 28 AEST)
Saturday, October 4: v Argentina, Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza (Sunday, October 5 AEST)
