Wallabies coach Les Kiss believes new NSW Waratahs recruit Angus Crichton could be a real asset in the midfield after the former Sydney Roosters star dropped into training.
Crichton, who is still rehabbing a foot injury, caught up with the group along with Brisbane Lions superstar Will Ashcroft ahead of Monday's Test against England at Twickenham.
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Three-time premiership winner Ashcroft formed a bond with Harry Wilson and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii during their appearance on the reality competition 'Rivals', won by Rugby Union.
"[Angus] was over on holiday, his partner is from North England. The opportunity was just to pop in and say hello and see the guys. He knows a lot of them anyway," coach Les Kiss told the media on Friday (local time).
"He was here coming off a Premiership, and Will Ashcroft was here too from the Brisbane Lions, who's [also] come off a Premiership and come down to see the boys as well.
"We had a look at [Angus] and he had lunch with us. It just gives them a chance to see who we are. He's over here, why not join us and have a look?"
Crichton was earmarked as a potential Spring Tour bolter after helping the Roosters to this year's NRL Premiership.
However, a stress fracture in his right foot picked up earlier this year ruled him out, so he'll head to Daceyville with the Waratahs in the coming days.
Kiss shared his experience as a former rugby league star himself, believing the centres, where Crichton played last as a junior, is his best fit.
"I think initially the midfield, definitely. That's how I see it," the coach said on his best position.
"I was talking to him about it just before about body height change. In league, you can play tall all day, but this game demands so much when body height changes on both sides of the ball.
"We were talking about it openly, he's looking forward to just settling that foot. It's getting better every day and he'll go and get into the Waratahs pre-season."
Crichton's former NRL teammate Mark Nawaqanitawase remains a point of conversation, with the winger settling into his new club, Saitama Wild Knights, in Japan.
"He's made a decision to play in Japan and get his feet under the table back in rugby," Kiss said.
"He's been out of rugby for a couple of years. He's played right-hand side only on the edge near the paint. He hasn't ventured into the midfield very rarely in the game, so he knows he's got a lot of work to do in that space.
"He just wants to get his feet under the table and play a bit of rugby, feel that and then let things happen from there.
"The first thing he said, because he knows there's going to be a lot of chat about this, was I don't want this to be about me but he can't stop the conversation at times. We're about team first and he talked about team first and the ethos that he built… he knows that he has to earn it and it won't be gifted to him. He has to play well, and he has to show that in what he does overseas."
