In regards to his first starting Test appearance, new Wallabies second-rower Dean Mumm could not have been given a more formidable assignment.

Not only does the latest Sydney University Test star have to take over the demanding duties of replacing the injured Nathan Sharpe and conduct the Australian line-out calls, he also has to keep at bay the Caveman - French second-rower Sebastien Chabal. It's a list of duties that would daunt the most experienced of Test campaigners. But for Mumm, who has been involved in only two Tests, both from the bench, they are responsibilities he is relishing.

On the eve of tonight's second Test, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Mumm was vibrant, and clearly not overwhelmed that Wallabies coach Robbie Deans had entrusted line-out calling duties to someone in only his second season of major football. As far as Deans is concerned, Mumm's the word.

Deans said yesterday he had no qualms about piling the responsibilities on to the Waratahs second-rower, whose grandfather, William John Mumm, was a 1949 All Black. "Dean has a background in doing that [line-out calling]," Deans said. "It's not as if we're asking him to do something he's never done, or can't do. He'll be fine."

But the background is not exactly extensive. At the Waratahs, Dan Vickerman has been the main line-out caller. With the Wallabies, it has been Sharpe. The previous time Mumm was the line-out architect was with the Sydney Fleet during last year's Australian Rugby Championships. But this relative inexperience does not worry the 24-year-old.

"This is something I'm really looking forward to, because it is a great responsibility," Mumm said yesterday. "To be able to control one area of the set-piece is a big challenge, but one I'm really looking forward to.

"The past few weeks it had been alluded to me that if Nathan needed to be replaced during a Test, I would be doing the calling. So I've had that in my mind the last two Tests that if need be I would be calling the line-outs. When I was told yesterday, it wasn't a great shock."

Then there's the extra task of taking on the Caveman. Mumm immediately brightened when that name was mentioned.

"I can't wait for that, to be honest," Mumm said. "It's going to be a bit of fun. Obviously he's quite a personality in world rugby. He seems quite a quiet bloke, but he certainly goes well on the field."

Sitting next to Mumm was the injury-shackled but still fiery Queensland forward Hugh McMeniman, who has moved on to the bench because of Sharpe's unavailability. He is another who, having played against France, knows all about Chabal.

"You have to watch out for his aggression, because if he [the Caveman] gets a hold of you in a bad position he'll make the most of it," McMeniman said. "And at the bottom of the ruck he will make the most of it as well."

Yet that is not the only area where Mumm and company believe France will attempt to provoke them.

"There's no doubt that they will have a go at us, and target us up front," Mumm said. "They've got nothing to lose and will throw everything at us. They'll have a real go. So it's up to us to look after our own game, control our set-piece, and see what happens."

Deans is just as cautious. "It's pretty evident that they [France] didn't enjoy the first outing," he said. "They have to get on a plane flight at the end of this one. So they will be physical, aggressive and challenge us. This Test will be different from the first. The French have mixed up their team. They have a sense of annoyance at their first experience. You only have to look at history to see how French teams respond in those circumstances. But we've got motivation of our own. It will be a battle of wills, before being a battle of wits."