By Jon Geddes

AUSTRALIAN Under 20 coach Nathan Gray has delivered a clear message to the six rising stars from Shute Shield clubs who have one last chance to push their claims for World Cup starting spots in Thursday’s crucial trial against the Barbarians at Daceyville.

“What I say to them is ‘make us pick you, play so well we have to put you in’,” Grey revealed to Rugby News. “That is the challenge.”

The coach has emphasised the significance of this game to all his 30-man squad, which includes those six players from the Sydney based teams: Jack Bowen, Teddy Wilson and Ollie McCrea (all Eastern Suburbs), Henry O’Donnell (Northern Suburbs), Jack Barrett (Randwick) and Jackson Ropata (Southern Districts).

“There are definitely spots still open in that starting XV, guys can certainly force their way in,” Grey said.