Brumbies rookie Noah Lolesio says some advice from two "wise men" has helped him hone his kicking during the Super Rugby shutdown.
The two wise men in question? Wallabies attack coach Scott Wisemantel and, probably more surprisingly, recently retired Wallaby Berrick Barnes.
Lolesio has impressed in his first season in Super Rugby and his form caught the attention of the national coaches with the flyhalf included in the Players of National interest squad.
The flyhalf is believed to be one of a host of Brumbies in the wider national group that is being treated as a fluid number with no Tests on the immediate horizon.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie gave Lolesio a major vote of confidence after the competition's first seven rounds with a surprise phone call to the youngster.
"It was just a simple phone call saying that he likes what I'm doing and don't get complacent, keep striving, don't sit on your hands during this time as well," he said on The Rugby Nation Show.
"I had a good chat to Dave and he's really liked what I'm doing so hopefully I can keep it up."
Wisemantel has been working closely with Lolesio during the shutdown and was the link to Barnes as well.
Barnes officially bowed out of professional rugby last month after more than a decade, finishing up his most recent playing stint at Japanese side Ricoh.
Lolesio was staying with his family on the Gold Coast during the shutdown before returning to Canberra last week, with Wisemantel just over the border in Lennox Head.
"He gave me a call, Wisey, he just wanted me to send some clips of some drills that he wanted me to try out so I did that," he said.
"He lives at Lennox Head so when the borders were going to open he was going to come do a kicking session with me but I'm back in Canberra now but he's kept in good contact with me,
"He got Berrick Barnes to give me a call as well just to catch up on things as well on kicking and stuff like that."
Lolesio said most of the advice was on his kicking in play and he hoped it was just the start of being able to pick the pairs' brains.
"Probably more general play, restarts I'm always ticking off my goal kicking and working hard on that with Hewy (Brumbies assistant Peter Hewat) as well," he said.
"Just basic fundamentals just to get that extra metre or two and he's a really wise man, Scotty and Berrick.
"They both gave me a good call and they're really switched on and really looking forward to hopefully looking forward to working with them in the future."
