Retiring lock Dan Vickerman has urged the Wallabies’ growing army of doubters to keep faith, pointing out they are younger than their perennial tormenters, the world champion All Blacks.
Unable to play since last year’s World Cup semi-final because of a shin stress fracture, Vickerman on Tuesday called time on a playing career that included 63 Tests for Australia.
“The rigours of professional rugby, it (the shin) just didn’t stand up to the load,” Vickerman said.
“I don’t think being six foot eight and 120 kilos has helped that.”
With captain James Horwill ruled out of the entire Rugby Championship due to a hamstring injury and stalwart Nathan Sharpe retiring later this year, Australia is running low on experienced locks.
But Vickerman said the Wallabies were in a good position with emerging locks like the Queensland Reds’ Rob Simmons, NSW Waratahs Kane Douglas and Sitaleki Timani plus Melbourne’s Cadeyrn Neville and Hugh Pyle to back up Horwill.
And Vickerman insisted the Wallabies’ future prospects were bright despite deflating successive losses to New Zealand to start the Rugby Championship.
“I think we’re a young side,” said Vickerman. “There’s not too many guys in our side who are over 25.
“If you look at the All Blacks the majority of their team would be 28 to 32.
“I think all teams that have done well have that time where the younger team needs to play together for a number of seasons.
“Just have faith and it will be good.”
He said the Wallabies needed to find a way to win the breakdowns if they were to beat New Zealand.
“The way the game is going now, the breakdown has almost become another set piece and I think they (New Zealand) are so efficient in their accuracy at the breakdown,” Vickerman said.
“They get front foot ball and I think to beat them you’ve got to meet that collision and win the gain line and we’ve got the guys to do that.”
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.
Six months after the Wallabies’ worst World Cup result, Rugby Australia has announced a $9.2 million deficit from the 2023 season. The Roar can…
In 15 minutes, Tim Ryan didn’t just put a smile on Joe Schmidt’s face, he announced himself to the Australian public by scoring a…
Written off ahead of the weekend in several quarters, the Crusaders have responded with full vengeance after smashing the fourth-placed Rebels 39-0 in an…
Ned Hanigan is one of the in-form forwards in Australian rugby who looks set to finally turn promise into quality on the international stage,…
As calls grow for the entire Rugby Australia board to be overthrown, new chairman Daniel Herbert described the agitators behind the movement as hypocrites…
Three things in the world of rugby have caught my eye this week, and got me thinking very hard about the way forward, and…
