When the Wallabies were given two days 'R and R' away from Rugby World Cup duty in France this week there were options aplenty.

Many headed to Barcelona together, others frolicked at St Tropez on the French coast, a group went to nearby Carcassonne, while some stayed in the teams' pleasant base city Montpellier with wives and girlfriends.

Just one went his own way.

Australian rugby's new star Berrick Barnes grabbed his backpack and caught the TGV fast train from the south of France north to check out the sights of Paris.

The day after playing what some are hailing as the best starting Test debut by an Australian in the 32-20 triumph over Wales before a 71,000 crowd in Cardiff, the 21-year-old could have been forgiven for basking a little in the headlines and excitement.

But there he was, off on his own, just another young traveller keen to make the most of an overseas adventure.

"I just went up by myself and stayed with one of the locals up there and they showed me around and did a bit of sightseeing," Barnes said.

"I went to the Montmartre, Notre Dame, Champs-Elysees and cruised the Seine. It's great, I love it.

"I really enjoy the French culture, they know how to live."

Barnes can't get enough of travel and the opportunity to see other countries was a big factor when he switched codes from rugby league in late 2005.

"It's the friends you make and the things you see. I think travelling shapes who you are as a person and gives you a more worldly view of things," said Barnes, who hails from Kingaroy in Queensland.

The youngster's enthusiasm and zest for life has impressed seasoned teammates.

"I sit directly opposite from him on the team bus and you see him waving to everyone and he turns around and gives you this kid smile and says 'how good's this!'," said fullback Chris Latham.

"That's what you want out of rugby. So much you read and hear, all the crap that goes on in rugby and everything that comes with it.

"At the end of the day, these things that I see in Berrick are why I started to play and why I do play.

"It's good to see in a young kid that he has that excitement and it's only the simple little things; French people waving to you when your on a bus, and he gets enjoyment."

But while Barnes left Australia as a "happy-go-lucky" World Cup tourist, the last man picked in the 30-man squad, his trip has taken a dramatically more serious turn since key playmaker Steve Larkham went down on the eve of the Wales Test and later underwent knee surgery.

Larkham's confident he'll be 100 per cent for the quarter-finals but the apprentice knows he'll have to fill the five eighth hot seat until then and maybe even longer.

Coach John Connolly has revealed Larkham is no certainty to retain the No.10 jersey as Barnes has his own strengths, including a better boot and a radar-like drop kick.

It's been an amazing turnaround in fortunes for the former Brisbane Broncos player, probably the lowest paid Wallaby in France.

Barnes missed out on the Wallabies extended Tri-Nations squad earlier this year after a frustrating Super 14 season at five eighth and inside centre for the besieged Queensland Reds.

With the likes of whiz-kids Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper coming through, he also seemed set to be usurped as a potential successor to Larkham who departs the international scene after the World Cup.

At one stage, the rumour mill had Barnes returning to the NRL after clashing with Reds coach Eddie Jones.

The blow-up was confirmed but Barnes told AAP he never had thoughts of backing out of his three-year Queensland deal.

At the time, he never dreamed of playing for Australia at the World Cup.

"I thought I'd be playing in the Brisbane club comp mate or the ARC (Australian Rugby Championship," he said.

"To get here was a bonus and to play a couple of games is even more of a bonus."

Although he and Jones had their differences, Barnes won't join the chorus of people bagging the former Wallabies coach.

Barnes has taken on board the determination and dedication the workaholic Jones instilled.

Jones also stressed the importance of an improved kicking game which Barnes has honed under from Springboks five eighth Gerald Bosch.

Like England's Jonny Wilkinson, he wouldn't even let Christmas Day stop his kicking practice last summer.

Wilkinson is among a number of world-class five-eighths Barnes has studied, including Grant Fox, Michael Lynagh and the audacious Carlos Spencer.

"But for me, coming from league, I look to Bernie (Larkham) because he has that great running game," he said. "If I could even be half as good at that, that would be great.

"My key for me is my kicking game, if I can get that up to par and up to standard, hopefully I can go from there."

A schoolboy star in cricket, rugby and league, all three sports chased the 17-year-old hard before he chose to link with the Broncos.

When he crossed codes after two seasons and nine NRL matches, Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett said the club let him go to "get rugby out of his system".

Bennett, in his wily way, confidently predicted Barnes would be back at Red Hill.

"I still don't think there's anything to say against that now," Barnes admitted.

"I don't know where I'll be in two years when this Reds contract finishes.

"But while I'd never rule it out, it's also hard to go back on something you've started as well, so we'll see."

With that job now seemingly set to involve succeeding Larkham, Barnes may want to pack a big bag because it's a journey that might take a while.

AAP