Fa'amausili and Faessler on the brink of RWC selection for Wallabies

Hooker Faessler - who had never worn the gold jersey before - was ordered to put down his bacon at breakfast on match day when Jordan Uelese's knee didn't come up.

He was then thrust into battle in the 14th minute when Dave Porecki left with a shoulder complaint.

"It all happened so quickly I haven't had time to process what's occurred," Faessler said after full-time, proudly wearing his Wallabies cap for media duties.

Faessler didn't have a professional contract until last year, when he was plucked from club rugby to fill-in for the undermanned Queensland Reds in a trial match.

At the time, the hooker called playing in that match being "thrown into the deep end". Showing his progression, the 24-year-old didn't look out of place against the mighty All Blacks.

"I didn't actually have time to sit and process what was occurring, what things could happen badly or go well, etc," Faessler said.

"I was actually pretty clear-minded going in and then I definitely wasn't expecting to get on that early or play those sorts of minutes. Just grateful for that opportunity."

What the Queenslander and Melburnian have in common is coach Eddie Jones, who backed them to come good in a gold shirt they both have coveted.

Faessler said Jones' exacting standards had lifted the entire group.

"He's huge on accountability," Faessler said.

"There's a lot of honest conversations that the coaches have with players, and players have with players."

This week, those conversations will include Jones telling 33 players they'll be heading to France for the World Cup, and the pair may well get a call - something unimaginable at the start of the season.

"Eddie's been massive for me," Fa'amausili said.

"Everyone knows that Eddie gets stuck into me on the field in training. He's always giving me chat. He just wants the best for me. I know where the chat is coming from. He's just pushing me to my limits and just really wants to see me change my mindset.

"I knew how big this opportunity was for me. I knew that this was ... the opportunity I needed to make a statement to get into the squad going to France. Hopefully my performance has done that."

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