Wallabies to hold pre-Bledisloe trial game
The Wallabies will face an Australian Super Rugby invitational side in a trial game next Friday as they think outside the square to snap New Zealand's Bledisloe Cup superiority.
Michael Cheika's men will play a side featuring the best of the rest not involved in club or Super Rugby finals at Sydney's Leichhardt Oval.
It is hoped the trial will put the Wallabies on the front foot in August 18's Bledisloe opener after the All Blacks shot out of the gates in the corresponding game last year.
"Spending five weeks on the sideline before a Bledisloe Test match is not what we want ideally," Cheika said.
"It's not just about the contact, because you can get all that in training.
"But just the little things. The pressure in front of a crowd, the referee telling you what to do, the dressing room build up, all those things. The mental side of footy."
Australian women's sevens coach John Manenti will mentor the invitational squad that will not feature either of exiled Reds Karmichael Hunt or Quade Cooper given their club Souths are still alive in the Brisbane club competition.
AAP