There needs to be some serious rethinking in the Wallabies’ camp in terms of both cutting certain underperforming players and also in terms of long-term strategy.
To that end, I start by asking a question: “What should the purpose of the Wallabies be?”
In my mind, the answer to that question is to be the best team that they can possibly be, in the long as well as short-term; as well as being good role models and representatives of Australia.
With that in mind, I pose three central ideas
1. The current Wallabies line-up and strategy simply is not good enough, and will only continue to deteriorate in quality as an already aged team ages further;
2. Too many of our established players are either in the twilight of their careers, and will not be useful going forward (except in terms of providing experience) or simply not good enough;
3. We need to build for the future: whether or not it currently appears our young players are good enough is irrelevant. We can only make do with the players we have got.
With that in mind I suggest the following plan for the Wallabies’ future.
We should build a team with as many of our young players as possible, with the knowledge that even if we struggle for the next 12-24 months it is the only possible route to competitiveness and possible success over the mid to long-term. If we train with a young team for the next three or so years we should begin to hit our stride just as we reach the next World Cup.
We cut all underperforming players who simply are not good enough, regardless of their past experience.
We start picking the best players in their position, rather than constantly picking (often sub-par) players out of position, thereby destroying our team’s balance and especially its ability in the set pieces.
We keep only those older players who either (a) are so far and away the best player in their position that it would ridiculous to cut them or (b) their experience is needed to support the development of the young players.
In my opinion, the aim should be not to use the Giteau Law except when absolutely necessary: such as when a foreign-based player is so far and away the best choice that any alternative is laughable. Using this criteria, the only player who possibly fits the criteria right now is Will Genia.
Now, these are the players I equivocally suggest cutting (at minimum):
1. Stephen Moore: I am a big Brumbies fan, and have huge respect and thanks to Moore. He has been class in the past. Unfortunately, he has been poor in 2016, and utterly garbage in the Tests against the All Blacks (particularly at line out and scrum time). He is getting on in rugby years now, and is also a terribly unpopular captain amongst referees, and results in us simply not having a proper relationship with them. A huge thanks for all your hard work and dedication, but it is time to retire with honour.
2. Nick Phipps: Big heart, but you’re a halfback with a pathetic pass (your best match in 2016 was on the wing), and that shoe-throwing incident was disgraceful. Goodbye.
3. Bernard Foley: Honestly, how bad does someone have to play in order to be cut? Foley has been shocking in 2016 and atrocious in the internationals. At the moment he can’t pass, attack or kick. Goodbye, Foley.
4. Dean Mumm: Okay off the bench in Bledisloe, but simply is not where we want to be, nor is he the future;
5. Sekope Kepu: Has not been good, displayed some bad antics in that stupid penalty in the second Test against the Darkness when we had the ball in hand.
With that in mind, the team I would field for the rest of 2016 would resemble the following (team not set in stone, and very open to switching starting/bench positions, etc).
1. Scott Sio
2. Andrew Ready
3. Greg Holmes
4. Kane Douglas
5. Adam Coleman
6. Scott Fardy
7. David Pocock (Captain)
8. Lopeti Timani
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Sefanaia Naivalu
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Israel Folau
15. Reece Hodge
Reserves
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. Allan Alaalatoa
18. Who’s our fourth best prop?
19. Rory Arnold
20. Sean McMahon or, if injured, Michael Hooper
21. Nick Frisby
22. Andrew Kellaway
23. Jack Debreczeni
I believe that team allows the best current opportunity for growth, while at the same time offering valuable experience in the form of Pocock, Genia and others.
Do you agree with my opinions regarding the long-term outlook of the team? Do you like the theoretical list I’ve put together? Let me know where you agree and where you think I have gotten it wrong.
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
Hmm, seems the Boks are playing a lot of backs out of position too, their captain is playing as badly as Moore is, and they have no game plan that any commentator can distinguish. Should be a cracker of a match !!
