Brendan McKibbin: Handed Australia call-up

Australia have handed half-back Brendan McKibbin his first call-up for the final match of their European tour against Wales in Cardiff.

McKibbin has been called up as a replacement for the injured Brett Sheehan, who limped off with an ankle problem in the first-half of Saturday's 22-19 victory over Italy.

The Waratahs half-back player has made 30 Super Rugby appearances and spent one season at the Queensland Reds.

An Australia statement read: "A post-game X-ray later cleared Sheehan of any broken bones and he has travelled to Wales with the squad today ahead of the James Bevan Trophy Test, but will be unable to play a part in the match.

"Sheehan will undergo scans in the coming days in Cardiff to determine both the extent of his injury and the course of rehabilitation required.

"The new player is expected to arrive in Cardiff on Tuesday morning and will become the fourth replacement to have joined the tour following on from Melbourne Rebels trio Scott Higginbotham, Mitch Inman and Caderyn Neville."

Waratahs lock Kane Douglas missed the Italy match as he stayed near his ill mother in London while he recovered from a knee injury, but he has now joined the squad in Cardiff.

The return of Douglas would be a boost for the Wallabies after Rob Simmons was suspended for a lifting tackle during Australia's tour-opening 33-6 loss to France in Paris.

The Wallabies' appeal against Simmons' eight-game ban will be heard in Bristol on Tuesday.