'He wasn't part of an academy system': Rennie to give late-blooming Wallaby fullback a crack

Dismissed as too small and too slow, late-blooming Jock Campbell is in line for his Wallabies debut after being named on the bench for Saturday’s spring tour-opening Test against Scotland.

Coach Dave Rennie is promising the 27-year-old some game time as he continues his search for a World Cup fullback after using five custodians already in 2022.

Tom Banks has first dibs on the position for the vital five-Test tour of Europe, back in for his first start for the Wallabies since breaking an arm during the first-Test loss to England in June.

But Rennie and his fellow selectors are keen to see if Campbell is up to the physical rigours of Test rugby.

“It’s a great story, isn’t it. He wasn’t part of an academy system. He’s probably spent a fair chunk of his career with people telling him he’s not fast enough, he’s not big enough and he’s on the verge of representing his country,” Rennie said on Thursday night.

“He’s had an outstanding year. He was excellent for Australia A and he deserves a crack.

“We’re keen to get Jock in the mix.”

After starting Australia’s past two Tests against the All Blacks in the No.15 jumper, Andrew Kellaway has been moved to the wing.

Rennie has also tried Reece Hodge, Tom Wright and Jordan Petaia at fullback this year, leaving the position wide open for someone to nail it down ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France.

Rennie is also keen to see what more Tate McDermott can offer after naming the livewire Queenslander at halfback.

Nic White and Jake Gordon will also get their opportunities as the Wallabies also face France, Ireland, Italy and Wales on a gruelling five-week campaign.

“We’re going to rotate the nines a bit on tour. We’re fortunate we’ve got three excellent nines and we’re keen to give Tate an opportunity,” Rennie said.

“He hasn’t had much of a lick lately and he’s trained really well with the Queensland boys over the last couple of weeks and I’ve had a chance to look at that first hand.

“We think he can bring something special. In Edinburgh at this time of the year, it’s probably going to be gloomy and cold and damp but we think he can bring a real point of difference.”

All eyes will be on Michael Hooper at Murrayfield as Australia’s most-capped Wallabies captain makes his early-awaited return from a three-month mental health hiatus.

“He’s ready to go,” Rennie said of the champion openside.

“We had a good chat with ‘Hoops’ in Sydney and we were going to leave the decision to him if he felt he wasn’t quite ready. But he’s jumping out of his skin.

“There’s been a lot of indications over the last couple of weeks, even when we were playing, he was constantly texting or watching a lot of footy, which means he’s pretty engaged.

“He’s in a really good space.”

WALLABIES SQUAD: Tom Banks, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Tom Wright, Bernard Foley, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini,  Michael Hooper, Jed Holloway, Cadeyrn Neville, Nick Frost, Allan Alaalatoa, David Porecki, James Slipper (capt). Reserves: Folau Fainga’a, Matt Gibbon, Taniela Tupou, Ned Hanigan, Pete Samu, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Jock Campbell.