Mumm named in Wallabies squad

By Mark Stevens

Dean Mumm decision to end his three-year spell with the Exeter Chiefs in a bid to regain his place in Australia's Test squad has paid dividends with the talented forward today named in the Wallabies squad for this autumn's Rugby World Cup.

An instant hit following his arrival at Sandy Park in 2012, the 31-year-old quickly established himself both on and off the field for the Chiefs.

Two seasons as skipper of the Devon club, Mumm not only helped the Chiefs to lift their first piece of major silverware when they won the LV= Cup in 2014, but he was also an integral part in helping the club become a force within the English game.

In his final year in Exeter colours, not only did he lead the Chiefs to their best-ever finish in the Aviva Premiership, but he was also one of four players from the club to be named in Premiership Rugby's Team of the Year.

His decision to depart the Chiefs, though, was not an easy one and when he announced it at the time, he said it was only the lure of adding to his then tally of 33 international caps that made him make the move.

In May he returned to former club New South Wales Waratahs, featuring in three of their final Super Rugby games of the season. And although the Waratahs failed to win the title, Wallabies coach Michael Chieka was clearly impressed by what he saw from the gifted forward.

Mumm was recently recalled to the Australian squad for the Rugby Championship, adding three caps and a try against Argentina to his international tally.

Now Mumm will fight for the chance to face England and Wales in a ferocious Pool A - and the signs are good for the the Auckland-born player after being involved in the last three of Australia's four Tests.

However, one man who won't be involved for the Wallabies is Harlequins-bound James Horwill, the second-row a casualty of Mumm's fine form. Horwill, 30, has won 58 caps for Australia but will now start turning his attention to Aviva Premiership Rugby with Harlequins, who are set to open up their campaign against Wasps on October 16.

The Wallabies will commence their preparations with a series of camps in Sydney, Indiana and Bath. An additional 10 players have been named to join the squad until the time the 31-man Rugby World Cup squad departs for England on September 13.

The first camp will be held this weekend in Sydney, which will include a public farewell event to provide fans with an opportunity to see the team off in person at Martin Place onThursday August 27, before the squad steps out for the 14th Annual John Eales Medal Gala Dinner later that evening.

The squad will then depart for the United States to set up camp at the historic University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

From there the Wallabies will cross the state border to Chicago to play their final match ahead of the Rugby World Cup against USA at Soldier Field, home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears. The historic clash will be Australia’s first Test against the Eagles in over 40 years.

“We’ve selected a wider training squad including an extra 10 players who will train alongside the squad prior to our departure from the USA to England,” said Cheika. “Like they’ve done all year, these players will play a huge role in the team’s preparation.”

“We have a great opportunity in the coming month to work hard and make some gains before we take on a very impressive USA outfit ahead of our opening World Cup match against Fiji.”

Australia will play their opening match of Pool A against Fiji at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on September 23, followed by Uruguay at Villa Park, Birmingham on September 27.

The Wallabies will then take on England and Wales at Twickenham in London on October 3 and October 10, respectively. The two highest-ranked teams at the end of the pool stage will advance to the Quarter-Finals.

Comprising 17 forwards and 14 backs, and with over 1,200 Test caps between them, the Wallabies squad will be captained by Stephen Moore in his third consecutive Rugby World Cup.

2003 Rugby World Cup finalist Matt Giteau, Vice-Captain Adam Ashley-Cooper, Wycliff Palu and Drew Mitchell will all join Moore in their third Rugby World Cup campaign. Sharing the Vice-Captaincy role alongside Ashley-Cooper will be Michael Hooper. The 24 year-old flanker will be one of thirteen Rugby World Cup debutants for the Wallabies, including dual international Israel Folau.

Australia's 31-man Rugby World Cup squad:

Backs: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Drew Mitchell, Henry Speight, Joe Tomane, Tevita Kuridrani, Kurtley Beale, Matt Giteau, Matt Toomua, Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Nick Phipps.

Forwards: Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Scott Fardy, Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, Stephen Moore (captain), Tatafu Polota-Nau, Greg Holmes, Sekope Kepu, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Toby Smith.