Wallaby selectors may have to be creative when it comes to choosing their second row contingent for the coming tour of Japan and the United Kingdom after the tallest and most experienced tree in their diminishing second row forest was chopped down.

Lock Nathan Sharpe was on Thursday ruled out of the tour and booked in for shoulder surgery.

He could be sidelined for between three and six months.

Western Force skipper Sharpe initially suffered the injury in a Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand in Sydney in late August.

Sharpe's forced withdrawal has left the Wallabies dangerously low in their stock of experienced specialist locks.

James Horwill and Mark Chisholm filled the lock spots for the last three Tri Nations Tests with Dean Mumm backing them up off the bench. Injuries had previously denied Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and his fellow selectors a number of other potential contenders including Test rookie Peter Kimlin of the Brumbies, Waratah Will Caldwell and Western Force youngsters Sam Wykes and Tom Hockings.

"It's obviously an area where we are not over endowed in depth, so it (Sharpe's withdrawal) is a blow," Deans told reporters following an intra-squad hitout in Sydney on Thursday.

"Historically, he (Sharpe) has always played well in the UK.

"It would have been nice to have him there, but it's an opportunity for someone new."

The Sydney University duo of Dave Dennis and Ben McCalman were called into the initial tour training squad of 43.

The two players have bolter stamped all over them, but at 192cm each they are probably more suited to the back row as they lack the presence two metre Sharpe.

With a dearth of specialist locks available, Deans acknowledged he may need to call upon some back rowers to step into the second row.

"If we get injuries in the near future, some of those players will have to potentially step in and cover that area," Deans said.

"But they showed today they are capable of that.

"The good thing is they've got a background, not only in terms of preparation, but also in a game.

"So if they are called on, they will be better for it."

Deans said he was happy with how the other second row contenders performed in the trial but would go back and look at the footage.

"But it's evident there was a fair amount of work being done around the ball, so those boys are in there," he said.

"There were some blokes who we haven't seen before, who did some good things".

Sharpe 31, has played 79 Tests, more than the combined tally of all the other second rowers in the squad.

"I had a period from when I injured it to this camp to try and get it right and it's just not improving," Sharpe told AAP on Thursday.

"The surgeon will get in there and have a look at it and he will assess what he needs to do.

"The problem I have at the moment is my tendon is coming out of its groove."

Uncapped winner Nick Cummins was also ruled out of the tour with a foot ligament injury he suffered earlier in the week.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP