PARIS: Queensland hard man Jake Schatz is the forgotten man of the surprise Wallabies call-ups, but Test coach Michael Cheika is adamant he will have a huge impact on the team's European tour.
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Schatz cut short a Thailand holiday when he was called into the Wallabies squad on Friday as a replacement for Scott Higginbotham, who will return to Australia after failing to recover from a hamstring injury.
But Schatz's inclusion was overshadowed by the return of Kurtley Beale, with both players to join the Wallabies in Dublin on Sunday.
Beale is making his comeback after a controversial month off the field and there were doubts about his future in Australian rugby.
Schatz is just happy to get the call after going to Thailand for a holiday before Cheika sent the call from reinforcements.
"I know you probably don't want to talk about him, but with Jake Schatz, the guy has come back from holiday to come and play for Australia," Cheika said in reference to the attention on Beale.
"He's been in Thailand, we had to ring him and he's made an unbelievable effort as well to get himself home and come over so we can inject some new energy.
"It gives me a chance to see some guys in this environment. I don't know Jake. I know Kurtley, but I don't know him in the Australian rugby union environment.
"I want to see as many of the guys as possible in this environment."
Schatz made his debut against Argentina last month, but wasn't included in Cheika's first Wallabies squad.
Injuries to Higginbotham, Scott Fardy and Wycliff Palu have opened the door for Schatz to impress the new coach.
The Wallabies' back-row stocks have been depleted and Cheika is conscious of not burning out rookie Sean McMahon.
The Wallabies still have brutal Tests against Ireland and England before they finish a five-game tour of Europe.
"We need to have a little bit of extra energy for the last couple of games and that's why I'm bringing Jake as well," Cheika said.
"We've got a couple of back-rowers here, Sean [McMahon] is young and has only just started playing.
"It's going to take a toll on him through the tour and I'm just trying to bring a bit of extra energy into the team.
"I don't know Jake Schatz, but from all reports he's a tough rooster and that's exactly what we want in the team. It's only going to add to what we've got."
Beale will be back up at full-back for Israel Folau, who has played almost every minute of every game this year in the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby title and Australia's Tests.
