With his head still spinning from a whirlwind journey which nearly led to being etched into the record books as Wallaby No.904, Jono Lance will lead an experimental Australian side desperate to make his first Test cap a reality.
Less than a fortnight ago Lance was slugging it out in the first week of pre-season training with the Western Force, when he received a phone call that would quickly alter his mood.
Could he jump on a plane, fly to Paris to train with the Wallabies and take part in a Wallaby XV clash with the French Barbarians in Bordeaux?
“Obviously I jumped at the chance and flew out the next day,” said Lance.
But while the lure of wearing the gold jersey in a non-capped fixture, as he will do as the chief playmaker against the Baa-Baas on Thursday night (Friday morning AEDT), was enough to get him on a plane – Lance’s week changed drastically on Tuesday.
Quade Cooper, pencilled in to wear the No.10 jersey in last weekend’s Spring Tour Test against France, went down with an ankle injury.
Suddenly the enigmatic star was in doubt, and Lance was thrust into training with the first side – with a bench spot on offer should Cooper fail to recover.
When Cooper failed a game-day fitness test, Lance was named on the bench and a childhood dream beckoned.
“It was definitely a rollercoaster … but to stand there belting out the anthem next to two of my good mates, a week after finishing my first week of pre-season (was great),” Lance said.
“It was definitely an exciting week.”
Lance’s career has been typified by untimely injuries and being stuck behind Wallabies stars in the playmaking role at both the Reds and Waratahs during their title-winning seasons.
But when his luck looked like changing, another twist was brewing.
With Australia’s win over France not decided before an 83rd-minute field goal sailed left of the posts, coach Michael Cheika never called on the 26-year-old Lance.
“It was definitely a little bittersweet,” Lance admits.
“I understand how rugby works and in a close environment like that you probably want the players who have a feel for the game for finish it off.
“I understood that and I’m happy the result went as it did.
“It was probably 20-30 minutes after the game that it dawned on me how close I was and how I’d just missed it.
“But it’s made me even more hungry to get back there and earn that cap.”
But in the washup of the game Cheika said a Test cap loomed for the likable Lance – and a chance to run the show in Bordeaux will cement that.
Lance views Thursday’s clash as an opportunity to force his way into the playmaking discussions alongside the two first-choice five-eighths Bernard Foley and Cooper.
“Constantly (playing well) and putting pressure on them will make the 10 jersey for Australia a lot better,” Lance says of his desire to challenge Australia’s established stars.
“Hopefully I keep doing that, keep putting my name forward and that time will come.”
The match also represents an opportunity for development players – the likes of Andrew Kellaway, Izaia Perese and Jack Dempsey, and NRL convert Marika Koroibete – to impress the Wallabies coaching staff in a competitive environment.
“Andrew Kellaway is a classy player for a young guy,” said Lance.
“He’s someone with a very big future.”
WALLABY XV (15-1):
Luke Morahan, Marika Koroibete, Mark Gerrard, Kyle Godwin, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Jono Lance, Nick Frisby, Ben Mowen, Jack Dempsey, Peter Kimlin, Sam Carter, Will Skelton (capt), Tom Robertson, Nathan Charles, Paddy Ryan. Res: Andrew Ready, Sef Fa’agase, David Lolohea, Scott Fardy, Henry Vanderglas, Nic Stirzaker, Izaia Perese, Andrew Kellaway.
double agent
Guest
Who cares about the quality of the clean out? The fact he did it AFTER the whistle had gone giving us a penalty 5m out that was reversed. It was very very dumb.
Red Kev
Guest
It's a Wallaby game buddy
jeznez
Roar Guru
Ha ha. :D He on track for a red card this week or just going to be too tired backing up from his ten minutes on the weekend?
Cynical Play
Roar Rookie
It's a development game. Clearly you missed that part.
Cynical Play
Roar Rookie
Half the ABs would have gone home using your logic.
Cynical Play
Roar Rookie
You tell me. It's a development game. Ffs.
In brief
Guest
Hey Lord biscuits, sorry to disturb your tea old chap, must have come as quite a shock. I do hope you recover your equilibrium shortly.
In brief
Guest
Why? If he wasn't so powerful he wouldn't even have been penalised. Worse clean outs occur in most matches. The faux outrage is wearing thin.
In brief
Guest
Farty is the biggest liability in the team when it comes to giving away unnecessary penalties. It's the only real impact the guy makes. Skelton has a huge potential and will be a long term wallaby under any regime. The fact the average roar contributor disagrees is irrelevant.
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
Jeznez - you have a typo in your message - I think you mean 8 minutes!!!
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
Well I have just woken up here in Accra, Ghana and opened up the computer, received the Roar, and started to read the article on the Wallaby 15 - good start, cup of tea - and then - a little snippet of funny information - Skelton (capt). Well at least I can keep smiling and laughing all day. An absolute joke by the Selectors or Coach and a show of absolute respect for the position of Captain of an Australian Team - Wallabies XV - although not a "cap" game. Absolute disgrace!!!
double agent
Guest
I assumed Will Skelton would have been on the first plane back to Sydney after his brain explosion against Scotland. Wrong again! Mark Gerrard? I thought he'd on the Golden Oldies circuit by now.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Horse. Dead. Flogging. A. ? Got to give it to Cheika, he;s not easily deflected from a belief. Is that a quality though?
Boomeranga
Guest
Yeah. Pretty interesting team really. Especially once the bench gets a run.
Jacky jacky
Guest
Both Morahan and Lance have captained UQ to premierships Stirzaker super 15 captain at Rebels Ben Mowen Wallaby and super 15 captain Cheika gone mad I do not care what his results are you can't do this he needs to be spoken to by ARU
jeznez
Roar Guru
Fardy played 80 on Saturday, I'd have him starting again this weekend against the Irish. But given that he has obviously been left out of the Test squad, then I have no issue with him on the bench for a mid week hit and giggle - having played a full Test on the weekend. Particularly if say McMahon or Mumm went down at training late in the week - Fardy would be straight back into the Test 23 and I'd rather he'd only played a cameo here, rather than another full match.
Red Kev
Guest
Worked for Horwill back when he was a natural leader and first choice Wallaby when the Reds made him captain. Not when he'd been dropped from his Super Rugby team for playing like poo!
PiratesRugby
Guest
Will it make him fitter too? Amazing how he continues to get opportunities no matter how poorly he plays. Scott Fardy doesn't even start in second XV? And Skelton is his captain? How much more can we insult this guy? He was almost as important to Australia's RWC15 as Pocock and now he's on the bench in the actual B team. It is a warning to Pocock. If Pocock ever goes off the boil even for a single game, he'll be dropped for good. Coach clown does everything he can to make life difficult for him. He won;t play him at 7. He changes him from 8 to 6. He has Hooper playing wider and wider. He gives Pocock a passenger like Mumm as backrow partner. Pocock keeps coming through. David Pocock is an absolutely tremendous bloke. Cheika will always be remembered as a clown.
AlBo
Guest
Mowen spoke in glowing terms of his leadership potential so it couldn't hurt to help him develop as a person and player.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I'm in the same space James, Mumm and Speight being retained is not the way I'd have gone but am not surprised that is the way it has worked out.