Wallabies winger Digby Ioane says the excitement generated by six debutants will help Australia overcome their limited preparation when they face Scotland in the rugby Test in Newcastle on Tuesday night.
Coach Robbie Deans’ men complete their preparation with a captain’s run at Hunter Stadium on Monday afternoon.
The light session will be just the second full run for the Wallabies, who have had a disrupted lead-in with some players participating in the weekend’s Super Rugby action.
Ioane features in a backline with four of his Queensland teammates, as well as former Red Berrick Barnes at five-eighth, and the winger says those combinations will help against Scotland.
“It’s good to see a couple of the boys stepping up like (fellow Queenslanders) Mike Harris and Luke Morahan,” said Ioane on Monday.
“It’s pretty good for some of us because we know how each other play so we’re just excited to spark up tomorrow night.”
Ioane said the enthusiasm of first-time Wallabies Harris, Morahan, Joe Tomane, Dan Palmer, Dave Dennis and Michael Hooper will help get the team ready.
“Being the first game of course everyone is going to be excited,” said Ioane, who is looking forward to partnering former league player Tomane on the wing.
“It’s good to see new faces come through. The more new faces come the older I feel … I’m getting old, 27.”
The Wallabies are motivated by their upset 2009 loss to Scotland at Murrayfield.