AUSTRALIA are planning to combat Maro Itoje’s shift to the back-row for the first Test in Brisbane.
European player-of-the-year Itoje is set to replace Chris Robshaw at blindside flanker Down Under.
And that means alongside James Haskell he will be in for an almighty fight with world-class jacklers David Pocock and Michael Hooper.
Wallabies coach Nathan Grey said: “The kid Maro can play. He’s got some game. He’s got some good physical presence on the field. We are planning for a number of different options.
“And he’s been consistent and when you are stepping up to international level, that consistency is probably the hardest thing to maintain.
“I am sure Eddie and Paul have got a lot of confidence in him and he’s got a lot of confidence in him.
“It’s impressive. It’s good to have people coming through your system like that. He performed at under-20 and stepped up. He’s doing a good job.”
Although the Wallabies have a huge amount of respect for 21-year-old superstar Itoje – they continue to question whether Ben Te’o is ready for his international debut.
The England centre missed training yesterday with what the Red Rose camp were mysteriously labelling as “muscle soreness”.
Aussie boss Michael Cheika has already doubted if the 29-year-old former rugby league convert could be thrown straight into the Test arena.
And Grey added: “Taking that step up and playing at international level is a big step.
“Everything gets tested at a higher level, you have less time and less space and your skills and execution under pressure are the hardest things to replicate.”
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