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There is a self-perpetuating myth among some Australian rugby supporters, quite noticeable here on The Roar, that Australia just doesn’t have good enough players to be number one in the rugby union world.
While fickle, defeatist attitudes from ‘supporters’ is nothing new, this mantra is now sadly embraced by the Wallaby coach and has been instilled into the Wallaby players.
The Wallabies no longer believe they are good enough to win. As Wayne Smith put it, “At the moment Australia are beating themselves before they have even run onto the pitch.”
It is far too simplistic when discussing ‘cattle’ to say, “When you compare the All Blacks and the Wallabies you would only get one or two Australian players in a combined starting XV.” The All Blacks play as a team, and players in a good team make those around them appear better – they boost each other’s performance.
What makes a team good is the ability to combine the talent that is available into something that is greater than the sum of their parts. The ‘parts’ available to make up a Wallaby team are of a high enough quality to topple the All Blacks, what is missing is the correct management (ARU and coach) of the team and the application of the team (coach and players) on the field.
I know some of you will be sceptical that the Wallabies have good enough players (and I certainly agree the injury list at the moment contains a lot of the best players and the injury toll should afford the Wallabies some leeway at evaluation time), but I believe we do have the cattle – here is a run-down of forwards at our disposal.
Front Row
Australia actually has three complete front rows that can compete internationally. Holmes-Moore-Palmer are the strongest all-around unit with good scrummaging and high work rate; Robinson-Polota-Nau-Kepu are a slightly stronger set piece unit that offer a reduced work rate (although Robinson has noticeably lost form); and Slipper-Hanson-Ryan are a serviceable front rank with good work around the park.
The fact that looseheads Slipper and Holmes and tightheads Ryan and Kepu both play for the same province is an issue that the ARU and the Wallaby coach should be intervening in, but it doesn’t change the fact the talent is there.
Second Row
Vickerman is retired and Sharpe should be considered retired when discussing the locks, but Simmons-Horwill is a strong locking combination. Horwill led the pick-and-drive statistics for Australian players for weeks after his injury and Simmons is a tailor-made replacement for Sharpe as a lineout forward (I think the Wallabies are yet to lose a throw this year with him on the park).
Douglas and Timani are both big men that have a lot of potential, although lacking in the lineout. Similarly Pyle and Neville are raw but progressing fast. Although pairing one Waratah lock with one Rebel lock produces two decently balanced second rows, I personally believe Timani should play as a ball-carrying number eight instead and would prefer him or Palu to leave the Waratahs to make this happen. Wallace-Harrison and Fardy are both solid journeymen who won’t disappoint if called upon to cover injury at international level.
Back Row
Samo should be considered retired for the purposes of this discussion. The Wallabies have no problems at no.7 with Pocock, Hooper and Gill all international-standard fetchers, whoever adds enough to their game to emulate George Smith or Ritchie McCaw will be the eventual first pick.
At no.6, both Hodgson and Schatz are hard working on-the-ball flankers, who have the ability to shift around the back row to cover 7 or 8 off the bench. Higginbotham is not suited to no.8 but is a good point of difference flanker at blindside; the problem is that his international appearances have always been better off the bench as an impact forward, and his wide ranging game means the rest of the pack has to compensate for his low ruck involvement rate. He is still a good addition to the team but requires proper management and planning to utilise him effectively. Dennis is a decent lineout flanker but doesn’t appear to offer enough at international level.
At no.8, Australia definitely has a problem. Palu is it and he is made of glass. This part of the reason I think Sitaleki Timani should be converted into an eightman. I know there are fans of Lopeti Timani but he is not even close to ready yet, nor is the promising young McCaffrey from the Force. Mowen and McCalman are both journeymen eights who won’t really offer enough at international level but could be used to cover an injury shortage.
While you can’t just throw any combination of these players together and have them work as a forward pack, there are sufficient quality options to be an effective team if selected, trained and managed properly.
It isn’t the cattle. These players are good enough to get the job done.
It is what is being done with the cattle that is the problem with the Wallabies.
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.