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In order to be captain of the Wallabies you need to be an automatic selection and you need to be a class act on and off the field.
Houston we have a problem. None of the current candidates fit that criteria.
None of the current Australian Super Rugby captains are automatic selections.
James Slipper is arguably the only one who seems certain of being selected in the Wallaby starting side, but that is only because Scott Sio is currently injured. Otherwise he too might struggle to make the first XV.
You’d have to say Stephen Moore will most likely make the starting Wallaby XV but would you be surprised if Tolu Latu or Tatafu Polota-Nau got the nod ahead of him? Both the Waratahs hookers have been more impressive this season so they at least seem good enough to make his candidacy for captain dubious. Plus you’d imagine whichever hooker is selected to start will get the hook around an hour in. Do we really want our skipper playing three quarters of each Test?
As for the other skippers of the Super Rugby franchises, none will make the wallaby 23 let alone the starting XV. I doubt Matt Hodgson and Dave Dennis will even make the top 31 players for the Rugby World Cup. Scott Higginbotham will most likely be selected as the 29th or 30th player.
Which leaves Michael Hooper and David Pocock. If I had to choose between them I’d choose Pocock. But then I’d change my mind and choose Hooper before realising I needed to choose Pocock. He was the captain before his dodgy knees caved in after all.
But really neither of these two have done enough to make the no. 7 theirs. They’ve both done enough to make it contentious, and that’s the problem with naming either of them as skipper.
So who should be the wallaby captain? Again it needs to be an automatic selection and it needs to be a genuine classy figure who is respected. Logically there is one man that fits the criteria. One man that has the respect of everyone involved. From his teammates to the coaching staff, to the public both in Australia and beyond these shores.
It should be Israel Folau – and I have a feeling it is going to be.
Watch this space…
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.