2006 Australia rugby union tour of Europe

Series of rugby matches by Australian team October 2013 July 2024 2006 end-of-year rugby union tests Australia 2006 John Connolly Stirling Mortlock 7 4 1 2 4 2 1 1 WAL 1 0 1 0 ITA 1 1 0 0 IRE 1 0 0 1 SCO 1 1 0 0 2005 2008 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 WAL24–16AUS XVLiberty Stadium, SwanseaTour match4 NovemberWAL29–29AUSMillennium Stadium, CardiffTest match11 NovemberITA18–25AUSStadio Flaminio, RomeTest match15 NovemberIRE Ireland A17–24AUS XV Thomond Park, LimerickTour match19 NovemberIRE21–6AUSLansdowne Road, DublinTest match21 NovemberSCO20–44AUSXV McDiarmid Park, PerthTour match25 NovemberSCO15–44AUSMurrayfield Stadium, EdinburghTest match 1 November 2006 Ospreys 24–16 AUS Australia XV WilliamsMustoe Connor Connor (3) Connor Ashley-Cooper Shepherd Shepherd (3) Liberty Stadium 20,520 Andrew Small (England) 4 November 2006 WAL 29–29 AUS Report S. WilliamsM. Williams Hook (2) S. JonesHensonHook (3) Shepherd (2)GiteauLatham Giteau (3) Giteau Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 74,158 Steve Walsh (New Zealand) 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 11 November 2006 ITA 18–25 AUS Report Pez (6) RogersShepherdsonMortlock Mortlock (2) Mortlock (2) Stadio Flaminio, Rome Nigel Owens (Wales) 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 15 November 2006 IRE Ireland A 17–24 AUS Australia XV Fitzgerald Staunton (4) Ashley-CooperTurinuiStaniforth Shepherd (3) Shepherd Thomond Park, Limerick 6,500IRELAND 'A' 17 AUSTRALIA 'A' 24 https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2006/11/ireland-a-17-australia-a-24/ Ulster Rugby 7 October 2021 Rob Debney (England) 19 November 2006 IRE 21–6 AUS Report HickieMurphy O'Gara O'Gara (3) Mortlock (2) Lansdowne Road, Dublin 43,000 Marius Jonker (South Africa) 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 21 November 2006 SCO 20–44 AUS Australia XV MorrisonLawsonR. Lamont Ross Ross Blake (2)Mitchell (2)SheehanShepherd Shepherd (4) Shepherd (2) McDiarmid Park, Perth Andrew Small (England) 25 November 2006 SCO 15–44 AUS Report WebsterS. Lamont Paterson Paterson LarkhamGerrard (2)MooreLatham Mortlock (5) Mortlock (3) Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 64,120 Donal Courtney (Ireland) 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 https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/nov/02/rugbyunion.sport?INTCMP=SRCH Ospreys' reserves of strength give Wales boost before Australia Test The Guardian 2 November 2006 26 August 2013 https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/nov/05/rugbyunion.sport1?INTCMP=SRCH Hook has last word as Australia hit breaking point The Guardian 5 November 2006 26 August 2013 http://www.repubblica.it/2006/11/sezioni/sport/rugby-italia/rugby-italia/rugby-italia.html Rugby, l'Italia sfiora il miracolo, Sconfitta di misura con l'Australia La repubblica 13 November 2006 26 August 2013 it https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/irish/6124880.stm Ireland A 17–24 Australia A BBC News 15 November 2006 26 August 2013 https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/nov/20/rugbyunion.sport1?INTCMP=SRCH Aussie demolition makes Ireland Europe's top guns The Guardian 20 November 2006 26 August 2013 https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6151334.stm Scotland A 20–44 Australia A BBC News 21 November 2006 26 August 2013 https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/nov/27/rugbyunion.sport7?INTCMP=SRCH Larkham and Latham leave poor Scotland a deeper shade of blue The Guardian 27 November 2005 26 August 2013 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 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 Category:2006 rugby union tours Category:2006–07 in European rugby union Category:2006 in Australian rugby union Category:2006–07 in Welsh rugby union Category:2006–07 in Irish rugby union Category:2006–07 in English rugby union Category:2006–07 in Scottish rugby union Category:2006–07 in French rugby union Category:2006–07 in Italian rugby union 2006 2006 2006 2006