British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland is preparing to take on ''greyhound'' Jesse Mogg as a Wallabies bolter if the ACT Brumbies fullback continues his sparkling Super Rugby form.
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And Gatland believes the Brumbies' superb campaign can transfer to the international arena in a three-Test series against the visiting Lions next month if Australian mentor Robbie Deans opts to put faith in the ACT players.
Rising Brumby Mogg has launched himself on to the international radar with Gatland revealing he has been watching the speedster to gauge who will be in Wallabies contention.
Just 18 months after being an unknown club rugby player for Wests in Canberra's premier division, Mogg is pushing for a shock call-up to join the Wallabies and take on the Lions.
Wallabies coach Deans has said in the past he would stick with experienced players rather than throwing a rookie into the intense cauldron.
But Gatland is scouting Mogg in case the 23-year-old gets an unexpected call-up off the back of his eye-catching performances for the Brumbies.
''That's the challenge for Robbie, [Mogg] has been one of the form players,'' Gatland said. ''He's like a greyhound in terms of his running ability and attacking ability; we've been really impressed with him.
''The challenge for Robbie is selecting the Australian side on form and [Mogg] has definitely been one of the form players.''
The Brumbies have been the standout Australian team this season and lead the overall Super Rugby ladder after 10 matches. The Queensland Reds are nipping at their heels as the Brumbies chase a drought-breaking finals appearance.
The Brumbies' form was rewarded last month when Deans picked 11 players in a 31-man Wallabies squad for a logistics camp in preparation for the Lions tour. It was the biggest representation of any side.
Deans' challenge is deciding whether to back players who have Test experience or put faith in a new breed, led by the young Brumbies.
''The Brumbies have been going exceptionally well as a side,'' Gatland said. ''Often as a coach when you're looking at picking a team, you want to pick players that are coming out of sides that are playing with confidence and have self-belief.
''That often helps the team or moulds the confidence to go out and play an international. We've been really impressed with Mogg and [will be] keeping an eye on him.''
Of the 11 Brumbies Deans invited to the Wallabies camp, only Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore and Pat McCabe have Test experience.
However, 110-Test veteran George Smith is now also on the radar after his Japanese club Suntory agreed to allow him to stay with the Brumbies for the rest of their Super Rugby campaign.
The ARU and Suntory still have to work out contract insurance and Smith has to be selected in the squad, but Gatland is banking on one of Australia's greatest players lining up for his second Lions series.
Smith is the only player in Wallabies contention who played against the Lions in 2001 and helped Australia to a 2-1 series win. That was the same year the Brumbies won their inaugural Super Rugby title.
Smith has spoken with Deans and is keen to return to international rugby if details can be sorted out with Suntory.
If picked in the Wallabies No.7 jersey that was his for a decade, Smith will directly take on Lions captain Sam Warburton.
Warburton, 24, is the youngest Lions captain in 63 years. He leads a 15-strong Welsh contingent in a 37-man squad also made up of 10 players from England, nine from Ireland and three from Scotland.
''You watch George and you can just see he doesn't make mistakes,'' Gatland said. ''He can play No.6, 7 or 8 and has been one of the standout players for the Brumbies. We expect him to line up … that's a decision down to Robbie again.
''Even if he doesn't start, there's good young flankers in [Michael] Hooper and [Liam] Gill. It's a shame David Pocock missed out, I feel for him because I feel he's world class.''
