Rookie Jack Maddocks has been rewarded for his scintillating Super Rugby performances this season, with the Melbourne Rebels back named in the Wallabies 32-man squad for the upcoming Ireland Test series.
One of five uncapped players in the squad, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he'd been impressed with what he'd seen from Maddocks this season and believed he could push for selection in what he called the "most competitive positions in the squad".
"[Jack] Maddocks has had a really good year, I think he's had a couple of up and down games. He's made a lot of minutes for a young fella coming into this Super Rugby season and he's changed between fullback and wing," Cheika said.
"He's shown a lot of good qualities, skill, and a high work rate; he's still got a lot to learn, but I think now he deserves his opportunity in the full squad. He's a real talent, Melbourne have done a great job with him and we want to build on that in the series."
Fellow outside back and uncapped rookie Tom Banks was also named in the squad, with the Brumbies fullback catching the eye of Cheika through his bold performances.
"Tom Banks showed a little bit last year [what he could do], but I think he's been much more consistent this year," Cheika said. "He's got genuine attacking ability, genuine pace and he backs himself. I like that about him, and I think that's what won him a spot in the team."
Hard-running Waratahs winger Taqele Nayoirivaro was an unlucky omission from the squad, alongside Brumbies back Henry Speight, according to Cheika, but the Wallabies coach said he was looking for the all-round package not just attacking wingers.
"When I looked at the overall picture around one of the most competitive positions we have in the squad, if you have a look at the other players who've missed out there -- Izaia Perese, Henry Speight, Cam Clarke's played good footy as well to come in from the Waratahs -- I think that it's just really tight.
"We've got very, very good attacking wingers and we're looking for the all-round component to make sure we're solid in relation to our D and our kicking game -- and the kicking game that will be coming from Ireland to us. So I've tried to balance our back three players in that sense. We've got a guy like Banks who's come through with really strong performances in the last minute and I think he really deserves the opportunity."
Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga'a also earned his first call-up to the Wallabies squad, alongside Reds duo Caleb Timu and Brandon Paenga-Amosa.
Fainga'a and Paenga-Amosa will be taking on injury-plagued Jordan Uelese, who has just two Tests caps to his name, for the starting hooker position.
Wallabies squad:
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Folau Fainga'a*, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper, Sekope Kepu, Brandon Paenga-Amosa*, David Pocock, Tom Robertson, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Izack Rodda, Caleb Timu*, Lukhan Tui, Taniela Tupou, Jordan Uelese
Backs: Tom Banks*, Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Jack Maddocks*, Sefanaia Naivalu, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Curtis Rona