Wallabies coach Dave Rennie admitted today that necessity may force him to request a foreign-based player upgrade to four recruits for the latter stages of The eToro Rugby Championship.
The erosion of the country's stock of top locks has hit hard even with skyscraper Rory Arnold being drafted into the 36-man squad to tour Argentina next month.
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The 2.08m Arnold will be an essential figure for the two Tests against the Pumas with Izack Rodda, Cadeyrn Neville and back-up Ned Hanigan out with injuries.As it is, Arnold, 32, has returned from another standout season with French club Toulouse to join Matt Philip, Nick Frost and Darcy Swain as the specialist tour locks.
Fit-again Jed Holloway and Rob Leota are backrow-lock cover.Arnold keeps the balance of three overseas-based recruits in the squad because powerhouse centre Samu Kerevi has been freed to play for the Australian Sevens team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
When it was suggested the "Kerevi Clause" will mean a trio of overseas-based stars or a tweak to four, with Kerevi, for the latter Tests against South Africa and the All Blacks, it tapped into Rennie's thinking.
"One of those...or maybe both of those," Rennie said."The issue from the second-row point of view is that we've lost a number of guys for an extended period.
We are bit thin there and perhaps one injury away from a bit of pressure there."We'll assess things once we are back from Argentina.
"A ruptured ligament under his foot has ruled out young prop Angus Bell for at least a month which creates a chance in the prop department for Melbourne Rebel Matt Gibbon.
Rennie said he was expected high-quality challenges from Argentina in Mendoza (August 7) and San Juan (August 14) after the Pumas' strong series win over Scotland.
Interestingly, he said the Pumas were "looking to kick more" than did the Wallabies when playing under now-coach Michael Cheika.
Rennie shed light on his thinking about the head-scratching fullback position which is still in flux after three different players started Tests at No.15 against England.
He said Queensland Reds fullback-winger Jock Campbell deserved his chance in the Wallabies squad for the first time.
"He's had a great season. He's matured, he's deceptively quick, he's got a really good skillset and is comfortable on the wing and fullback. I still think fullback is his best spot," Rennie said.
"I thought he was excellent in the Australia A program in Fiji so it was a pretty straight-forward choice.
"It's a good reflection that some players have more bells and whistles to their games when judged in the flesh up close like Campbell.
Petaia, now clear of his head knock from the second Test against England, is in the box seat to start at fullback against Argentina.
An extra permutation was Rennie making note that any additional head knock would mean a more extended lay-off.
"It's a position that's competitive and we feel we have good options," Rennie said of fullback.
"We're keen to have guys who can play wing and fullback in that back three.
We rate Andrew Kellaway really highly (when he's fit again) as a back three player and obviously Kurtley Beale will be back as well (to consider in the latter stages of TRC).
"Jordie is good to go. I guess any further knock will see him out long term."I thought Tom Wright was outstanding when he got his chance at No.15 in the second Test.
"Hopefully, the players make the decision, not injuries (on who plays there)."
Rennie said inside centre Irae Simone's decision to move to France had been overtaken by strong form for the Brumbies justifying his selection.
Lalakai Foketi's strong Australia A campaign has also been recognised in the options to replace Kerevi and the injured Izzy Perese.
"The thinking about Irae...he's probably had his best season of Super Rugby. We didn't consider him (earlier) because of the fact he was leaving but we do know he can fill a hole well for us for a couple of weeks," Rennie said.
The pain of losing the series-decider to England at the SCG last weekend was still fresh for Rennie."Look it was a frustrating review to be honest and we, as coaches, have had chats about the shifts we need to make before we jump on a plane to Argentina," Rennie said.
"We did some really good things but maybe the last bit of skill wasn't good enough and let us down."
Rennie took in on the chin personally that the Wallabies need better awareness on shifting into counter-attack.
"We missed a lot of opportunities from turnover and counter. For example, we've fielded a kick, we've got big numbers to play but we might have hit it up and given England time to regroup.
"We missed opportunities in all three Tests around counter.
"We've put a lot of time into that over the past few years so that's why it's disappointing. We found places to counter but left a lot of opportunities on the park.
"That's an area I drive. It's my responsibility. We've just got to be better when teams kick you the ball without a good kick chase or turn it over.
"It was a helluva Test series against a really good side but we're frustrated because we should have been better. We should have won it."
Flyhalf James O'Connor will play club rugby for Brisbane side Brothers against Souths at Chipsy Wood Oval on Saturday to gain match sharpness after his rusty second Test effort in Brisbane.
Wallabies squad: Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Jock Campbell, Quade Cooper, Pone Fa'amausili, Folau Fainga'a, Lalakai Foketi, Nick Frost, Matt Gibbon, Jake Gordon, Reece Hodge, Michael Hooper (capt), Jed Holloway, Len Ikitau, Marika Koroibete, Rob Leota, Noah Lolesio, Lachlan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Fraser McReight, James O'Connor, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Matt Philip, David Porecki, Pete Samu, Irae Simone, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Darcy Swain, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Suliasi Vunivalu, Nic White, Harry Wilson, Tom Wright
