Israel Folau in, Quade Cooper out for Wallabies to face Lions

Cross-code convert Israel Foau is set to become a dual-code international after being named in Robbie Deans’ initial Wallabies squad to face the British & Irish Lions next month.
Folau only made the switch to rugby union last summer but he has impressed the coaches scoring seven tries in Super Rugby already to overcome fierce competition from Brumbies‘ flyer Jesse Mogg who is unlucky to miss out.
However there is no room for Quade Cooper with Deans opting for James O’Connor as his  man to lead the attack.
The Reds superstar has been in good form recently but it seems he is still paying for his “toxic” comments last year.
There is still hope though as Deans is set to add six players to the squad just before the Test series starts.
One of these players could be Toulouse scrum-half Luke Burgess, who is returning Down Under at the end of the season, as Will Genia is the only scrum-half in the squad.
Alongside Folau, Brumbies captain Ben Mowen and playmaker Christian Lealiifano are the other two uncapped player in the 25-man squad.
As expected, George Smith and Tatafu Polota-Nau miss out after picking up injuries yesterday.
Wallabies squad:
Props: Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, Benn Robinson, James Slipper
Hookers: Saia Faingaa, Stephen Moore
Locks: James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Sitaleki Timani
Back-row: Dave Dennis, Liam Gill, Scott Higginbotham, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen, Wycliff Palu
Scrum-half: Will Genia
Fly-half: Jame O’Connor
Centres: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Christian Lealiifano
Back three: Berrick Barnes, Nick Cummins, Israel Folau, Digby Ioane, Joe Tomane