ASKED yesterday if he felt comfortable with backing up Matt Giteau at five-eighth against the All Blacks tonight, Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock pointed out he was a No. 10 during his school days.

"It's funny you ask because today we had the Australian schoolboys in the dressing room when the Classic Wallaby presented jerseys," Mortlock said.

"Back when I was their age, I'd only played ten. It's been a while but hopefully it's like riding a bike if I get called on for that position."

But while many assumed Mortlock had played in the Aussie schoolboys side at five-eighth, the big centre later admitted he didn't even get close. The Kings School student and future Australian captain could only crack the GPS third XV rep team in 1994 behind Marc Stcherbina.

Elton Flatley was the Australian schoolboy star pivot.

However, a shift to the centres at Gordon saw him finally on his way to the big time.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...006067,00.html