Waratahs utility Dylan Pietsch is preparing for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season that kicks off next weekend to push his case for an inaugural Test match this year.

How close Pietsch came to debuting last year was reiterated when vision from streaming service Stan's World Cup documentary: The Wallabies – Inside Rugby World Cup 2023 was launched this week.

National Indigenous Times revealed last year that Pietsch was given instructions to pack his bags from former coach Eddie Jones while on a Barbarians Tour throughout England and Wales in the midst of the World Cup in France in preparation to replace injured talent Max Jorgensen.

When contacted last October, the Wiradjuri star told National Indigenous Times he was not able to speak directly about the former Wallabies coach's decision.

But Jones changed his mind within a day and Pietsch was left abandoned in Bristol, scratching his head.

"No one is supposed to know yet," Pietsch said in September last year.

Nearly five months on and looking to impress a new Wallabies coach, the 25-year-old spoke without restriction to Nine media for the launch of the World Cup documentary.

"It was a weird period. It was a yes, then a no. I went from a high to a low. I was straight off the bus, called the family and packed my bags straight away," he said.

Pietsch was told by Wallabies authorities later on to wait until after the result of the crucial Wales game. They lost two days later, and inclusion for the final pool game was all but gone.

The Wallabies needed Portugal to beat Fiji by seven points or more for Australia to qualify for the quarter finals. Portugal did win, but only by a point. The Wallabies players flew home immediately. Pietsch didn't.

"They (had) said they'd wait until after the Wales game to decide," he said.

Jones did not ring back the next day. On the team bus, Pietsch, who was congratulated by his Barbarian teammates after finding out, most of whom were Australians, answered his phone to a call from Wallabies team manager Chris Webb, who said not to bother coming over now.

The uncapped Jorgensen never was replaced in the end either.

The year had been exciting but also frustrating for the openside flanker-turn-winger.

"Being in the squad before the World Cup, the boys were training so hard," Pietsch said.

"I've never seen such an intensity and workload. For that to not come to fruition was pretty sad."

He spent the whole season in the Wallabies training squad and once was considered a strong chance inside the camp to play South Africa in the first Test of the winter after boarding the touring group's flight to Pretoria.

Even after early World Cup losses, after witnessing Pietsch score twice for Australia A in a final warm-up for Portugal, Jones seemed oblivious to history as his eager player eyed off being named the 15th Indigenous man to represent the national rugby side.

It had been a decade since a Blackfella was capped for the Wallabies.

"Obviously I didn't get a chance to play (Tests before the World Cup), so I was like, 'If I make it, I make it'," Pietsch said in regards to making the World Cup squad.

"I was pretty confident and all the chats I had with Eddie were positive. He was really excited for me to be playing international rugby and be at that level.

"Obviously what happened, happened. It is what it is. There were plenty of world-class wingers in there, too."

In the final call, he was one of the handful of Australian reserves playing in Europe before and during the World Cup tournament.

Pietsch's time is said to be emblematic of the environment within the Wallabies camp during Jones's reign and ahead of the Stan documentary that will be aired on February 22.

But now Pietsch has moved on – as has Jones to lead Japan's national side, again – and the most accomplished Leeton Phantoms junior in their history is hoping to impress new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt to earn the New Zealander's confidence that he is worth a punt.

That starts for NSW Waratahs in the season opener away to Queensland Reds.

"The first two years I've been trying to find my way … this year it's all about backing myself really and having fun," Pietsch said.

"My ball-carrying has always been my biggest strength, so it's about mixing that up. A bit of kicking as well. I'm just trying to be more comfortable."