CAPE TOWN: He will be one of the lightest front-rowers in Super Rugby and has shed 20 kilograms, but scrum expert Dan Palmer is confident he can "fill the gap" if he needs to answer a shock SOS from the ACT Brumbies.
Former Wallaby Palmer has been lured out of retirement to join the Brumbies for their two-game tour of South Africa as a back-up prop.
But after quitting the game last year because of a lack of passion, the 27-year-old insists his comeback is only temporary and shutdown any talk that he's restarting his career.
Palmer walked away from a promising career as a tighthead prop last year to pursue a university degree.
He finished his career in France at 117 kilograms, but dropped down to 97 kilograms when he returned to Australia.
"I'm back up to 100 kilograms and my playing weight in Super Rugby was 110 kilograms, so I'm not that light," Palmer said.
"I don't particularly [have the passion back], this is not me trying to restart my career. I'm not trying to get a playing contract.
"This is me filling the gap for the team that needs to be filled at the moment. I have no interest in taking a contract off anyone else, I'm not going to become a player again. This just has to happen at this time."
Palmer was regarded as one of the best technical tighthead props in Australian rugby before he moved to France.
He retired after battling a persistent foot injury and losing his passion to keep playing.
The Brumbies hired him as a scrum coach because of his immense knowledge of the set piece, and that will be his primary role leading into games against the Cape Town Stormers and Johannesburg Lions.
But with Scott Sio and Les Makin out injured, Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham convinced Palmer to take a chance on the field.
It could see him packing down against Oliver Kebble or Frans Malherbe, who weigh in at 124 and 122 kilograms respectively.
"It's a challenge more so than exciting. Generally when you go into these games, you go in knowing you're fully prepared," Palmer said.
"I'm not necessarily in that category this time. It's a big challenge, but if I'm called upon I think I can manage."
Palmer will spend his spare time locked in his hotel room as he races to finish university assessments after taking on a double science and psychology degree last year.
Most retired front-rowers tend to blow out and put on extra weight when they cut back on their training duties.
Palmer went the other way and admitted he was stunned when Larkham asked him to pull on the boots again.
"I do miss the mateship, but I don't really miss playing or training that much," Palmer said.
"I've got other things on my plate at the moment that are consuming me and I'm more than happy with my uni work and coaching.
"Playing doesn't really come on to the radar. No way did I think I would be here now, but who's to say where I will be in another 12 month's time.
"I'm here [in South Africa] as predominantly a coach and I'll cover the fifth prop position worst-case scenario."
The Brumbies forwards have no concerns about Palmer's ability, backing his light frame to still cause problems for opposition scrums if he's called on.
"There's no doubt he could step in, we've done some weights and he's still as strong as he was when he played," said Wallabies veteran Ben Alexander.
"It's been less than 12 months since he played, no doubt he could do the job.
"It's great to have him along, his expert advice and leadership will be massive because we're up against the best scrum in the competition this week."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 13
Sunday: Cape Town Stormers v ACT Brumbies at Newlands, 1.05am (AEST). TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2