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
Actually, I think SA will beat the Wallabies. Mainly because the Bok defense is nowhere near as bad as the Wallaby backline defense. Ian Jones did some analysis of the Wallaby defense for both tests and it was incredible how badly they defended. They weren't even going for the player they were supposed to, or trusting their inside defenders. Result being yawning gaps out wide. Dagg's first try was basically a simple catch and pass affair and there were 2 men outside Dagg. Some of the All Black tries in both tests were ridiculously easy in execution because the Wallaby's were not positioning properly. They have to hide both Cooper and Foley on defense on set plays which produces real problems when there are quick transitions from defense to attack and vise versa. Cannot see it getting better with Foley, Kerevi and Haylett-Petty playing out of position and Cooper still being hidden where possible. When has playing a first-five at inside centre ever really worked consistently...for anyone...ever? Also you have Pocock at No8 and Mumm at blindside...a third of the team is playing out of position !! Don't know what your coach is thinking, looks like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Extremely rare for a player to play consistently well out of his natural position and hes asking a third of the team to do it with a defense scheme that is a shambles. Good luck with that.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Timbo, I think that your back line could perhaps work equally well. Perhaps you're right about Haylett-Petty at 15 and Hodge at 12. I just like the idea of playing two battering-rams in the centres and then lightning bolts like Izzy and Naivalu on the wing, that way all of them can threaten to score. Again, I think Kuridrani has unfairly been made the scapegoat, and his average form has been the result of poor coaching strategies + Foley at 10) Again though, I would fully support Cheika running with your backline this weekend. Timani I like having at starting 8, as we have really been lacking a proper 8 in the scrums as well as being a big ball carrier.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
See, I believe that playing Giteau stood in the way of either letting Toomua or Kerevi or Godwyn having a run. I don't like the selection of Adam Ashley-Cooper either as I would want Folau on the wing and either Hodge or Haylett-Petty at fullback. Genia kept out Frisby and Stirzaker, but at least he was one of our top players, so I understand his selection. I would also put Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu (came back from France, has sucked since), Nick Phipps (never been good) and Dean Mumm, maybe Polota-Nau (although perhaps you don't want to drop both him and Moore at once, and he is better than Moore now). Additionally, they each kept one more player out of the squad as well as the starting and reserve teams. I think there are a number of reasons why we can't beat them: (1) poor strategies being imported from the coaches; (2) players lacking the intensity and passion that the All Blacks play with; (3) our players are simply not good enough and many are getting older and are well past their prime. We may well beat the Springboks and Pumas, but they haven't looked very good either. I think that players like Mumm and Phipps have never been of international standard, the above players mentioned are too old and players like Foley are in such garbage form that they should be dropped immediately. Additionally, as you say, Cheika chopping and changing the team massively every week doesn't help either. Rugby is such a team game, and our players have no opportunities to get in a grove and learn to play together as a team. Which is another reason why I support bringing in the core group of young players, so that they have years to play together as a team.
Rouaan
Guest
There might not be hard and fast rules for the WBs to get some respect back, but there are some fundamentals in rugby that will always serve you well, eg. strong and secure set-piece, aggressive carries and tackles, nippy backs, good kicking game and of course my favourite, SPEED. It was very embarrassing to see the WBs display none of these skills the last 5 test matches. Even I was shocked and started to pray for a kick to go out or over, a tackle to be made, a line-out to function, somebody with speed to burst away and create space, etc. Australian Rugby has been neglecting these basics now for years, thats why I wanted Jake White to be involved in some way in Australian rugby. How was it possible for the Brumbies to miss around 60 tackles in two weeks against NZ opposition (Chiefs and Crusaders) and concede almost 80 points???? How was it possible for the WBs to replicate that against the ABs a month later????? Where have the brains gone in Australian Rugby??????
