‘I’ll just play how I’m told’

– Australia scrumhalf Will Genia (above) said yesterday he was happy to “fit in” where needed as the Wallabies centurion looks to end a storied career at the Rugby World Cup.

The 31-year-old, who is battling it out with Nic White for the starting role in Japan, insisted the team came first as two-time champions Australia prepare for their Pool D opener against Fiji in Sapporo this weekend.

“Whatever role I’m chosen to play – whether it’s from the start or at the back end of games, I’m not particularly fussed,” he told reporters at Australia’s training base in Odawara.

“I’m confident in my game and what I’ll bring if given the opportunity,” added Genia, who started just one of this season’s four Rugby Championship games but got the nod in Australia’s recent 34-15 win over Samoa in their last Test.

“The main difference is when you start the game you can build into it. When you come off the bench you want to bring energy and bring impact into the game, but you don’t want to be trying to do too much.”

Genia, who has won 105 Australia caps and is set to bring the curtain down on an illustrious Wallabies career in Japan, joked that flyhalf Bernard Foley could even get a run-out ahead of him as an emergency scrumhalf.

“He’s been feeding the scrum, practicing his passing,” said the Rebels star.

“If the worst comes to the worst we have got that cute little thing playing halfback as well.”

But Genia tipped Australia to benefit from the competition between himself and White, the other specialist scrumhalf in Michael Cheika’s squad.

“We bounce ideas off each other as to how we can get better or what we would do in this situation,” said Genia, a veteran of Australia’s 2011 and 2015 World Cup campaigns.

“He’s pretty loud and pretty out there, I’m a pretty laidback sort of guy.”

Australia will be expected to join Wales in the knockout stage from Pool D, which also involves Uruguay and Georgia, but treble-chasing New Zealand, England and South Africa are among the teams tipped ahead of them to win the World Cup. –

Odawara

The main difference is when you start the game you can build into it.

Will Genia Wallaby scrumhalf