Sevens ace Toole backs himself for Wallabies call-up
Not resting on his laurels, Brumbies speedster Corey Toole has put his hand up for a Wallabies baptism by fire after making a mad scramble back home from the Olympics.
Toole helped Australia to the rugby sevens semi-finals in Paris before jetting straight back to Brisbane to join Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies squad preparing to face the world champion Springboks.
“I caught a flight back Thursday afternoon last week and landed in Canberra Friday afternoon and Saturday morning flew here to Brissie,” he said on Tuesday.
Now the 24-year-old is in the frame for a potential Test debut on Saturday, insisting he’s ready to shake off “a little bit of jet lag” if called up for Saturday’s showdown.
“The coaches around me and the boys, they have been helping me throughout training the last few days,” Toole said.
“If I can learn off those guys, hopefully I’ll be ready.”
After scoring a try on debut for Australia A against Tonga before last year’s World Cup, Toole enjoyed a stellar Super Rugby Pacific campaign for the Brumbies.
Schmidt had no hesitation letting the flyer rejoin the sevens program in Paris, believing experience on the big stage at Stade Francais would only be beneficial.
“He was pretty keen for me to go over there,” Toole said.
“Obviously the Olympics is a massive event and, as you saw each day, it was sold out.
“It was a bit of a shock running out on day one with the first game, usually playing in front of one or 2000 fans, but quite surprising to be playing in front of the packed stadium.
“It’s an unreal experience and, yeah, I’m glad I was a part of it.”
With two-times John Eales Medallist Marika Koroibete answering Schmidt’s SOS call from Japan, Toole is jostling with Andrew Kellaway and Filipo Daugunu for a wing spot.
At 178cm tall and weighing in at 85kg, he’s not the biggest winger in world rugby.
But what he lacks in size, the Wagga Wagga-born talent makes up with blistering pace.
“There’s a lot of different wingers out there – some big, some small,” Toole said.
“So you’ve just got to use your strength and obviously I’m not a big winger.
“So I want to use my speed in attack and then just make my tackles in defence and, yeah, I’ve just got to back myself.”
Schmidt will name his 23-man squad on Thursday.
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