SCRUMMAGING - there’s no secret it’s Australian rugby’s main stumbling block, but Kinross Wolaroi School first XV skipper Cody Walker is bucking the trend.

Thanks to a sterling performance at scrum-time during last week’s Australian Schools Rugby Championships, Walker - playing loosehead prop for NSW (2) - was named in the 2015 Australian Schools side.

“It’s overwhelming. I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” the 17-year-old said.

“I’d sat down and set my goals, and [Australian selection] was definitely one of them.”

Despite NSW (2) finishing fourth with two wins from its four games, Walker, tighthead prop Will McCrae and hooker Jack Nettleton were nigh on unstoppable at the set-piece, monstering almost every other scrum which came before them.

So much so, Walker will be joined by McCrae in the Australian side, while Nettleton was named in the Barbarians XV - essentially Australia’s second string side.

“Our scrum was very strong throughout the entire tournament,” Walker said.

“Having those guys beside me helped a lot. But still, playing for NSW (2) and placing fourth, I thought any chance I had of getting picked in the top side was gone.

“I thought I might have still been a chance to get picked in the Barbarians team, but I guess I did enough.”

VIDEO: Action from the Australian Schools Rugby Championships:

The Australian Schools squad will come together later in the year for a week-long camp, before taking on the Barbarians, Samoan Schools and New Zealand Schools in a four nation style tournament at Brisbane in September.

“There’s a lot of training individually between now and then, so I’ll be putting in a lot of hard work,” Walker explained.

“Then we face Samoan and New Zealand Schools. I’ve never faced a haka, so that will be interesting. Other than that, I just want to do a good job representing my country, and beat New Zealand.”

NSW (2) was beaten soundly by QLD (2) in last week’s semi-final, going down 22-12. Prior to that, NSW (2) defeated Combined States (45-17) and ACT (27-19) - a game Walker scored a try in - but lost out to QLD (1) 20-nil. NSW (1) downed QLD (1) in the final 22-20.

Orange product James Donato, now playing all his rugby in Bathurst, also represented NSW (2), playing openside flanker and performing with aplomb.

“I thought he did a really good job. Actually, I thought he’d be a real chance at selection,” Walker said.

“Unfortunately, I think being a No.7, it’s the hardest position on the field, he was up against some stiff competition. He was unlucky really I think.”