Adam Ashley-Cooper is a pick for the future, writes Greg Growden in Montpellier.

Wallabies selector Scott Johnson has given Adam Ashley-Cooper a ringing endorsement, saying he has the ability to become a Test rugby great.

The versatility of Ashley-Cooper, who has been the Australian rugby discovery of the past year, will again be put to the test against Canada in Bordeaux on Saturday, after Scott Staniforth was forced out of the line-up late on Thursday because of his continuing shoulder problems.

Staniforth was originally picked at No.12 to accompany Ashley-Cooper, who was selected in his preferred position of outside-centre.

However, Ashley-Cooper will move into No.12 after Staniforth, who hurt his shoulder when the pair accidentally collided late in the 55-12 win over Fiji last Saturday, failed a fitness test shortly before the team left for Bordeaux.

Ashley-Cooper's centre partner will be Lote Tuqiri, with Cameron Shepherd moving from fullback to wing to allow Chris Latham to start at No.15.

Fortunately, Ashley-Cooper is accustomed to switching between spots for the Wallabies, having already had Test appearances this season at fullback, inside- and outside-centre and the wing. After being the form player of the Super 14 for the Brumbies, he then excelled at international level in all four positions, but is most likely to be seen on the wing during World Cup finals time.

For any selector or coach, a player of the ability and versatility of Ashley-Cooper is a rare asset. No wonder Johnson, who doubles as a Wallabies selector and backs coach, is so happy with the 23-year-old's progress.

"Adam has world-class speed, world-class athleticism and world-class presence," Johnson said. "So there's no reason why he can't dominate this international game. All we have to do now is get the best out of him.

"Nonetheless, to do what he has done in playing international football in four different positions is exceptional. It says something about him as a footballer and as a person."

Johnson has been watching Ashley-Cooper for some time. The selector, who lives on the Central Coast, first saw him seven years ago when he was with the Ourimbah Razorbacks - moving to the union club a year earlier because his long-time junior league team had disbanded.

"Adam is a bit of a late bloomer," Johnson said. "As a junior, he was sitting in the cusp of things but didn't really make it. But someone at the ARU saw something in him, and they invested in him pretty heavily, primarily because he had that physical presence. It took a little longer than anyone predicted once he got into the system, but he is now starting to bloom and is a really special player."

One reason he was special, Johnson said, was that he "has a left-handed carry, a left-foot step with a right-handed logic".

"So he's a very unusual player, who has feet, skill and presence. He is just made for international rugby."

He is also the ultimate team man, eager for a challenge.

"We did play him at No.12 at the start of the year. It is not ideal for us because we had told ourselves that we really wanted him to have another go at No.13. But by losing Scott [Staniforth], he has to basically take one for the team.

"So that's three different positions in three weeks. But he has the skills to do that. We have also been trying to find a No.12 who can be a ball-player and a runner, while also having physical presence. He fits that mould, and also played there as a junior. It's not out of the realms of possibility that he will play there in the future."