MELBOURNE, July 2 (Reuters) - Veteran flanker George Smith
could still play a role for Australia at the rugby World Cup
despite being left out of a 40-man training squad, according to
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
Cheika included France-based backs Matt Giteau and Drew
Mitchell but overlooked Smith for the squad named on Thursday
which will be trimmed down ahead of the Rugby Championship
opener against South Africa on July 18.
The 111-test Smith, who has signed for English Premiership
club Wasps, played his last match for Australia against the
touring British and Irish Lions in 2013 and will be 35 by the
start of the World Cup in England later this year.
Cheika said he planned to keep in touch with Smith, one of
Australia's greatest back-rowers.
"I've spoken with George and I've got a pretty clear role of
how he might fit in here," Cheika told reporters in Brisbane on
Thursday.
"George has played a lot of eight as well over in Lyon this
year and I think he is comfortable with the role that I might
want him to fill if necessary and I'll speak to him further," he
said.
"He is returning to England soon so we'll be keeping in
touch about what role he may play further down the track."
Cheika has named Michael Hooper and David Pocock as his
specialist openside flankers, with a raft of players competing
for the other back row positions, including capped Wallabies Ben
McCalman, Scott Higginbotham and Scott Fardy.
Midfielder Giteau, once Australia's first-choice flyhalf
under former coach Robbie Deans, will join the training camp in
the Sunshine Coast next week and bid to secure a first cap in
four years.
His Toulon team mate and former Australia winger Mitchell
will hope for a first since 2012.
Both were eligible for selection after a rule change allowed
seasoned overseas players with 60 international caps to be
picked, where before, only players that put in a full domestic
season in Australia could hope for a Wallabies call up.
Neither had been given any assurances, Cheika said.
"The two lads will be re-introduced to an environment where
there's going to be a tough training programme, a new way of
playing, they're going to have reacquaint themselves with
players and some guys they haven't even met before," he said.
"So the earlier I get them here and to get them to have a
look at the team and we can see them as well the better we will
be off for making a decision for the longer term."
(Writing by Ian Ransom; Editing by John O'Brien)