Phil Waugh has vowed to make up for lost time after being recalled for the Wallabies' crunch match with Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

The veteran flanker admits he wasn't the happiest camper when left stranded on the reserves' bench against England two weeks ago and then - worse still - dropped altogether for last Saturday's win over France.

"You want to be out there playing, particularly in the big Test matches," Waugh said on Tuesday.

"England at Twickenham, France in Paris; big Test matches.

"I've been training hard but as a footballer you want to be playing not training.

"This week is my opportunity and the Welsh at Millennium Stadium is a big challenge. Hopefully I can go well."

Apart from the Eddie Jones era, when the former Wallabies coach regularly played Waugh and George Smith in together in the back row, the two champion opensides have duelled for the one spot for much of their careers.

But when Robbie Deans opted for 20-year-old David Pocock - a rich talent already being touted as a future Wallabies captain - as Smith's back-up at Twickenham, the writing looked on the wall for Waugh.

Deans has introduced 13 newcomers to the Wallabies fold since taking the helm in June, with an injection of youth a most conspicuous factor in the cycle change.

Deans, though, said Waugh remains very much in the back-row pecking order.

"This is his second start for us (this tour). George has had three and it's just a reflection of the reality of the load," Deans said.

"It's also a reflection of the fact that he's a bloke that we rate and respect as a rugby player. If we didn't believe in his ability, we wouldn't be throwing him the rope."

Ever the team man, Waugh said it was important when he was overlooked for the French Test that he contained his frustrations and continued playing his part in the ongoing development of the new-age Wallabies.

"I felt a bit old. I'm 29. I'm getting on," he said.

"I guess that's the way Robbie's done things this year. He's interchanged guys and given everyone opportunities.

"It's good for Poey (Pocock) to get exposure at international level. Unfortunately, he did get on but he's in that situation in preparing for that Test.

"I think it's about working with those guys rather than fighting against them all the time.

"But I'm just pleased to get the opportunity this week."

Waugh captained the Wallabies to a 29-29 draw in the corresponding fixture on the 2006 spring tour.

"My enduring memory of that game is that we started extremely well and then fell away," he recalled ahead of his 77th Test, the ninth-highest tally in Wallabies history.

"Looking at the Welsh's performance over the last couple of weeks against the Springboks and All Blacks, it's going to be important to again start well. Hopefully we can do that.

"It's another big Test match and the Welsh are obviously in good form so it's important that we finish the Test matches for the year on a high and come through the UK unbeaten for the first time since 1996.

"It's important in that sense."

AAP