Rugby Australia has turned to one of the game's sharpest minds to help sculpt a Wallabies team capable of winning next year's World Cup with Stephen Larkham handed the reins to an Australian squad, while a host of ACT Brumbies firm for Test debuts.
Brumbies coach Larkham is considered by many as a Test mentor in waiting, and will coach Australia A this year with Joe Schmidt - who will leave his post at the Wallabies following the opening three Tests of the campaign - serving as an assistant coach alongside Western Force mentor Simon Cron.
Larkham was stung during a stint with the Wallabies eight years ago, when he was made a scapegoat for Michael Cheika's underperforming Test side, but he looks set to play a key role in strengthening Australia's chances of hoisting the World Cup when he returns to the fold.
"With the Wallabies, there's some important matches in terms of the Nations Championship and Bledisloe. But there's also a view to preparing a larger squad for the World Cup next year. That's where Australia A comes in," Larkham said.
"A number of coaches have had the opportunity with Australia A. The idea behind Australia A is that we run a very similar program to the Wallabies program. Some of those players who are on the fringe of the Wallabies will drop back in and we need to make sure that we're very much aligned with our strategy. A lot of the selections will be determined by players we need to see at the top level."
Schmidt will join Larkham's Australia A staff following his final three Tests in charge of the Wallabies, which will pit Australia against Ireland, France and Italy in July. Les Kiss will then lead the Test side.
Larkham's appointment comes as a number of Brumbies players prepare to join a Wallabies training hub next week, following the club's Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final exit.
Declan Meredith is firming for a Test debut after being given the call from Schmidt, but there is no room for incumbent Wallabies flyhalf Tane Edmed after an indifferent first season in Canberra. Ben Donaldson and Carter Gordon are expected to be the other flyhalf options in the training hub, meaning former ACT playmaker Noah Lolesio will be left out following his move to Japan.
Flanker Rory Scott and lock Lachie Shaw are two of the new faces expected to push their case for a maiden Test cap, while inside centre David Feliuai will be rewarded for his stellar Super Rugby season.
James Slipper is on the verge of a Test recall despite retiring from international rugby after being called into the squad alongside fellow ACT front-rowers Allan Alaalatoa and Billy Pollard.
Rob Valetini, Charlie Cale, Nick Frost, Ryan Lonergan and Tom Wright are also in Wallabies calculations, with a Test squad to be named on June 19.
Those who miss the cut in the final Wallabies squad are likely to feature in Australia A fixtures, which will be confirmed later this month, with Larkham at the helm for what is expected to be an overseas tour.
Larkham is in the midst of reviewing a Super Rugby season which saw the Brumbies bow out in a record loss to the Hurricanes, with the club on the verge of locking in a pair of new recruits for the 2027 campaign as preparations ramp up for this year's edition of Super Rugby AUS.
"There'll be a few changes, but we pride ourselves on keeping the squad together and maintaining that connection throughout the year and that's going to be the same," Larkham said.
"We're a lot further ahead compared to this time last year in terms of our recruitment. We're just in the final stages of finalising the squad. I'd say in the next two weeks we should have we should have locked everyone in."
