Lonergans take backyard battles to Wallabies camp

Now he and brother Lachlan are looking to make their own Wallabies mark ahead of Australia's three-Test series against France.

The pair are in the mix to make their international debuts as part of Wallabies coach Dave Rennie's squad, with the pair emphatic they're there to just make up the numbers.

Ryan was brought in due to an injury to fellow scrumhalf Jake Gordon, joining Brumbies teammate Nic White and Tate McDermott as No.9 options.

It puts him in the mix for a spot on the bench for the opening Test against France at the SCG on July 7.

Lachlan could even find himself starting as he looks to impress against fellow hookers Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Feleti Kaitu'u - with an injury cloud hanging over Kaitu'u (leg).

Brumbies teammate Connal McInerney has been brought in as cover.

It was always a dream for the Lonergan brothers, as they look to become the first siblings to play for the Wallabies since the Faingaa's in 2011.

They spent their childhood dreaming of being former Brumbies stars Giteau and Mortlock - with Lachlan joking his love of chocolates helped him grow from a childhood outside centre into his current role in the front row.

"We had a footy field set up out the front and I built some sick goal posts. I was Matt Giteau and you were 'Stirs'," Ryan said.

"I even started kicking left footed for quite a while because I wanted to be like Matt Giteau."

MORE BRUMBIES NEWS

Injury might've led to Ryan getting his call up into Rennie's squad, but the 23-year-old's determined to make the most of it.

He's got his sights set on a gold jersey as he continues his development under the guidance of White.

The scrumhalf said he's found the mental side of being in Wallabies camp the hardest to cope with and admitted to cramming in naps wherever he could to keep himself fresh.

He's got another two weeks to impress Rennie and train his way into an Australian debut.

"I'm here because there was an injury so it's an opportunity for me," Ryan said.

"I'm definitely not training like I'm going to leave next week. I'm really trying to learn everything I can and if I have something to contribute to the team I'll contribute it.

"That's my mentality going forward. I'm preparing to play and if that happens it's awesome."

Hooker's probably the most hotly contested spot in the Wallabies XV, with Rennie publicly stating it was a position of concern back in April.

Paenga-Amosa has just nine Tests to his name, while both Lachlan, Kaitu'u and McInernery were uncapped.

Lachlan felt his scrummaging was the area he needed to work on the most as he pushed for his international debut.

"It's pretty obvious for us it's whoever is going to put their best foot forward at training and train well, whoever is in the best form at training is going to get selected on game day," he said.

"At the end of the day you've just got to train hard, do what you do best and I'm sure selection will come off the back of that."

FIRST TEST

July 7: Wallabies v France at the SCG, 8pm.