Rugby: New halfback gets heads up from Deans

Queensland halfback Will Genia needed only to get himself fit to find his way into the Wallabies squad for the Tri-Nations.

Genia received a call from Wallabies' coach Robbie Deans when the Australian squad for the first four internationals of the season was announced, telling him he would have been there but for a tendon injury in his finger.

That offer was made good when Deans unveiled his 30-man squad, which included the 21-year-old Papua New Guinea-born Genia for Brumbies-bound No 9 Josh Valentine.

The only other change was the return of No 8 Wycliff Palu, who effectively replaced the sacked Lote Tuqiri in a squad split 17-13 between forwards and backs.

"I got a call from Robbie Deans when I was injured saying if I wasn't injured I would have been picked," said Genia. "So when he told me that I was pretty happy.

"He said, 'Keep your head up and do all you can do to get back and we'll cross paths before the end of the year'.

"So that was motivation to work hard and that's what I've done."

Genia suffered the injury against the Brumbies in early May and says he has kept himself fit and is two weeks away from playing.

Given Australia regularly pick a specialist halfback on the bench, Genia's first match back and test debut should be a baptism of fire against the All Blacks at Eden Park on July 18 in Auckland.

"I've never experienced test rugby or test training sessions, it's a whole new thing for me but I'll do everything I can, I have done everything I can," said Genia, who is the No 2 halfback in the squad behind Luke Burgess.

Genia grew up in Papua New Guinea before his parents, part of Port Moresby's business community, sent him at 12 years of age to board at Brisbane Boys College, where he took up rugby.

"I grew up playing cricket actually, that's when I first figured out what rugby union was, that's when I first started playing," he said.

Deans said he'd noticed the Reds No 9, who debuted in Super rugby in 2007 before playing a senior club match, last year.

"He's grown physically and with that he's really grown in confidence in the game," Deans said. "Against a tiring defence a guy like him is going to be pretty challenging and we've seen that through Super rugby."

WALLABIES

Backs
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Ryan Cross, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, Peter Hynes, Drew Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock (c), James O'Connor, Timana Tahu, Lachie Turner.

Forwards
Ben Alexander, Al Baxter, Richard Brown, Pek Cowan, Rocky Elsom, Matt Hodgson, James Horwill, Peter Kimlin, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, George Smith, Phil Waugh.

- AAP