Guess who’s back, back again? France-based stars bolster Australia squad as Wallabies seeks to defend Rugby Championship

Coach Michael Cheika named five foreign-based stars and four uncapped players on Friday in a 33-man Wallabies squad for the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup campaigns starting this month.

The squad is bolstered by experienced French-based Test campaigners Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Will Genia and Quade Cooper in defence of Australia’s Rugby Championship crown.

Fly-half Cooper is due to return to Australia ahead of next year’s Super Rugby season following a brief stint with French powerhouse Toulon, where he linked with Giteau and Mitchell for the 2015-16 Top 14 season, while utility back Ashley-Cooper will look to add to his 114 test caps.

Fellow France-based scrum-half Genia is also included as he returns from a knee injury that has kept him out of action since January.

He edges out Nick Frisby, with winger Luke Morahan and prop Toby Smith also cut from the squad.

All four uncapped players included in Cheika’s initial squad – Allan Ala’alatoa, Reece Hodge, Tom Robertson and Lopeti Timani – were retained in the final squad ahead of the four nation tournament.