Following yesterday’s revelation that David Pocock has been forced out of the Wallabies-England series with a fractured cheekbone, the debate regarding Michael Cheika’s current structure of having two ‘sevens’ playing at the back of the pack might die a natural death.
However, Pocock’s injury also exposes a lack of options at the back of the scrum currently in the Wallabies side.
More of the wash-up from Wallabies vs England
» SPIRO: Can the Wallabies win at Melbourne?
» Moore can take a leaf out of Smith’s book
» Five talking points
» Who should replace David Pocock?
» Match report: Eddie’s England too good
» DIY player ratings
» Roar Forum – what changes should the Wallabies make?
» Watch the full highlights
It is a curious case – Australia has had a glut of champion opensides over the last 15 years but the pickings at No.8 have been slim since the departure of Toutai Kefu.
Many pundits will call for Cliffy Palu to slot back into the 8, but I have thought he was symptomatic of the pre-Cheika era Wallabies – a good front-foot player without being a world beater – and I had severe questions on him when the heat was turned up.
So, to add a bit of spice to the series, I would throw an SOS to George Smith to come into the team for the next two tests.
Smith, who this week announced he was heading to the Queensland Reds for the next two seasons, brings a lot of upside to the team.
Here are three key reasons to temporarily resurrect the career of one of our champions:
1 – The Aussies had all sorts of troubles at the breakdown – Smith would add some size and physical presence in the No.8, and continue the Cheika form of having two pilfers.
2 – He has currency – following another outstanding season for Wasps, he was awarded the Rugby Player’s Association “Player’s Player” award after leading them to the English rugby semi-finals.
3 – Smith understands the English coaching system having been intimately involved with it until very recently during the Six Nations.
The 111 Test veteran would be a welcome addition to the side and even provide some good mentoring at the international level, similar to his foreshadowed role with the Queensland Reds for the next two years.
It would be a nice way to sign off on the international circuit too.
Structurally the Wallabies would continue to forego another option in the lineout, but I am not convinced a stand-out No.8 has showcased himself in Super Rugby in 2016.
If Cheika’s text messages cannot get through to Smith, Leroy Houston is the one to pick for his debut.
A genuine No.8 who has also committed to return to the Reds, he had a solid season in Bath and knows his opposition well, and was part of the extended 39-man squad originally announced.
It is certainly not a crisis for the Wallabies, just a friendly reminder that our depth is not quite there across all positions.
The only other change I would make is to revert to the dual-playmaker structure at 10 and 12. Christian Lealiifano has had his best season of Super Rugby for the Brumbies and deserves to slot into the 12 next to Bernard Foley.
Bob Forbes
Guest
Not a lot to fix for Game 2 to see the Wallabies come out on top. (a) the front row (b) penalties....cutting down on basic errors. Give away penalties inside 50m.......3 points (as seen in Game 1 ). All the Northern Hemisphere teams did well on the weekend, as was expected. "The big three" (NZ SA AUS) are slowly moving towards top gear so better performances are not far off.
Crash Ball2
Guest
The RPA Player's Player Award is not decided by third party judges Champion. It's voted by the players - know many romantic English rugby player's do you? As for thinking the Lions concussion incident was "soft", I can only assume you are f@&$1•g insane.
English Fan
Guest
Sure, he won the Aviva award but the judges talked about his all round contribution to Wasps, and they were in any case a bunch of romantics. I can't quite see how you know better than the docs who were on the spot whether he was okay to play on. The game is going soft if that's what you mean. And the 'jersey' really is yellow. Gold is shiny. Don't be so touchy!
george cameron
Guest
George Smith to return to the Wallabies....you can't be serious. Remember the disasterous return v the Lions.e is a player once great, but now too old, slow, and lacking real physical impact. Lookrather to Liam Gill
Crash Ball2
Guest
Yep. That one drew a chuckle. Nice shooting.
wardad
Guest
Nope thats a backward step not needed .Take away the indiscipline that gifted England a truckload of penalties and the Wallabies will do them no probs.Just smile in an enigmatic Mona Lisa kinda way to confuse the hell outta them as a retort .
Jerry
Guest
Saving the world one pedantic message at a time.
Crash Ball2
Guest
Making friends and influencing people Jerry?
Jerry
Guest
It's pretty clearly yellow.
Harry
Guest
Yes. Suffered the tragedy of a head knock in the opening minute of his last test recall - one of the very few times he's been hurt on the rugby field. Clearly in good form in England.
Crash Ball2
Guest
Why? Was Ealesy on the 2016 shortlist for European player of the year too?
Amused
Guest
Yeah you're right - pick him. Also John Eales and David Campese.
Crash Ball2
Guest
All of your team play in the Aviva. They went OK. George Smith was voted - by English players - better than everyone else in the premiership. Go figure. The jersey is Gold. And the last time Smith donned it, he suffered a sickening headclash in the opening minutes of the Lions test from which he or any player should never have been allowed to return. I'm not sure what Smith can have done in the few minutes of game time pre-concussion that might have been "found wanting". Unless of course you think the headclash itself was a direct result of time's impatience.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Strange comment, Gill is not a Number 8 whereas Smith has played quite a bit there later in his career. Gill is very unlucky to be playing in the same era as Pocock and Hooper.
English Fan
Guest
George Smith was an outstanding player in his day, and has just come off a great season with Wasps, but the Aviva Premiership and Test match rugby are two very different things. Last time I saw Smith in a yellow jersey he was being helped off the pitch against the Lions, having been found wanting, and that was two years ago. No slight on him, he's a legend of the game, but time waits for no man. Re Eddie and Glen Ella, you guys need to move on. You had an Kiwi coach and if he'd have won you a RWC and the Bledisloe every year you'd have been happy with that. You'd be happy with an English coach if you got those results (and if you wouldn't then there's no helping you). We live in a global world and a professional game - you can either stay parochial and insular or look outwards. The weird thing is, I have always loved the adventurous and intelligent nature of Aussie rugby - you don't have a massive player pool, but you're always there or thereabouts, with some of the most creative and interesting back play you'll ever see. If you can think outside the box the get your back seven operating like yoiu do, how come you can't think outside the box coaching-wise? (Got a lot of time for the Aussies, and in this increasingly fractured and weird world I'm glad to think we are mostly on the same side. Rugby is rugby, cricket is cricket - other than that I regard youy as brothers in arms.)
Old Bugger
Guest
Nah....Cheiks needs to look ahead to 2019 and decide which players will complement his game plan. In as much as George Smith is such an extraordinary player, I just don't think he is who Cheiks should be looking for, when thinking 2019. He should be going with McMahon and Hooper as No7 and looking for the next No6, to replace Fardy.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
George Smith is my favourite all time Wallaby. I think it would be a huge ask to come in at 36 and compete at that level he hasn't played in 3 years. His last Wallas game he got belted into the next planet.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Smith is still great but we have an abundance of openside flankers and I doubt he'd add size given he is around the 100kg mark like most openside flankers.
Rocko
Roar Guru
Agree - depth across all positions in this side the main worry and you need to spread your strength.
Rocko
Roar Guru
I don't think Gill could hold down an 8, particularly alongside Hooper - I think he and McMahon will be certainly putting pressure on Hooper over the next few tests though.