The Wallabies jumper fits Sam Carter perfectly © Getty Images

Enlarge

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has no concerns about pitch-forking rookie lock Sam Carter and third-choice hooker Nathan Charles into the Bledisloe Cup cauldron. even though the pair have played just three Tests between them - against France in June, including the former's two appearances off the bench.

Stalwart Wallabies hookers Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau are each absent with a knee injury, robbing Australia of 141 Tests' worth of experience, but McKenzie insists Charles, 25, can hold up the sometimes shaky scrum in the Rugby Championship opener at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

"He's been terrific," McKenzie said of Charles, noting the Western Force rake had "slipped seamlessly" into the Wallabies' ranks when first called up for the June series against France.

"He's what you want from a hooker. He throws really well, he understands the scrummaging side of it really well, so the fundamentals are there. He's got a terrific attitude and that's all you can ask. Yeah, he's going to get tested on the weekend, as you'd expect, but I think he's got all the ingredients to have a good game."

McKenzie noted that Carter, like Charles, had "been around the scene for a while".

The Brumbies star, 24, was a courageous and wounded Man of the Match in his only Test to date - against France in Brisbane - before he was sidelined with an ankle injury.

"The guys that come in and get their opportunity a bit later, they're pretty hungry," McKenzie said. "They're not going to be overawed by the environment because in some ways they've felt like they should have been there earlier."

Carter enjoyed a whirlwind first week with the Wallabies but he has impressed McKenzie even more with his potential second time around.

"We obviously see him do certain things but he's got some good attacking nous; he's a very good player, and I know he enjoys the contest," the coach said.

"So he'll be up for the game."