Sydney University Football Club (SUFC) outside-centre Mitch Inman has been called up to join the Wallabies European Spring tour to cover for a spate of backline injuries.
He will join SUFC team-mates, fly-half Berrick Barnes, halfback Nick Phipps, flanker Dave Dennis and prop Paddy Ryan, on the tour, with Tests against Italy and Wales still to be played.
Barnes, Phipps and Dennis played in Australia’s 20-14 win over England at Twickenham on Saturday night, while Ryan sat on the bench in the loss to France at Stade de France the previous weekend.
Inman almost didn’t receive his call-up after ignoring early morning phone calls from national team manager Bob Egerton.
“I had a few missed calls as I was sleeping this morning at around 7am and I didn’t think much of it,” Inman said. “The Wallabies manager sent me a text saying call me ASAP, it’s important, but I still had no idea I’d be joining the team for the rest of the Spring Tour.
“But now that I’m heading over I’m really excited. I set myself some goals and now they’re starting to pay off. My goal was to make the Wallabies squad in June or July next year, but the call has come a lot sooner than expected. So now I’ll put my best foot forward and try to win my first Test cap in the next couple of weeks.”
Australia next face Italy in Florence, before wrapping up the tour with a clash against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
