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Robbie Deans is an above average international rugby coach yet is now facing a challenge not faced by many others.
During Deans’ tenure he has built a system of positional depth in the Wallabies that is unprecedented.
Before his appointment, never before would Australia have been able to suffer the amount of injuries that we have suffered, and still field a competitive side.
However this positional depth has never truly succeeded at the fly-half position. It has been Quade Cooper then a lot of blank space, then everybody else.
He is the only fly-half specialist with proven international talent in Australia, even though he has never shown international consistency. Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale and James O’Connor can all play the No. 10 role however they all look out of place, and are much more comfortable in the 12 and 15 roles.
The lack of confidence moving forward and erratic decision making from O’Connor showed he is not at his best at fly-half either, which isn’t a disaster.
Given the injury to Lealiafiano, O’Connor should move to inside centre allowing for a Quade Cooper recall.
While his omission was warranted due to poor recent performances in the gold jersey, exacerbated by unbecoming off-field conduct, Cooper’s chemistry with Will Genia, O’Connor and Beale could be the missing link for the Wallabies in the second Test.
Although Cooper isn’t an elite fly-half, or even a great fly-half, at least he is a fly-half.
Toomua is a fantastic player and a future Wallaby but to throw him to the Lions in the second Test could be overwhelming.
There are two sides to the argument though, as having Cooper and Beale on the field at the same time could leave Australia with too much of a defensive disadvantage against the Lions.
Toomua is a fantastic, reliable defender as witnessed by his display against the Lions for the Brumbies.
Either option will have its costs and benefits yet it is vital that Deans selects a specialist fly-half for the role.
Too many times on Saturday night O’Connor visibly was in two minds about what to do in certain situations. He often passed too late when the hole was closed, or pass too early when the defender had not been drawn.
This is because in nearly every situation in the first Test, when getting the ball at first receiver his gut instinct was to run.
His inside centre/fullback senses kick in when O’Connor touches the ball and Australia should utilise those senses by playing him at inside centre.
He doesn’t possess the vision and special awareness that a specialist fly-half has, his abilities are at their best when running off the hip of a playmaker.
After the first Test, all of Australia knows that we can win this series.
Our forwards lay a terrific platform for Will Genia, whose mercurial talent is a bonus for anyone wearing the No. 10 jersey.
However if the Wallabies are to make the next step up in execution for the Second Test, there must be a specialist No. 10 at fly-half; not O’Connor, not Barnes, not Beale.
We need to have our explosive backs playing at the best of their abilities, not trying to become a player that they are not.
Hopefully that is a lesson Deans takes out of the first Test, and makes a priority coming into the next week of training.
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.