How is it possible to have a 34-year-old rookie and a 20-year-old veteran on an elite Australian sporting team?

Just ask Wallabies James O'Connor and Van Humphries.

At 34, when most elite footballers are being putting out to pasture, uncapped Humphries is the mature aged rookie in the 36-man Australian Spring Tour party.

Conversely, 20-year-old O'Connor is one of the veterans of the squad, despite being its youngest member.

He is already on his third Spring Tour and is in the top third of capped players in the party, with 23 Tests under his belt.

"I'm happy with that (number of caps), Van Humphries is the oldest player and (has) the least amount of caps," O'Connor joked.

Good natured Humphries has amicably and patiently answered numerous questions and remarks about his advanced age for a rookie international footballer.

Even he can see the funny side of the situation.

"I'm unaware of what's ahead of me, it's all new and very exciting, so I'm sure the boys will help me out along the way," Humphries said.

"But I am really a Wallaby rookie, so I'm hoping to change that along the way.

"Whether it's 18 or 34, it's an amazing feeling."

Humphries agreed accumulating club and provincial experience in six different nations would probably enable him to make the transition to international level.

While he is a likely candidate for the two midweek games against English club Leicester and Irish province Munster, he still aspired to make the 22 for at least one of the five Tests.

Humphries flew out from Sydney with the Wallabies last Saturday, just one week after his girlfriend, squash player Donna Urquhart won a women's doubles bronze medal at the recent Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Despite his rookie status, Humphries was the least eligible player in the squad to be lumbered with the chore of looking after the team mascot Wally.

That responsibility goes to the youngest player in the squad, who is still O'Connor despite his status as an established starting member of the side.

"I was hoping someone would come through and take him off my hands, but it's an honour to have Wally," O'Connor said.

The baby-faced outside back produced arguably the most memorable line regarding the team mascot when on his first Spring Tour in 2008 he suggested that Wally could turn him into a chick magnet.

He soon learnt the hard way that Wally was a magnet for trouble and cheeky teammates, rather than women.

Forwards Wycliff Palu and Tatafu Polota-Nau kidnapped the mascot and issued a ransom note.

"I think I know a few little tricks now, so hopefully he won't go missing too much.

"Tatafu is not here, same as Cliffy, so that's a big plus.

"I hope the guys are over stealing him off me. My room is safe, so he will spend a lot of time in there."

Now established on the wing after a stint at fullback, O'Connor is a more physically imposing figure than the relatively small teenager who went on his first tour, though noone would mistake him for Tarzan.

"I've had some big improvements in the gym and we're starting to see those on the rugby field", O'Connor said.

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