World Cup-winning skipper Nick Farr-Jones has added insult to more injuries for the Wallabies by blasting their forwards for a lack of mongrel.

The 63-Test former halfback said the Wallabies pack needed a "kick up the a***" for failing to put the fear of God into opponents, on a day fullback Chris Latham was ruled out of the final Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks.

The extra anguish of losing Latham during Australia's worst-ever injury crisis has been off-set by encouraging reports on fellow key backs Matt Giteau and Clyde Rathbone.

Latham's scratching with a lingering hamstring strain takes the number of sidelined Wallabies squad members to 14.

The injury woes, on top of four straight losses, mean NSW duo Alex Kanaar and Lachlan MacKay are set to gain their first Test caps if they defy current trends and stay fit for the September 3 match.

Inside back MacKay and lock Kanaar were among four new faces drafted into a 28-man squad, along with prop David Fitter and Queensland centre and potential bolter Lloyd Johansson.

As expected, lineout target Dan Vickerman was left out of the extended squad after it was confirmed he would undergo shoulder surgery.

Farr-Jones, who held aloft the Webb Ellis Trophy in 1991, added a new twist on the debate surrounding the worth of current captain George Gregan by sinking the boot into his influential teammates up front.

"If I was the scrum half playing behind those guys I'd give them a good kick up the arse," he told reporters.

"There's not one guy in that pack putting the fear of God into anyone and that's the problem."

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