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Fears that winger Digby Ioane has a broken hand and not a fractured thumb is a devastating blow to the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup campaign. Outside of half-back Will Genia, Ioane is the next most dynamic of a dynamic backline that’s looming as the best in the tournament.
Coach Robbie Deans has two options for however long it takes to get Ioane back on the paddock, if at all.
The first option is a straight swap with James O’Connor, benchman against Italy, taking over from Ioane.
The second option is selecting both O’Connor and Drew Mitchell on the wings, moving “Mr Utility” Adam Ashley-Cooper to outside-centre, and benching the desperately unlucky Anthony Faingaa.
Outside centre will be the hot spot on Saturday night with Ireland’s skipper Brian O’Driscoll on duty, rightfully rated one of the all-time great No 13s.
Ashley-Cooper, and Faingaa, are both outstanding defenders, so whichever way Deans decides to go O’Driscoll will have his hands full, especially if he cuts back inside, and there waiting for him will be another rock-solid defender in Pat McCabe.
But the Ioane loss brings the Wallabies back to the field, with the Boks and England struggling, both dodging opening round bullets – and with the All Blacks and France not convincing winners.
One of those five countries will hold aloft “Bill”, but there are injury worries with the Boks, England, and the All Blacks.
Boks coach Peter de Villiers still doesn’t know if he’ll be without champion locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, nor centre Jean de Villiers.
Martin Johnson will be checking on his skipper Lewis Moody, and half-back Richard Wrigglesworth, but he’ll lose nothing with Ben Youngs turning in a blinder from the bench.
Meanwhile, Graham Henry’s still unsure about his tireless back-rower Kieran Read.
While the coaches play chess with their squads, referees and the ball are high among the discussion groups around the RWC table.
Referees have so far dished out 175 penalties in the eight games decided, the bulk in ruck and mauls, often with multiple offenders.
The answer is simple – yellow card the first offender, red card the rest.
The do-gooders will say sending off players ruins the game, but so does a constant stream of penalties – averaging 22 a game, and likely to get worse.
Referees must be in control, and the players will get the message very quickly once one is heading for an early shower. That message will filter through the tournament like a bushfire, and a game of rugby will break out.
It’s still to be determined if the ball is another problem area.
It’s a Gilbert Virtuo ball, exclusively designed for the RWC. The IRB is happy with it, and no doubt the multi-millions of dollars Gilbert paid for the privilege.
But the players are the best judge, and to this point there is a question mark.
So far there have been 102 shots at goal, with just 57 successful – a strike rate of only 56%.
When sharp-shooters in the career 70-75% range like England’s Jonny Wilkinson converts two of eight, Argentina’s Martin Rodriguez two from seven, and to a lesser extent All Black Dan Carter four from six, and Welshman James Hook four from six as well, the ball must be questioned.
On the other side of the coin, Fijian Seremaia Bai landed eight from nine, Wallaby James O’Connor five from seven, and Morne Steyn three from three.
Go figure.
So from here on in, let’s keep an eye on how the penalties are running, and why – and if the Gilbert ball is all it’s cracked up to be.