When Ewen McKenzie took over as Wallabies coach after the Lions tour last year, he inherited Robbie Deans’ squad.
On the last four games of the spring tour, the side recorded consecutive wins. No Wallabies side has won five in a row since 2006, and on Thursday McKenzie set out to correct that failing.
He named a 32-man squad for the first of three Tests against France, kicking off on June 7 at Suncorp.
Gone are Benn Robinson, Ben Mowen the last skipper, Kane Douglas, Liam Gill and Dave Dennis, along with leading contender Hugh Pyle.
I asked the coach if Mowen, Douglas and Pyle were left out because they are heading overseas.
“We must look to the future,” was his reply, which is commendable. But I’m a firm believer in winning the next Test before you think way beyond that.
Douglas has been the form lock of Super Rugby, and it’s pretty shabby treatment of his ‘current’ captain.
Ben Alexamder, Tatafu Polota-Nau. James Horwill, Rob Simmons and Scott Higginbotham are lucky to be there on form. Polota-Nau has played 113 games for the Waratahs and 46 Tests. You would think, if he had any ball sense, that after 159 games of elite rugby he would have his lineout feed down pat.
Wrong. He’s a liability.
Higginbotham has been a loose cannon liability on the field, while Alexander, Horwill, and Simmons have been well below par.
On the plus side, hooker Nathan Charles, locks Will Skelton, Luke Jones, and Sam Carter – all uncapped – are well deserving of recognition.
To show McKenziue is his own man, he has selected three out of their current positions for their franchises.
Kurtley Beale, a centre for the Waratahs and in tremendous form, has been chosen as a fly-half, Matt Toomua, the fly-half for the Brumbies, has been named a centre, and Pat McCabe, a centre for the Brumbies, has been named in the back three.
All very interesting selections to say the least, but to be fair to the coach he did say all selections are flexible.
A captain won’t be named until the squad assembles, but please let it not be Michael Hooper, one of the best flankers in world rugby.
That’s exactly where David Pocock was playing when he was given the well deserved captaincy. But the responsibility affected his greatness on the paddock, and there’s every chance it will do the same for Hooper.
Stephen Moore, an 80-minute player of extreme tenacity, should be the new Wallabies skipper. And he deserves the responsibility.
He’s played 91 Tests, as has Adam Ashley-Cooper, the two sharing the honour of the most capped in the squad.
Ewen McKenzie could do a lot worse than making Ashley-Cooper the vice-captain.
The full Wallabies squad is:
Props
Ben Alexander
Pek Cowan
Sekope Kepu
Scott Sio
James Slipper
Hookers
Nathan Charles
Stephen Moore
Tatafu Polota-Nau
Locks
Sam Carter
James Horwill
Luke Jones
Rob Simmons
Will Skelton
Backrow
Scott Frady
Scott Higginbotham
Matt Hodgson
Michael Hooper
Ben McCalman
Wycliff Palu
Scrum-halves
Will Genia
Nick Phipps
Nic White
Fly-halves
Kurtley Beale
Bernard Foley
Centres
Christian Leali’ifano
Tevita Kuridrani
Matt Toomua
Back Three
Adam Ashley-Cooper
Nick Cummins
Israel Folau
Rob Horne
Pat McCabe
Nigel Imrie
Guest
TPN is definitely past his best, way past it I believe and the inclusion of Charles is testament to that. On the exclusion of those heading overseas, a great call by Link, we need to establish systems and combinations now!!!
Toomuaforpresident
Guest
Beale is also back up 15 i rekon
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Beale DOESNT always yell at team mates when he stuffs up and I dont care if you are Tahs supporter, it is a lie.
Zulu
Guest
Uncle and Brett, Sideways thinking for Captain - James Slipper. A sort of chip off the block so to speak :-) . Personally I'd prefer him at TH and Sio at loose with Smith and Longbottom backing them up!
Al
Guest
Beale does yell at his team mates when he stuffs up & I am a Tahs supporter. And if he does one more grubber kick I'll throw my lemonade at the screen.
Mike Caxton
Roar Rookie
Yeah well, he plays for the Tahs, so naturally...
grotto
Guest
Yeah, interesting. GG certainly pissed off Kaplan, and I agree that most Aussie captains have taken GG's lead in constantly talking to (arguing with) the ref. Pockock was a major offender, and I've always noted the stark contrast with McCaw who so readily walk away after getting clarification from the official...
Jimbo81
Guest
Foley will be 10. Beale is the backup. McK won't make the deans mistake of playing someone out of position. It's Foley. Bet the house on it. But it'll be Quade in 2015!
Birdy
Guest
I know, Tane, it's slightly weird. I don't think if my country had lost the last 3 WC encounters on the trot to a particular team I'd be belittling the nature of the challenge facing them. Anyway, as a pom I suppose I should keep my mouth shut. I dream of the Wallabies running out at Twickenham in 2015 with the same attitude they ran out in Marseilles in 2007 - or should I say strolled out with Lote Tuquiri winking at the camera and the team (and Aussie commentators) giving the impression that the game against England was an irritating inconvenience to get out of the way before lining up against the ABs in the semi-final. They got a shock in 2007 and the England team they'll face in 2015 is much, much better than the one in 2007.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Yes, it always amuses me when Australians belittle English rugby. Pro era. Aus 12 Eng 10 Draw 1 Yet so many Australians suggest Eng pales in comparrison. 11 of those games were not in Eng too. Combsey what injuries will SA have? du Toit is the only one I can think of. Etzebeth will be back.
Snowbored
Guest
Oh Mate Has McKenzie been cited by the TMO for stamping?
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Dirk, I personally think England are better than Australia and playing them in England will be very difficult for every team, including NZ and South Africa. Yes playing SA in SA is difficult and I think Australia will lose there but will win in Aus.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
To be fair Jiggles, the 3 posters on here that are all against AAC are all Reds fans. Just sayin.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Rod Kafer also said this, meaning Australian locks I presume. I dont agree. I think Skelton will be a sensation for Australia.
Baz
Guest
David, I don't often agree with your stuff, but heartily do this time.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Clearly she said what you didnt want to hear.
Birdy
Guest
Dirk: 'the poms at Twickenham are no biggy' when I first saw that comment I thought you were talking about the ABs - and my first reaction was that your comment was a bit complacent and making a hostage to fortune even for them. My jaw hit the floor when I saw you were talking about the Wallabies. This century (i.e. when the game has been properly professional) the 10 games at Twickenham read 6-4 to England. You also have to throw in 2 world cup wins (one in Australia and one in France) and 2 further wins for England in Australia. You had a relatively good run of success against England between 2004-2009 when English international rugby was in turmoil - it's not now, so I do hope the Wallabies share your 'poms at Twickenham are no biggy' attitude, because if they do they'll be in the Heathrow departure lounge at the WC very quickly.
Dirk
Guest
If you think we'll beat SA away, then why not the poms? Playing the Springboks away (esp at altitude) is 2nd only in terms of difficulty, to playing the AB's away. The poms at Twickenham is no biggie. Ireland in Dublin will be more of a challenge.
Combesy
Roar Guru
yeah I can see your point, I also think that I don't see McKenzie moving toomua from 12, which would suggest that if foley doesn't lvie up to the 10 jersey it will be beale's, until cooper can return. I think link it set on playing a certain brand and style of rugby and he see's toomua as the key to that plan
jutsie
Guest
dont get me wrong, my opinion is also that foley should be the 10. My preferred possie for beale is back three or utility on the bench. Was more stating that robinson isnt alone in her belief that beale will be 10, i hope her and smith are wrong but smith is usually pretty close to the inner sacntum