Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie must retain Ben Mowen as captain when he names his 28-man squad this morning for the travel-killing leg of the Rugby Championship to Newlands and Rosario.
Incumbent skipper James Horwill is no certainty to tour with a suspect hammie, but even if he does board the plane Mowen has proved in one outing he’s the man for the job.
It took Mowen’s inspiration, and coolness, under intense pressure to hold off the Pumas last weekend by a point, when the visitors threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Wallabies.
Mowen was on a hiding to nothing when McKenzie took the plunge; that he grabbed the chance with both hands proved the coach was right.
Mowen’s leadership qualities have been known for sometime, but nobody cared to recognise the former Queensland under-19 and Australian under-21 skipper at the Waratahs.
They sacked him for Rocky Elsom – that’s how out of touch the Waratahs were at the time.
It took Jake White to first give him the nod last season at the Brumbies, and now McKenzie.
Rugby World Cup-winning coach Bobby Dwyer agrees Mowen should stay as captain after his solid performance against the Pumas.
And Dwyer never hands out salutes without one earning them.
So while McKenzie is on a roll of one – time for prop Benn Robinson to be forgiven for whatever he was guilty of, and return to toughen up the weak scrum.
Robinson is match-fit, as he proved last Saturday in the Shute Shield final for Eastwood against Sydney Uni at Concord.
Then what to do with Will Genia?
The reason for Genia’s return is three-fold.
He’s been given his wake-up call by his coach, sitting out the entire 80 minutes against the Pumas.
He’s the one to generate a win through the backline over the Boks at Newlands, not the kicking-only Nic White.
And if, pray not, Mowen is injured, Genia can take on the captaincy role.
What will McKenzie do now Jesse Mogg requires shoulder surgery, and Nick Cummins has a broken hand?
Bernard Foley, and Joe Tomane – Foley because of his utility value, and Tomane with his speed.
And sometime soon, when will Tevita Kuridrani have a run at 12?
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