Milestone man Wycliff Palu admits he feared he would be another big name Wallaby that Ewen McKenzie was dumping from Saturday night’s opening Test against France.
Palu will play his 50th Test at Suncorp Stadium against Les Bleus but the bulldozing No.8 wasn’t confident he’d be in McKenzie’s first team of the year.
Although he’s been playing solidly for the in-form NSW Waratahs, the 31-year-old felt Ben McCalman or Scott Higginbotham had been in better form.
McKenzie has been ruthless in his form-based selections, dumping stalwart prop Benn Robinson from his 32-man squad, axing Will Genia from the team, and benching former skipper James Horwill.
Palu said he was particularly worried when he received a missed call from McKenzie before the initial squad was announced, fearing the coach had called to break the bad news.
“I was pretty nervous really,” he told AAP.
“In the past it was no news is good news and if you got a call it means you’ve missed out and I thought ‘far out’.
“He gave me a call because I’ve never been in the squad since he’s been coach of the Wallabies.
“It was a nice surprise.”
The injury-plagued Palu, stranded on 49 caps since last year’s Lions series loss, also admitted he didn’t expect to get the No.8 jersey for his long-awaited milestone.
But McKenzie argued that Palu, who he recruited from the NRL’s St George-Illawarra in 2004 when Waratahs coach, had the physicality and pack influence required against the powerful French.
“I think it’s just because the other guys have been playing so well,” Palu said. “Ben McCalman and Scotty Higginbotham have been killing it for their teams.
“With the competition whatever they go they would get a good No.8 so that’s why I was a bit nervous.”
Palu is one of two Wallabies forwards to receive their 50th cap against France but, in contrast, it’s been much smoother sailing for prop James Slipper.
The resilient Slipper has only missed a handful of games since making his Test debut a week after his 21st birthday in 2010, making him the youngest Wallaby since George Smith to hit the mark.
Slipper turns 25 on Friday, while Smith was 24 years and 11 months when he played his 50th in 2005.
“At 25 most Test props are just making their debuts so I’ve been pretty fortunate,” the Queensland loose-head said.
