Ewen McKenzie says a number of player who missed selection "had legitimate claims" © Getty Images

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Ewen McKenzie hasn't closed the door on Benn Robinson, offering the veteran loose-head every chance to become the most-capped Wallabies prop in history if he's good enough.

Robinson's omission from McKenzie's 32-man squad for the three-match series against France leaves him two Tests shy of equalling Al Baxter's all-time record for appearances as a Wallabies prop. But McKenzie says Robinson remains in the picture, just as the 67-Test mainstay was last year when he bounced back for a recall after being overlooked for the first-year Wallabies coach's inaugural squad.

"Loose-head prop is very competitive position," McKenzie said. "There's a number of options.

"There's a number of guys who missed out who probably had legitimate claims. He's probably one - an experienced player who everybody knows pretty well. I had a good chat to him. He's been out before but responded. I'm confident he'll bounce back."

McKenzie preferred Western Force's Pek Cowan, who gained all five of his caps in 2009 under Robbie Deans.

"It's not to say that people are going badly, but you've also got to reward guys who are going well," McKenzie said of his selections and non-selections.

"Pek Cowan, for instance, has been going very well. People are not focused on him but he's been a very consistent performer. If you look at him in different capacities, he makes a big difference.

"You've got to ask why the Force are going consistently well [in Super Rugby]. You've got to look across and look at those positional things and sometimes when it does get to 50-50, it doesn't go your way.

"But we haven't closed the door on Benn Robinson or Liam Gill."

Gill, considered a rising star, has made way for Cowan's inspirational Force captain, Matt Hodgson, who, in leading the unfancied Perth franchise into Super Rugby finals contention, has also reignited his international career at the age of 32 years.

Matt Hodgson is in career-best form with Western Force © Getty Images

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"Matt Hodgson has done really well, had a good season and has led well from the front," McKenzie said. "His maturity and his form will be valuable to us in a tough series."

Along with Robinson, Gill and Waratahs captain Dave Dennis are the most glaring omissions from the season-opening squad.

Gill has been injured for much of Queensland Reds' disappointing Super Rugby campaign, and McKenzie said his time would come.

McKenzie, meanwhile, said his non-selection of Dennis after the Waratahs captain had been asked to parade in a gold jumper recently for a Wallabies promotion was among his toughest decisions.

"I don't take any joy in telling guys they've just missed out," McKenzie said. "He's one. He's got attributes, points of different that are important. I know he's doing the job for the Waratahs. It's disappointing. I can't give everyone good news, but these people aren't out of the picture.

"The good news is they've got games to play. We're still going to watch Super Rugby. They've got a vehicle to push their claims."