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Rightfully regarded as a cool, calm, collected and calculating selector, Ewen McKenzie has made two uncharacteristic selection blunders in his first four games as Wallaby coach.
The first was dumping veteran prop Benn Robinson, recognised as one of the best ‘loosies’ in world rugby.
That shock was before McKenzie’s first international. In those four games, the Wallaby scrum in the main has been pushed around the park, and in many cases monstered.
Whatever McKenzie found guilty in Robinson, which remains a mystery, the coach has paroled him to clash with the Springboks and Pumas, on the tough road trip over the next three weeks.
The second blunder, a triple, was injured skipper James Horwill regaining a berth in the 28-man squad yesterday.
Firstly, there’s only a 70-30 chance Horwill’s hamstring strain will be right to play, secondly, he regained the captaincy when it should have been left in the very capable hands of first-timer Ben Mowen, and thirdly, if Horwill tours and doesn’t play, he will undermine Mowen’s authority among his troops.
Bad calls from the coach.
And two more with the axing of flanker Liam Gill and prop Scott Sio, two outstanding young prospects.
No Gill means no cover for Michael Hooper, inexcusable, while Sio is on the threshold of a very long and successful Wallaby career.
Forget both are on standby, that’s OK for a quick trip to Cape Town, but getting to Rosario is a very timely trek.
On the McKenzie credit side, the selections of Bernard Foley, Chris Feauai-Sautia, and Joe Tomane give the backline replacements plenty of depth.
Foley is a class goal-kicker and can play anywhere bar halfback, Feauai-Sautia adds speed to the wing and he can play at outside centre as well, and much the same with Tomane, who’s solid and fleet-footed.
Add Albert Anae to the pack, where he can either prop or hook, and the squad is starting to get an all-round look about it. Greater depth.
What I find interesting is the ages of the squad, with 17 of the 28 ranging between 19 and 25.
Feauai-Sautia is the baby of the team at 19, Hooper is 21, and Tevita Kuridrani 22.
There are five aged 23 – Nic White, Matt Toomua, Foley, James O’Connor and Tomane. Five more are 24 – Israel Folau, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Anae and Kane Douglas. Four are aged 25 – Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, and Ben McCalman.
That’s a very healthy sign, and while they are going through the learning process, there will be times when they slip up.
But that doesn’t excuse lacking in fundamentals, nor does it need selection blunders to magnify any teething problems.
The next two games will be genuine litmus tests, with all chances of making a noise in the Rugby Championship long gone.
These two games are for pride and passion for country and the jersey alone.
Let’s have plenty of both very visible.