Genia anxious to get 'intense' Bledisloe Cup trial underway
Backline general Will Genia believes Friday's hastily-arranged trial match against a Super Rugby select side at Leichhardt Oval will be a huge help for both himself and the rest of the Wallabies ahead of the looming showdown with the All Blacks.
Without Friday night's trial in Sydney, Genia faced going into the Bledisloe Cup opener against world champions New Zealand on August 18 having not played for two months.
The match will be Genia's first since suffering a broken arm in the second Test against Ireland on June 16.
The 90-cap halfback is no stranger to tackling high-stakes Tests without recent match preparation and he has shown he can handle it. But he definitely prefers this alternative.
"I was put into that situation when I came back in 2016 for the first Bledisloe Test," Genia said.
"I missed seven months, I went straight into starting and played 80 minutes and I feel like I handled myself pretty well.
"Then likewise (this year) against Ireland I think I missed maybe six weeks and went straight in and it felt like I played pretty well.
"With my body I know how to make sure that's it's right to play.
"It's more a case of just getting stuck into training and finding a bit of rhythm, so this game that we're playing on Friday will definitely stand me in good stead."
Genia had no doubt the trial would benefit all involved, given the gap since the end of the Super Rugby regular season.
"I think the biggest thing is just practicing what we're going to see in terms of what the All Blacks will throw at us in game-like intensity," Genia said.
"Because as much as you can do it in training, it's never going to replicate what it's going to be like in a game."
Genia will be the most capped player in Friday's hitout, just ahead of 86-Test prop and former Queensland Reds teammate James Slipper.
The frontrower will turn out for the opposing composite side in his first run since serving a two-month suspension for violating Rugby Australia's illicit drugs policy and Genia was pleased to see ready to return to the pitch.
"It's awesome, I was surprised when I saw his name in the team lists, but I can't wait to get out there and run around with the big fellow," Genia said.
AAP