Alexander hungry for Wallabies recall

Editor

Wallabies prop Ben Alexander wants to get back into the Test set-up after his shock omission from Michael Cheika's 2015 World Cup squad.

The veteran front-rower will have to battle it out with Ruan Smith and rookie Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin for the tighthead spot this season, and knows that he has to deliver on the Super Rugby stage if he wants to put his hand up for Wallabies selection again.

Fellow Brumbies prop Leuluaialii-Makin believes that Alexander's shock World Cup-exclusion serves as motivation for him to make a statement in the Super Rugby competition.

"You can see it in his eyes, he wants to do the best he can and get back into the international mix," Leuluaialii-Makin told WA Today.

"You can see the results in his strength and flex, his whole game has improved through hard work in the pre-season.

"I've seen it, everyone at the Brumbies has seen it, it's time for everyone else to see it on the Super Rugby stage."

Leuluaialii-Makin also believes that the Brumbies' wealth of options at tighthead can help Alexander, who is in his first full pre-season since 2008, and the rest of the candidates perform at their best.

"Benny A is pushing the boundaries and it's helping us all as a whole, we're all pushing that," he added.

"There's healthy competition … it's weird at first [trying to take someone's spot] but at the end of the day you've got to have that competitive edge.

"We're still brothers when we come out of it."