Cooper, Higginbotham dropped from Wallabies squad

The veteran Queensland Reds pair were part of Cheika's squad during the June internationals against Fiji, Scotland and Italy but had failed to take their chances, a team spokesman said.

Cheika named 11 uncapped players in his initial 40-man training squad released on Wednesday, which excludes ACT Brumbies players set to contest a Super Rugby playoff against the Wellington Hurricanes on Friday.

Livewire back Kurtley Beale returns to the squad after a long absence due to injury, while Western Force props Pek Cowan and Tetera Faulkner were rewarded for their Super Rugby form and are back in the national frame for the first time since their last tests in 2014. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Writing by Ian Ransom; Editing by Larry Fine)