Force trio champing at the bit
Western Force young gun Kyle Godwin and front-rowers Heath Tessmann and Tetera Faulkner will not be wrapped in cotton wool for Perth Spirit's NRC clash on Sunday despite Wallabies selection.
The trio will line up against Brisbane City at McGillivray Oval as planned despite Godwin being a chance to make his Test debut against South Africa at Patersons Stadium six days later.
Home-grown centre Godwin, 22, was rushed into the Wallabies squad and will be joined by hooker Tessmann and prop Faulkner.
The NRC match will be Godwin's first in four months after he tore his left posterior cruciate ligament in the Force game against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
He has missed out twice on Wallabies selection - against France with the knee injury and last year when shoulder surgery kept him out of contention.
"It's still sinking in. It was certainly a surprise," Godwin said.
"It's obviously a great feeling. But given I'll be playing my first game in four months this weekend, my focus is very much on Sunday's match."
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has had Godwin on his radar for some time.
"Unfortunately he hasn't had much of an opportunity due to injury. He now gets his chance to join the squad and we'll look forward to learning more about him," he said.
Tessmann, 30, probably thought any chance of a call-up was long gone after he was discarded by Melbourne two years ago, but Foley gave him another chance.
"It's really exciting to be considered and I'm really pumped to be able to help out. From here it'll be about soaking up the experience of training at that level," Tessmann said.
Faulkner, 26, is one of Australia's brightest young front-rowers.
"I guess any time you hear that Ewen is looking at you is pretty exciting. This is a great opportunity to gauge where I have to be," he said.
