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Uncapped Brumbies captain Ben Mowen and the reactivated Hugh McMeniman are battling for the contentious No.6 jersey in the Wallabies pack after Dave Dennis was sent back to the NSW Waratahs on Thursday.
Dennis, who played in 14 of Australia’s 15 Tests last year, will front up against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night after an Australian Rugby Union (ARU) policy backflip but now looks out of the race to start in the first Test.
Despite the ARU originally controversially ruling the Wallabies’ initial 25-man squad would be quarantined from playing Lions tour games, the NSW skipper and teammate Rob Horne have been released to line up for the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium.
Fringe forwards Scott Sio and Peter Kimlin were also released from Camp Wallaby at the Sunshine Coast on Thursday to prepare with the Brumbies for Tuesday night’s clash with the tourists at Canberra Stadium.
Although the Wallabies say Dennis and Horne remain in Test selection contention, the signs aren’t positive for the Waratah duo.
Deans has long said that he didn’t want to deny any fringe Wallabies the once-in-a-career opportunity to play the best of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and this will give them that chance plus some match practice.
Horne was always looking like a midfield back-up once Pat McCabe, a favourite of coach Robbie Deans, proved his fitness for the Brumbies last Friday to be a preferred inside centre starter.
Dennis, though, was thought to be in the thick of a fight with Mowen for the blindside flanker position for the June 22 series-opener, while rugged Western Force forward McMeniman, also a lock candidate who returned from Japan this season, is a selection wildcard.
As lineout callers for their provinces, Mowen and Dennis perform similar roles. The taller McMeniman, standing at 200cm, gives more mongrel and physicality in a back-row expected to contain No.8 Wycliff Palu and openside Michael Hooper.
The choice between Mowen and McMeniman also has ramifications for the second-row with Rob Simmons, also a caller, and the powerful Kane Douglas battling to partner skipper James Horwill.
Deans likes McMeniman’s versatility, and he looms as a possible impact weapon off the bench who can play lock or in the back-row, and says his positioning will be determined by the balance of the pack.
Deans pushed hard for his 25-man squad to be barred from pre-Test tour games but the policy backtrack comes after a hail of criticism, from both the United Kingdom and Australia, that depleted Super Rugby sides have failed to give the Lions the pre-Test challenge they deserve.
Queensland were missing seven Wallabies when they pushed the Lions all the way in their 22-12 defeat last weekend and coaching boss Ewen McKenzie lamented the fact Will Genia was made to run the water and James Horwill and co. watched from the sidelines.
Sio said a pre-Test boilover by the Waratahs or Brumbies would importantly rock the confidence of the unbeaten tourists.
“It would be amazing and would set the standard for Australian rugby,” the dynamic young prop said.
“Being at the standard (the Lions) are and the amount of elite players they have, it can send different messages to them.”
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.