‘Wallabies spots wide open’

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TEST incumbency will mean little when the Wallabies squad is picked next week, according to Waratahs stars Bernard Foley and Sekope Kepu.

Playmaker Foley believes the race for the Wallabies' No.10 jersey is "open slather", while prop Kepu is battling Waratahs teammate Paddy Ryan for a starting spot in a bid to salvage his spot as first-choice Australian tighthead.

Quade Cooper is the incumbent five-eighth and was in excellent form in last few Tests, but his Super Rugby performances this year have been patchy.

Back-up Matt Toomua, meanwhile, has been superb for the Brumbies, while third-choice five-eighth Foley has been solid for NSW.

"The coaches know Quade's capabilities, he is the incumbent and he did so well at the back end of last year," Foley said.

"I think every position is really hotly contested, with Matt Toomua as well, it puts a lot more focus on the next three weeks.

"If you're playing the house down, for any player, then it's hard for them not to pick you.

"What they know with Quade, and if the other blokes are playing good footy, it would be hard not to.

"I think it's all still open slather."

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Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie will announce his squad for the three-Test June series against France next Thursday week, and one of the most intriguing battles will be in the front row.

Kepu finished 2013 at Australia's leading tighthead, but has recently been relegated to the Waratahs bench behind Ryan, who has played two Tests for the Wallabies off the bench.

"It's all about form, and if guys are playing well there's no reason you wouldn't pick them," Kepu said.

"I've just got to get back into form, do well, and keep fighting.

"I'm not going to step back or sit down, I'll keep pushing.

"There are no guarantees. I've just got to put my best foot forward every week.

"2013 is done and dusted, it's an open race.

"Guys have been playing really well, Benny [Alexander, from the Brumbies], the Rebels boys, even the Force boys, it's a good competition, and Paddy is doing well here.

"At the end of the day it's Ewen's decision.

"For me, it's just doing well and trying to perform consistently, which was one of my goals for this year."

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Kepu lost his starting place after NSW was beaten by the Blues in Auckland three weeks ago, primarily due to some poor passing and ball handling.

"The onus is on me to keep it really simple for myself, that's what I did on the [2013 spring] tour," Kepu said.

"The big focus for me on tour, particularly in the northern hemisphere, was the scrum.

"I've probably gone away from that a little bit and tried to worry a bit about my all-round game.

"It's mental application really, if I can do that really well as a prop, scrummage really well, dominate, and then the carries, those things will come second.

"I'll definitely be looking to get back to that form, and do everything I can this week and moving forward."

Ryan expects a stern challenge this week from Kepu at training as the team prepares for the Lions on Sunday.

"Keps didn't do a lot wrong against the Blues early and he lost his starting spot, he'd be filthy about that, I know I would be," Ryan said.

"And I know he'll be coming at me this week, and that's great. It's happening all across the park, and that's one of the best things about our squad at the moment.

"If I start thinking about playing the Rebels next week, starting, I might get dropped by training like crap on Tuesday.

"If I start getting ahead of myself and carrying on with that kind of stuff I'll end up back on the bench."

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