Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie had nine hours flying time to Argentina to mull over his selections after the inexplicable 28-10 loss to the Springboks at Newlands last weekend.
Let’s make four parts of the McKenzie mix abundantly clear from the get-go – he was a world-class prop during his 51 caps for the Wallabies, he coached the Queensland Reds to the Super Rugby title in 2011, he’s a highly intelligent bloke and a highly-qualified town planner.
Lots of quality pluses there, and he’s earned those accolades, which defies many of his selections since the three-Test wipe-out of the French in June.
Clearly, the 2014 Super Rugby stats didn’t gel with McKenzie. The line was drawn in the sand, but he ignored the obvious. Wallaby players are like every normal person, if the coach shows confidence in a player’s ability, he keeps improving.
If the coach saws off a player who has done nothing wrong, but is dropped nonetheless, that can be soul-destroying. Not only to the one dropped, but all his teammates who know that player didn’t deserve such shabby treatment.
It becomes a domino effect that can be very destabilising, even devastating. And so unnecessary.
The 2014 Super Rugby tournament gave Ewen McKenzie a very established pecking order. That was set in concrete after the Waratahs won the tournament and beat the Brumbies in the semi-final to get to the decider.
With Will Genia out injured, the half-back order of merit was clearly Waratah Nick Phipps one, and Brumby Nic White two.
The 10 jersey was Waratah Bernard Foley one, Brumby Matt Toomua two. The 12 jersey – Waratah Kurtley Beale one, Brumby Christian Lealiifano two.
Let’s stop right there.
What did McKenzie come up with for the first two Tests of the Bledisloe, and Rugby Championship?
White (9), Beale (10) and Toomua (12), totally ignoring a proven formula over 16 rounds, and a finals series.
And when the White-Beale pivotal combination didn’t work against the best team in world rugby – it was never going to work – McKenzie blamed both players for his own lack of the obvious and sacked both of them to the bench.
Then what?
McKenzie selected Phipps and Foley as the pivotal combination to start against the Boks, which is exactly what he should have done against the All Blacks in the first place.
Did the penny drop for McKenzie with Beale at inside-centre? No, of course not.
Beale has been on the bench for the last three Tests, coming on the 73rd, 53rd, and 54th minutes to replace Toomua, when it should be have been the other way round.
Now that Toomua is injured, if McKenzie doesn’t automatically bump Beale up to 12, with Christian Lealiifano on the bench, the ARU must ask the Wallaby coach some serious questions.
And among those questions would be why has giant lock Will Skelton been ignored after his blockbusting Super Rugby performances, which were instrumental in the Waratahs ending their 19-year drought.
Skelton is now in Mendoza to cover for the injured Rob Simmons, that’s the official line. But to be more accurate, that should read Skelton’s in Mendoza to replace Simmons.
This is the team that McKenzie must select against the Pumas to do justice to what is fair and recognising form.
(1) James Slipper
(2) Jimmy Hanson
(3) Sekope Kepu
(4) Will Skelton
(5) James Horwill
(6) Scott Fardy
(7) Michael Hooper
(8) Scott Higginbotham
(9) Nick Phipps
(10) Bernard Foley
(11) Rob Horne
(12) Kurtley Beale
(13) Tevita Kuridrani
(14) Adam Ashely-Cooper
(15) Israel Folau
(16) Saia Fainga’a
(17) Benn Robinson
(18) Sam Carter
(19) Jake Schatz
(20) Matt Hodgson
(21) Will Genia
(22) Christian Lealiifano
(23) Joe Tomane
The only reason why I haven’t selected Genia as the starting half-back at Mendoza is his lack of game time after long-term injury.
But hopefully he’ll be back to his best come Bledisloe 3 at Suncorp on October 18, leading into the Spring Tour throughout November against the Barbarians, Wales, France, Ireland and England.
It’s time for the Wallabies to be allowed to play the pattern of play they enjoy, by Ewen McKenzie selecting the best equipped players to do the job.
They are there, but sitting on the bench or on their lounge at home doesn’t translate to winning internationals.
Rugby stu
Guest
I would have Paul Alo-Emile and either Taqele Naiyaravoro or Samu Kerevi on the bench.
Jameswm
Guest
Yeah, Beale isn't a viable long term option at 12 at test level. But he could work against the Argies. Their backs aren't such big, hard runners.
Jameswm
Guest
10 second Tom I think
Kilbongteb
Guest
Horwill calls line outs
Dink
Guest
Nothing inexplicable about that loss. We should just accept that it was a good game and SA were better.
Bakkies
Guest
Good luck getting passes to the wings
Bakkies
Guest
Do you think that 15 Brumbies in 2004 and 15 Reds in 2011 should have been in the starting lineup?
Westie
Guest
:)
bryan
Guest
Do I win something?? Fullbacks have 5 basic skills: Catching a bomb, Kicking, Running, Cover Tackling, Good Decision making. Beale is horrible at 2 of those 5 basic skills, and I would go as far as to say his decision making is just as bad. And before you go with your silly "X factor" argument, name me a single all black that does not have all the basic skills required of his position. Beale should not be near the wallabies team until he can tackle and catch Bonus points for him not look like a baby who's lollipop was taken away from him, just because he is on the bench. The bench of the wallabies is an absolute honour, and that jersey should be treated as such.
Zulu
Guest
Jim or was it Bob! 10 Seconds or so :-)
MJB
Guest
Aaaand the SMH is reporting that Beale is in trouble for off-field behaviour AGAIN.
Steve
Guest
I always wonder if he's like that girl in 50 first dates, waking up every day and forgetting what he wrote about the day before...
Magic Sponge
Guest
Link sees the answer to the wallabies woes by inserting Qlders. What happen to Brumbies and tahs who actually competed in the s15,
MJB
Guest
Hahaha. You're absolutely spot on.
All Bent Out of Shape.
Guest
Congradulations, you are the 1 millionth person to make up a reason for Beale not to start. I think he should start at fullback and put Folau on the wing. My WC side 1) Slipper 2) Moore 3) Kepu 4) Simmons 5) Fardy 6) Higginbotham 8) McCalman 9) Genia 10) Foley/Cooper 11) Folau 12) Kuridrani 13) AAC 14) JOC 15) Beale 16) TPN 17) Sio 18) Alexander 19) Skelton 20) McMahon 21) Phipps 22) Foley/Cooper 23) Horne
Shungmao
Guest
The Mudcrab at 12, what a joke
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
If we defeat Argentina we will have won 10 out of 15 in the past 52 weeks. That's a winning percentage of 66%. We have also won 7 in a row for the first time since 2000. If you find that disappointing you have absolutely no clue and extremely unrealistic expectations. If we managed to defeat the all blacks in Brisbane on top of that, that would be 11 out of 15 for the calendar year and 73%. A massive improvement on the high 50's we were at.
All Bent Out of Shape.
Guest
No TH reserve, no lineout caller and Jake who? Lord may have known rugby a long time ago but he doesnt now.
John
Guest
Man Ewen Mckenzie has been a disappointment.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
So when Queensland won the Super 15 it was only right that Queenslanders filled most of the spots but if the Waratahs win, they can all sit back and watch the Queenslanders run around. Sounds fair. What I do think is great is that Genia came back through the NRC and Cooper looks like doing the same.