ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar backs Irae Simone for Wallabies Bledisloe Cup debut

Simone has emerged as an option to fill a potential void at inside centre for the Wallabies as coach Dave Rennie sweats on Matt To'omua's scan results.

To'omua suffered a groin injury in Bledisloe Cup II against the All Blacks which forced Hunter Paisami into inside centre, with Jordan Petaia coming off the bench at outside centre.

Rennie has a raft of options for game three - including handing Noah Lolesio a Test debut at flyhalf and shifting James O'Connor to inside centre, a step up McKellar believes Lolesio would handle with class.

Simone is the only genuine inside centre in Rennie's squad and a potential Test debut would catapult the ACT Brumbies star into a must-win scenario.

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But McKellar is confident the 25-year-old will be able to rise to the occasion against the All Blacks at Sydney Olympic Park on October 31, should he be tapped on the shoulder.

"The way they're playing that second playmaker, that second link is really important to their attack. Irae brings a very good voice and direction," McKellar said.

"Obviously he has good skill and vision and sees space. He can get the ball there through a pass or a kick. He's a big body as well. Where he has improved mostly is around his physicality. His ball carry this year was excellent for us, he got over the gain line.

"Defensively is another area where he has improved his physicality, he has become a presence in breakdowns as well, he has put them under pressure and looked to force turnovers as well. He'd do a good job.

"He improved significantly [this year]. He improved because he got himself in the best condition he had been in.

"He played at a weight we encouraged him to get to because off the back of that, when you're fit and in shape, you get into position quickly and see things quickly, and make good decisions off the back of it. He certainly gave us that.

"While he's got the touch, the skill, the finesse, he's a big body that can now play physically and dominate collisions in attack and defence. That's an area that wasn't his strength a couple of years ago."

McKellar "had no doubt" Simone had the ability to play for Australia when the pair sat down with Peter Hewat in a Bowral cafe to talk about joining the Brumbies.

Simone had struggled for a start at the NSW Waratahs, but a change of scenery saw him emerge as a key player in the Brumbies' run to the Super Rugby AU championship this year.

"He's a very calm, very composed player now and really comfortable and confident in his own ability," McKellar said.

"You get confidence off the back of your preparation, and that's where I think he understands what being a professional is now, he understands what a good week of preparation looks like. He's just got to play his role and he will do that, no problem."

Wallabies mentor Rennie has a handful of options at his disposal should To'omua be ruled out of the third Bledisloe Cup clash, which doubles as the Tri-Nations series opener.

He could shift Paisami to No. 12, with Petaia coming into the starting XV at outside centre, as was the case when To'omua went down.

Reliable Reece Hodge is another option to move straight into inside centre, which would keep Paisami - or Petaia - in the No. 13 jersey.

But another option could hand Lolesio a Test debut, which would see the Brumbies young gun start at flyhalf with veteran O'Connor moving to inside centre.

"Noah gives you another genuine threat in attack in and around challenging ruck defence," McKellar said.

"He's got footwork and an offload, defences are that good these days that being able to keep the ball alive through an offload can keep them under stress for long periods of time. Points generally come off the back of it.

"Noah is the sort of kid, no matter what level you put him at, he is always going to back himself to step up and handle it. He did that in Super Rugby this year with the Brumbies, and I'd be confident he could do the same at Test level."