STEPHEN HOILES, the new Wallabies No.8, is not going to mess up this chance. Frustrated that he hasn't taken his opportunities in the past, Hoiles wants to convince Wallabies selectors he is not just a dogsbody, but a viable international starter.

Hoiles gets his starting XV opportunity in tomorrow night's second Test against France in Brisbane after Wycliff Palu withdrew with a shoulder complaint.

The 26-year-old's Test career has been very much stop-start, as shown by his coming off the bench in 13 of 15 Test appearances.

Hoiles began in glory in 2004 after a spectacular midweek performance in Paris prompted Test selection in Glasgow.

But he has stalled since then, especially during the John Connolly days when Hoiles was advised to add to his bulk. This prompted some in the previous Wallabies regime to think he was too slight to be a top No.8, despite his excellent mobility and ball skills.

Hoiles has been regarded as the next best to Palu but wants to change that, telling the Herald yesterday he has only himself to blame for sliding down the pecking order.

"Wycliff had a great Super 14 season and deserved his spot, and I also thought I was pretty disappointing in the tournament, especially in the mid part of it," Hoiles said. "In all honestly, I'm not even thinking about making the Tri Nations squad. Basically, there's no next week for me. I've just got to play this week, and play as well as I can."

Hoiles, who joined the ACT-based team from the Waratahs for the 2007 season, said his greatest problem this past Super 14 season was not properly grasping the role of being a senior player with the Brumbies. He believes he did not fulfil all his responsibilities.

"I thought I started well, but then was a bit guilty of not doing the dirty work," he said. "The Brumbies did struggle in the mid part of the year, and personally being regarded as a senior player down there, I don't think I stood up well enough during that period. By the time we got back … it was a bit too late.

"My work-rate wasn't high enough, and I was probably guilty of the bigger, flashier plays, which worked earlier in the competition.

"When we played a couple of Kiwi sides - the Chiefs and the Hurricanes in particular - they played quite hard on the ball and as a side we also probably made the mistake of playing the old rules."

Hoiles conceded the Brumbies were one of the few Super 14 teams clearly befuddled by the experimental law variations.

"We had a lot of injuries as well, and probably the best side of the season was how the young guys stood up," Hoiles said. "But in hindsight it was a bit disappointing that the other guys couldn't stand up and be consistent for 13-14 weeks. It was more of an attitude thing."

But life has suddenly lifted for Hoiles. "I get a chance now. You put the pressure on yourself in every Test to perform and I haven't had too many opportunities like this one," Hoiles said.

"So I'm excited about it. It's funny how things work out. In all honesty, it is disappointing I've got here because of an injury. I would have liked to have played my way into the starting side from the Super 14. But I've only got myself to blame for that, and now there's a chance to make up for that frustration."