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With the untimely and cruel injury to Christian Lealiifano, the high flying Brumbies are in need of a fly half to steer them to and through the finals series. Who will it be?
The biggest selection issue in the 2012 season.
I have assembled list of players who might be able to fill the role. Where possible, I will include their current contractual and medical status.
The job specification includes the ability to kick goals and get backlines and the individual players running on to the ball and going forward without being predictable, and in an environment that is much faster than their current competition.
Breaking the line in their own right is a bonus.
The first place to look is the current squad. With Toomua already gone for the season, Cam Crawford, Zac Holmes and Robbie Coleman are on the books.
Crawford has been injured and didn’t play last week, although he did replace the kicking machine for the half-time entertainment.
He put up the Garry Owens for the mugs to catch, mostly very poorly.
Zac Holmes, at 22, and with a strong Sevens pedigree, could be a possible replacement.
Holmes is listed as a centre on the Brumbies website but I have seen him going around at 10 for the Northern Suburbs team in the Shute Shield.
Robbie Coleman has been all over the shop since a scintillating debut last year. He has played both 12 and 15. I am unsure as to whether he can play 10.
Now it gets interesting. The Shute Shield can offer the wonderfully subtle Eastwood fly half, Pierre Hola, Dan Kelly at Sydney University, youngster Angus Sinclair from Easts and Manly’s club hopping Marshal Milroy.
For me, of the Shute Shield applicants, it is either Kelly or Hola. They are very different players. I would prefer Kelly as he is the more predictable player who could get the players around him on the move.
However, if Hola could tank down his flamboyance, he could be a better choice. But if last Saturday’s game against Easts was his rehearsal, he has no chance.
He was uncharacteristically random. Also he picked up a possibly serious injury that was initially diagnosed as a torn pectoral muscle.
Hola is qualified to play for Tonga or Samoa and so he may not be available as a local player.
Other sources include the academy players but they are relatively out of sight for us mere mortals. The Brisbane competition could also have some talent that could be suitable.
Overall, there is no experienced, obvious or direct replacement for Lealiifano, particularly when he was in the form of his life and had a Wallabies jersey on the horizon.
The final selection will have to balance the benefits of a player already training with the squad who knows the Brumbies play book and a player who can get the ball into the hands of the right player quickly and accurately.
Goal-kicking is also a major consideration.
But a decision needs to be made quickly so that the bye week can be used to bring the newbie up to speed on plays and the playing style.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.