Smith: If everyone fell down I’d pull on the jersey

GOLDEN oldie George Smith is available for the Wallabies but only if his name is read out in the team list as “Steven Bradbury”.

The back- row great said yesterday he would never knock back a Wallabies side in need yet doubted it would reach that point for the June Tests or the Bledisloe Cup.

Flanker Smith’s recent form at 36 for the Queensland Reds has been superb with key pilfers, shrewd linkwork and jolts to his tackling.

The romanticised notion of a Wallabies return has even been floated so he adds to his 111- Test career.

Friday night’s must- win clash against Matt Hodgson’s Western Force at Suncorp Stadium is his focus but the inevitable “what if?” question was posed yesterday.

“Look, um ( pause) … the thing with that is I’ll never turn my back on Australia,” Smith said. “I’d never refuse one ( a jersey) if it was under the right circumstances.

“If ( coach) Michael Cheika and the selectors have players who can fill that void I’d rather he pick those sort of players.

“I feel if he’s to develop players in my position ... they deserve the opportunity.”

In- form regular Michael Hooper has the No. 7 jersey for next month’s Tests against Fiji, Scotland and Italy.

It is also a developmental month to find backups because David Pocock is taking a year off and Liam Gill is set up in France.

Versatile Sean McMahon and emerging Force backrow- er Richard Hardwick are hard nuts in the Cheika mould but not specialist opensides.

Chris Alcock ( Brumbies) and Colby Faingaa ( Rebels) are in form yet unsung specialists.

The ranks at No. 7 are thinner than you think.

“If everyone fell down and it was a Steven Bradbury ( situation), I’d be happy to pull on the jersey,” Smith said.