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They’ve played just three Tests between them, but Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has no concerns about pitch-forking rookie lock Sam Carter and third-choice hooker Nathan Charles into the Bledisloe Cup cauldron.
With trusty stalwarts Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau both out with knee injuries, McKenzie will bank on Charles to hold up Australia’s sometimes shaky scrum in the Rugby Championship opener at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
Australia have lost 141 Tests caps in experience, but McKenzie insists 25-year-old Charles is no greenhorn, saying the Western Force rake “slipped seamlessly” into the Wallabies ranks when first called up for the June series against France.
“He’s been terrific,” McKenzie said on Tuesday.
“He’s what you want from a hooker. He throws really well, he understands the scrummaging side of it really well, so the fundamentals are there.
“He’s got a terrific attitude and that’s all you can ask.
“Yeah, he’s going to get tested on the weekend, as you’d expect, but I think he’s got all the ingredients to have a good game.”
Like Charles, McKenzie noted that 24-year-old Carter “has been around the scene for a while”.
The Brumbies star was a courageous and wounded man of the match in his only previous Test – against Les Bleus two months ago – before being sidelined with an ankle injury.
“The guys that come in and get their opportunity a bit later, they’re pretty hungry,” McKenzie said.
“They’re not going to be overawed by the environment because in some ways they’ve felt like they should have been there earlier.”
After his whirlwind first week with the Wallabies, Carter has impressed McKenzie even more with his potential second time around.
“We obviously see him do certain things but he’s got some good attacking nous; he’s a very good player, and I know he enjoys the contest,” the coach said.
“So he’ll be up for the game.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.