Wallabies coach Robbie Deans could be facing his toughest tour after changing his skipper and bringing in a number of new players, which is believed to have caused unhappiness among many of the senior players in the camp.

The next fortnight is shaping as critical to ensuring Australia are able to embark on their historic grand slam tour free of internal dissent after reports of a split in the Wallaby camp surfaced after Deans' Australia squad announcement.

Senior players were surprised that ace pivot Matt Giteau was overlooked as the Wallabies vice-captain and that the he was not told before that Berrick Barnes was named as Rocky Elsom's deputy last Friday.

There's also not many senior players left in the Wallabies ranks these days, not after three more survivors of the 2003 World Cup final, Al Baxter, Nathan Sharpe and Phil Waugh fell by the wayside. With their departure, Deans-created Wallabies now outnumber those introduced to international rugby by his predecessors John Connolly, Eddie Jones and Rod Macqueen, 18 players to 17.

Elsom was named as the 76th Australian captain, replacing long-time skipper Stirling Mortlock and caretaker George Smith. However, Giteau's leadership snub is believed to be the major issue with senior players.

A Wallaby insider told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper a number of players believed Giteau deserved to at least be ''sounded out'' for a new leadership position before any decision was made.

''He didn't get sounded out. It was a bit of a kick in the face for a bloke who has put in for that jersey for a while,'' the insider told the Herald.

''They could have at least acknowledged to him that they were going for someone else. If I was Matt Giteau, I would be disappointed.

''It doesn't augur well for your team when the bloke who touches the footy the most is not too happy about what's going on. I think he has more of an assertive presence on the field than a Berrick Barnes. Ask anyone in the team, that's what Gits does well. He's been there and everyone listens.''

Giteau has been passed over for the captaincy and vice-captaincy - which went instead to Barnes, four years and 52 Tests his junior - but Deans stressed Giteau would still play a key leadership role in the team.

There has also been speculation that Deans may switch Giteau with Barnes from flyhalve to inside-centre and Giteau is understood to be upset about that and may reconsider his playing future in Australia.

Asked if Giteau was disappointed to miss out, Deans said: ''I've got no idea, I haven't had that conversation with him yet. I hope not, because it's about the team and how the team functions and Matt already has a huge leadership role within the team. You can argue that what we ask of him is greater.''

The Wallabies will assemble in Coogee for another camp this week before leaving Australia on October 24 to prepare for their clash with the All Blacks in Tokyo on October 31.