Wallabies captain Michael Hooper says head coach Michael Cheika has created an environment in which nobody’s place is safe, forcing players to step up to the challenge.

Cheika’s 34-man squad for the Spring Tour has seen the likes of Will Genia and Quade Cooper vying for the starting halves partnership with Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps.

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Kurtley Beale’s versatility has seen him recalled to the squad this week alongside Jake Schatz and the competition created is one that Hooper hopes to be able to carry into next year.

“There is an abundance of guys over here and at home who will all be putting up their hand, not only the next two weeks but come next year throughout the Super season and into the World Cup preparation,” he said.

Kurtley Beale is back in favour. Photo: Getty

“You have got to keep on your game or else your spot is up there for grabs and I guess a change that Cheiks has brought in is that no-one’s spot is safe.

“Everyone has got to be playing hard, training hard first of all and then if you are doing that it should relate to a good performance at the weekend.”

The competitiveness has also come across in training where Hooper picked up a black eye on Monday in a controlled drill.

The hands-on approach by Cheika has been embraced by the players who are keen to work together to put right the wrongs in their performance against France.

“It was friendly fire. I’m not going to say (who it was) but it was friendly fire in a nice relaxed controlled drill and I ended up with a shiner,” he said.

“It was a complete accident but I guess [it’s an indication of how hard guys are pushing].”

The Australian scrum has been been a weakness in recent times and the challenge of the European scrum is one Hooper is relishing.

“Knowing that you come over here and the scrum’s such a focus for teams, you’ve got to be on your game,” he said.

“It’s a thing that’s, again, been inconsistent for us this year. Last week was good for 60 minutes and then fell off at the back end.

“We’re always chasing a complete performance in the scrum and I think the boys and myself are really enjoying trying to get that better, and try to get it to be a real weapon for us.

“Because you can’t be competitive over here this time of year or coming into next year without a scrum.”