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It’s ironic injured captain James Horwill and dropped vice-captain Will Genia, the two leading lights in the Reds Super Rugby victory in 2011, will not be in the Wallaby starting lineup tonight in Perth against the Pumas.
This leaves Brisbane-born Ben Mowen to become the 80th Wallaby captain in 115 years in only his seventh Test.
It’s been a meteoric rise for the 28-year-old back-rower, but one of special significance to the immediate future of the beleaguered men-in-gold.
Mowen has done wonders for the Brumnies since he was appointed skipper at the beginning of last season by coach Jake White, both in their first season.
They clicked, as will Mowen and 10 of tonight’s Brumbies in the 23-man squad for their must win against the Pumas: Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Scott Fardy, Nic White, Christian Leali’ifano and Michael Hooper from last year in the starting lineup, with Scott Sio, Matt Toomia, Jesse Mogg, and Tevita Kuridrani off the bench.
They all know how inspirational Mowen has become, leading from the front.
Horwill wasn’t up to it in the two Tests against the All Blacks, nor was Genia last time out against the Boks.
Having handed out the rightful accolades to the new skipper, Mowen still has to curb the number of penalties he gives away, the only minus on his rugby CV.
In fact, tonight’s entire back-row is guilty, with Hooper and Fardy just as culpable.
Having lost five of their six Tests this campaign, the Wallaby mindset tonight is obviously to break the drought – losing can become just as endemic as winning.
It’s the way the Wallabies have lost that is the greatest concern.
Body language is a dead-set giveaway, and what is making the Wallaby fans so angry. The general consensus is the Wallabies don’t care, and I agree with that.
James O’Connor reckons the Wallabies are hurting, but the body language strongly suggests otherwise.
So too the vast number of fundamental and costly mistakes – the poorly directed passing, the inexcusable handling errors, support players over-running the ball carrier, the aggravating no-look passes finding nobody, plus the growing number of first-time tackles missed and turnovers.
All of them are game and momentum killers, and unbecoming a Wallaby lineup.
There is no excuse for stupidity,
Mowen’s first call tonight will be to revive the visible pride and passion among his troops, which will automatically lift the performance.
I find it mind-boggling a Wallaby lineup has to be reminded of these basics, but that’s sadly the truth.
The Pumas smell blood, and with good reason. They did far better than the Wallabies in their losses against both the All Black and the Boks.
They are a tough uncompromising unit, and unless the Wallabies match that quality, the result is a foregone conclusion.
That’s where Ben Mowen will step up to the plate to begin a long reign as Wallaby captain.
The pride, the passion, and the performance to replace the paltry, the putrid, and the pathetic.
Bring it on Wallabies, the ball is entirely in your court.