Code-swappers receiving worldly advice

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The Wallabies' latest code-swappers will receive some first-hand tips in the lead-up to Saturday's Tri Nations clash in Sydney.

Coach Robbie Deans has named former Sydney Roosters centre Ryan Cross to fill in for the injured Stirling Mortlock.

It will be his first shot in the Wallaby run-on 15, having earnt two previous test rugby caps off the bench.

And the uncapped Timana Tahu, who played State of Origin and test league for Australia, has been named on the bench.

The path they are travelling has already been completed by right wing Lote Tuqiri, a former Origin and Kangaroos test rep.

Tahu credited advice from Tuqiri for helping him fit into the Wallaby set-up this week.

And Tuqiri said it was a role he was happy to play.

"I probably have had more of a role with Timana," he said.

"I think I will be chatting more to Ryan over the next couple of days and obviously on the field, he is defending one in at 13.

"We will be chatting a bit more.

"They have all come in and they know what to do. They are not asking questions about this and that.

"I have probably been the one asking questions about how they want to run and their lines. That has been about it and he (Cross) has been really good.

"And Timana, if he gets his chance, will go really well."

Tuqiri said the likes of Cross and Tahu, and other relatively inexperienced Wallabies, were fortunate to be able to fall back on the coaching of Robbie Deans.

He said the arrival of Deans had come at a great time for the Wallabies, saying Deans was an ideal mentor for the rising rookies.

He said it combined to give the newcomers a strong sense of belonging, passion and self-belief.

"I guess it is the confidence we put in them and obviously the coaching staff and the players," he said.

"You put them into a role and sometimes you can feel a little bit uncomfortable. But the confidence Robbie puts into the boys is really good.

"He just puts them in and you play how you play. It is not rocket science, we just go in and back ya."

And that was something which hadn't just been restricted to the two recent former league players.

Meanwhile, Tuqiri said one notable aspect wouldn't be too dissimilar for the league converts in the lead-up to the All Blacks encounter.

And that was the high-pressure involved in the build-up and intensity that the match would be played with.

"The weeks are a bit the same, with the build-up and everything else," he said.

"It is really good to play in these games. I haven't had a lot of success (against the All Blacks), so we have three games now to get that back.

"Hopefully we can do that and not have a third game decider."