Similar to the All Blacks' Probables vs Possibles, Wallabies squad players will face off for a jersey © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Article: Hansen searching for passion in World Cup lead up

Features: It's time we took the Force seriously

Features: Back to school for the ARU and Reds

With no inbound Tests next year in the lead up to the World Cup, Ewen McKenzie has revealed plans of an inter-squad trial match that would see the country's best players face off for national selection. Although the plan is still in its infancy, McKenzie has said it would be different to the All Blacks' Probables vs Possibles matches of the past.

"I wouldn't call it Possibles vs Probables, I do have views about that but they're not developed enough yet to talk about," McKenzie told the Daily Telegraph. "I've got a few ideas about next year, about how that might work with the way the season might pan out with Super Rugby running straight through and then the Test matches. I think there's some windows of opportunity there to do things a little bit differently.

"I have had a look at that, maybe not in that context but seeing more players play in different environments. The World Cup year has a different calendar so it allows us different opportunities, so I've definitely got ideas for next year, but this year it's impossible with the way the calendar is structured."

Given the nature of this year's packed schedule, with the Wallabies three Test series against France in June, a return for Super Rugby finals, followed by the Rugby Championships and an end of year tour to the United Kingdom, McKenzie has no plans to conduct a face off this year.

"We saw the issues last year with the Lions, trying to get Test matches and other games in there and the way Super Rugby was torn into a different timetable," McKenzie said. "One of my learnings from last year was when the Brumbies came in to that week before the Bledisloe, after the final and all that travel, they were pretty bushwhacked. So we need to be mindful of that.

"It's hard to add more games in there, they actually play a full whack now. In terms of this year I don't think I'll need it, but as we go through and when everyone is focused on the World Cup and we try to find ways to find out where everyone is up to, I've definitely got thoughts about doing something in that space.