Preparing for the third and final in house trial match the Wallabies vice captain reveals Australian teams for Rugby World Cup 2003 will be picked on form.
Incumbent inside centre Elton Flatley told Australian Associated Press Wallaby teams for RWC 2003 matches will be picked on form.
The Wallabies will stage the final simulated match of their preparation at Coffs Harbour on Friday with no player assured of a starting place for the Rugby World Cup opener against Argentina at Telstra Stadium on 10 October in Sydney.
Not even his recent elevation to vice captain would protect his spot if his form did not hold, Flately said.
"It's definitely fierce. You're competing day in, day out against your opposition, who are your team-mates," Flatley said.
"Once you get off the field you're best of mates again but when you're at training you're competing against each other and doing the best you can because you want to be out there running on as much as possible during the World Cup.
Jones keeps quiet
"At the moment Eddie hasn't told anyone what the make up of the team will be. Guys have been swapping around positions, training hard and putting up their hand and hoping it's them.
"I'm sure later in the week or early next week guys will know when we train which way Eddie is thinking but until then everyone's head down and training hard."
Coach Eddie Jones is playing his selection cards close to his chest, with the players unlikely to know who will start against Argentina and in what position until after Friday's final simulated game played between squad members.
“Maybe I don't know," Jones said from the Coffs Harbour training base. "Obviously we want competition and as we get a bit closer we'll obviously start gearing in on what we've got to do."
Second trial
In the second in house trial this past weekend players contending for particular positions were pitted against each other.
Wallaby squad members are aware selection for the opening match will give them first crack at holding down a starting jersey throughout the World Cup.
Mat Rogers and Chris Latham faced off at fullback, Elton Flatley and Nathan Grey were the inside centres, Stirling Mortlock and Matt Burke were at outside centre, Joe Roff, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri and Morgan Turinui were on the wings, David Lyons took on fellow No.8 contender John Roe and hookers Jeremy Paul and Brendan Cannon packed against each other.