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Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie made a dramatic double play yesterday in a desperate attempt to motivate his lifeless squad.
Injured incumbent skipper James Horwill didn’t get the job done in the two Tests against the All Blacks, neither did stand-in skipper Will Genia against the Boks, resulting in three losses.
Ben Mowen.
That’s a huge call in only his seventh Test, but the Brumbies captain will run out first against the Pumas next Saturday night in Perth.
Great selection but, in all truth, Brumbies coach Jake White deserves the credit.
He saw leadership qualities in Mowen the Waratahs clearly never saw as they let him go.
Disillusioned, Mowen headed for the capital and thanks to White, he has the (c) after his name come Saturday.
Disillusioned, McKenzie has turned to the quality back-rower to save a sinking ship.
He sees in Mowen someone who will follow McKenzie’s tactics to the letter, crossing the ‘t’s and dotting the ‘i’s.
In the review of last Saturday’s diabolical performance against the Springboks, I wrote Mowen’s stature grows each game, he’s showing captaincy material.
Little did I know it would come to pass inside a week, but Mowen thoroughly deserves the accolades and the honour Horwill, and Genia, didn’t.
There was a McKenzie double play today with the champion halfback as well, who is playing well below par but is still the very best nine in the country.
If McKenzie was going to make an impact with his lifeless side, what better way to ram home the point than by dropping the best player?
Genia’s sacking would have gone through the squad like a large dose of Epsom salts. Many would have been speechless for some time.
“Better pull my finger out,” would have been an instant thought. “If Will can get the flick, anyone can,” would be another.
And there would have been quite a few more unprintable thoughts as well, but all in the right direction.
Fear.
The gravy train has stopped at the station, and the conductor has a large dose of the dirts.
Time to shape up, or ship out. Or more accurately, it’s overtime.
I don’t believe the Wallabies are the fourth-ranked side in the world rankings. Every one of the 36 who have been selected in the six Tests so far have earned their international status.
Where they’ve slipped up, is leaving that hard-earned ability in the shed.
Fellas, this is not the curtain-raiser, it’s the main game. It’s like talking to kids, but these blokes are full-blown internationals wearing that covered gold jersey.
Come Perth, let’s have the pride, the passion, and the performance very visible to make your frustrated fans believe you care.
Or rack off before Ewen McKenzie rattles the cage more permanently.