ACT Brumbies and Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa has little doubt winger Corey Toole can make a real difference after his call-up to the Wallabies squad.
Toole was one of two uncapped players in the 36-player squad for the Fiji Test, given the chance to push his case for a debut.
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It comes off the back of another strong Super Rugby Pacific season, scoring 11 tries as the Brumbies charged into the semi-finals.
Alaalatoa has been there to witness Toole’s rise ever since the former Sevens star burst onto the scene.
The prop believes he’s fixed the necessary elements of his game to emerge as a genuine x-factor for the Wallabies if called upon.
“It's awesome to see him getting picked. [He’s] electric and hopefully he can bring a few tries,” Alaalatoa said to reporters.
“You just want to give that guy some space and then his skill and his speed will do the rest. Probably got a little bit unlucky last year, but he got some pointers that he had to go away and work on, and I knew that he's been working hard at that throughout his game.
Toole’s bump off try in the semi-final was a big time moment too hard to ignore, with even Alaalatoa impressed by the rapid winger’s rare show of strength.
“That actually shocked me,” he said and smiled. "I was also pumped to see him do that and it put us right in the game, that try…it was awesome to see him do that.”
Schmidt admitted it was a tough decision to narrow down the outside backs, with Max Jorgensen also back in the frame with his impeding return from injury.
“Corey Toole spent TRC with us last year. He didn't get his test cap, but he was close to it. I think another really good Super season from him putting his hand up,” he notes.
“I think it was a fairly contested area. We had a number of guys who I felt did well in that three-quarter line like Lachie Anderson, Triston Reilly, Mac Grealy, Andy Muirhead and his versatility.
“Looking right around the four super clubs, there were other guys in competition, but we feel like a) the guys we invested in last year like getting Max back, who started Super really well, Harry Potter, Dylan Pietsch both looked good and then Corey [was] on top of that in those wing spots.”
