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The Wallabies face a number of obstacles in their quest to become the best Test side in the world. We need to make some big changes in selections in the remaining Tests this year, to see what talent we have at our disposal.
I think we have some problems in a number of areas that need examining.
Our lineout isn’t up to international standard, and we lack world-class second rowers and locks.
Kane Douglas is the best of a bad lot, while Sam Carter only seems to find form at Super Rugby level. Rob Simmons while lacking punch around the field, is our best option in the air, and has an ability to call the lineout effectively if nothing else.
Second row is an underrated position in terms of determining wins and losses, but I think Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock are a major reason for New Zealand’s dominance in the forwards in recent years.
Our bench in the second row department isn’t much better, with Dean Mumm possessing no determinable strength or competitive edge over players like Lopeti Timani, yet he still receives regular selection.
Dean Mumm, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter and Rory Arnold also do not make it over the advantage line when running the ball, which is frustrating to watch.
Australia’s scrum has significantly improved, so our coaching staff should be relatively happy with front row personnel for now, but we should be looking at blooding a young hooker for the future.
If we want to start laying an effective platform for our backline in coming years though, we need to develop better talent in the second row. Luke Jones isn’t a promising upstart anymore, and Arnold needs to have a few more impressive games for ACT before he deserves reselection.
I’ve long been an advocate for selecting Scott Fardy at second row, allowing us to pick Ben McCalman or Sean McMahon at blindside flanker, with David Pocock at lock and Michael Hooper at openside.
However a common response to that proposal is that Fardy isn’t ‘heavy’ enough, which I think is an obstacle that can be overcome.
Jack Dempsey from the Waratahs should be pushing to make the Wallabies squad in a year or two, he continues to impress both as a physical ball runner and a lineout threat.
Pushing Dempsey into the squad could allow McMahon to play openside, with Pocock at lock, and Hooper relegated to the bench.
I think we need toinstila culture back into the Wallabies of fighting for reselection in every Test. It keeps players alert and self aware at training and on the field.
It’s a blessing to have this abundance of talent in the backrow, I only wish this depth existed for other positions.
If we are going to succeed in the test arena, it’s our backline that is going to need the biggest revamp. The opening fifteen minutes of the first Test against England this year was some of the most impressive backline play I’ve seen in years from an Australian side.
It’s disappointing that brief period of excellence hasn’t been repeated in 2016, but it’s comforting knowing this collection of players can link together that well.
Still, I think the days of Quade Cooper, Matt Giteau and possibly Bernard Foley need to be put aside. Giteau has been a revelation since returning in 2015, but he is becoming too injury prone and regularly leaves the field very early in a Test, throwing the team’s gameplan out the window within ten minutes of play.
The devastating effects of these early exits were especially noted in last year’s World Cup final, and this year’s first Bledisloe.
Bernard Foley, despite many critics, does belong in the Test arena. He can command a backline as long as he has an effective second playmaker at inside centre.
Foley has lacked form during Kurtley Beale’s absence, with Beale and Giteau playing a vital role in taking the attacking pressure off him. Similar to Quade Cooper, Foley can’t seem to lead a backline as the primary ballplayer, and he isn’t a good enough goal kicker to warrant constant selection.
Michael Cheika saw this and opted to swap Foley out for Cooper in the second Bledisloe, but the plan didn’t work. Foley deserving to be dropped does not mean Cooper deserves reselection, especially against New Zealand.
Cooper isn’t good enough to play for the Wallabies against top tier sides anymore. Teams know exactly how to defend against him, simply by applying the slightest sense of defensive pressure. His goal kicking is also highly unreliable, as well as his kicking in general play.
I’m not one to usually call for dramatic reselections, or major team overhauls. I believe our big strength since the appointment of Cheika has been the consistency in our team line-up, and how that has built chemistry and combinations.
However like any sporting team that achieves a measure of success, as we did in 2015, teams learn to adapt and defend against you. We need to make change not only to personnel but to strategy.
Avoiding the strategy component for today’s article, it’s time we tried a new five eighth altogether. It’s also time we looked at selecting a backline player purely based on goal kicking ability.
We need to experiment this year, by the Spring Tour at the latest with a new five eighth and possibly a different centre combination. Reece Hodge was impressive on debut in the second Bledisloe, and his goal kicking is better than Foley’s or Cooper’s. He should be considered for a starting spot at inside centre before the end of 2016.
As for outside centre, our coaches do seem very happy with the big ball runner model, which I think has served us well. Tevita Kuridrani is a polarising player for many fans, but he does fill a useful purpose that doesn’t make the highlight reel.
Kuridrani, and Samu Kerevi may not make the big line breaks or impact plays that we’ve become accustomed to with outsides in the past, but when they run they suck in multiple defenders, often forcing overlaps on following phases.
In saying that – anyone who has seen Billy Meakes’ highlight reel for Gloucester knows he is a rare talent. (If you haven’t seen it please stop reading and watch it now.)
Meakes has a unique ability to get past the first defender, running hard and straight and getting over the advantage line almost every time. He’s also a punishing tackler, and more mobile than Kuridrani. I only see it as a matter of time before he’s in the international fold, after signing with the Force for 2017.
Number 10 is trickier. There aren’t many clear cut players putting their hand up, which I think has been part of the problem in adding a layer of complacency on Foley and Cooper.
I wouldn’t object to Cheika and Stephen Larkham making some wildcard picks such as Kyle Godwin or Jack Debreczeni. I don’t think Jake McIntyre at the Reds is in the ballpark for selection and nor should he be.
I’m not advocating Cheika to throw caution to the wind and pick different players every Test hoping for a magical result. But I think we can’t keep playing the same way we are, with the same players, and hoping for a win.
We need a full time reliable goal-kicker, we need a shake up in our second row stocks and we need to make regular incumbents fight to keep their spots more than we are now.
Michael Cheika turned Australian rugby on its head when he got the top job – and achieved immediate success with NSW and then the Wallabies.
All I’m saying is its time for a shake up.
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.