Muss
Roar Rookie
Yep this is a very similar team to the one Id go with. I don't think Haylet Petty has had a fair crack given he was the best number 15 during the Super season and has been stuck on a wing.....(Coaches seem to think if you play in the back line you can play anywhere....Too many ex Forwards as coaches!?) So Id consider Hodge at centre as another playmaker (dropping Kerevi) and Haylet petty at full back
Timbo (L)
Guest
Fionn, I like your analysis and selection Pitch I would change a couple of selections but I agree whole heatedly with the spirit. Remove the dead wood and replace them with the best we have from SR in their natural positions. I think Kuridrani is out of form and a bit of a roadblock, his removal allows for a re-shuffle. 11 Izzy 12 Hodge/Godwin 13 Kerevi/Kuridrani 14 Morahan/Naivalu (Morahan has a better kicking game) 15 DHP/Keleway/Debreczeni 19 Timani/Mumm - lineout coverage and 4,5,6, 8 cover goes underappreciated. 20 MacMahon/Jordy Reid/ Dempsy... etc (A Back row sub needs to be a 6/7/8 utility, not a burden) 22 (6:2) Arnold (5:3) Godwin/Hodge 23 Kellaway/Debreczini (Don't mind which but choose one only) It is good to hear you back Ginea, He copped a lot of flack for being a euro greybeard but in my opinion has proven his worth to the team. I would like to see the Fris in the team but subbing on for someone with Ginea's talent isn't much of an insult. He should be developed to be able to take over in the next year or so.
Richard
Guest
Sorry mate that team will never eventuate ..No way will Cheks have only have 2 maybe 3 TAHS in the 23... hahahaha. .It will only happen when Michael Cheika is sacked.. MUMM FOLEY HOOPER KEPU PHIPPS are locked in
Master Chief
Roar Pro
Fionn, Of course the French trio are the obvious one's to point out but so far they haven't stood in any younger players way because they can't stay on the park. It was always a gun for hire approach with them. Besides them we have only two players-Moore and Fardy- that i can see who probably won't be of service by 2019. The rest are more or less around the age where they typically enter their prime. Kepu and Genia should still be considered. Especially Genia, surely ? Losing to The All Blacks had nothing to do with age. But the fact that we were feeble and noncompetitive had a lot to do with coaching. Why can't our players beat them ? I don't think you're being harsh at all. The Wallabies need something just remotely resembling a balanced and settled team. I just wonder under what basis people make the claim that our players are too old and suddenly hopeless.
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, but 11 winless tests by ENG against SA is a bit different that a one-off loss to Japan (as horrible as that loss was). I am talking about matchups now. ENG doesn't match up that well against SA. And yes, SA was the only team to really cause Hansen some worry in RWC 2015 up until 80:00. Don't know if that makes up for Japan, but it's still true.
Harry Jones
Expert
Nice one! Hahaha! OK, then.
McCaw was onside?
Guest
No they are not and England are not the same side either. None oif what Harry says makes sense. Head to head is NOT a sensible way to judge. Unless Harry likes the idea of Japan being better than SA. You dont judge a team on games from up to 20 years ago. The 11 wins SA had are completely and utterly meaningless. Mind you, Harry thought SA were the 2nd best team at the WC in 2015 because they pushed NZ closest.
Paul
Guest
Bench would be 16. Tolu Latu / Siliva Siliva 17. Allan Alaalatoa 18. Tomas Robertson / Toby Smith 19. Luke Jones 20. Sean McMahon / Michael Hooper 21. Nick Frisby 22. Reece Hodge / Dane which ever isn't starting 23. Jack Debreczeni
Paul
Guest
Yeah I absolutely agree about Genia, my point was more to just get on with the rebuild, however in saying that Genia has tones to offer as mentor for a young guy like Frisby, so happy to keep him around for that reason. also agree about Quades creativity and he has a great flt cut out pass so maybe using the two battering rams in Kerevi and Kurindrani would really work, you are right Foley couldn't make it work because he is not very creative and just doesn't have the pass. The only issue i have left is the Kane Douglas one, he always had lots of potential but never got to it I didn't think he should have been a wallaby before he left and I feel much the same now, he really isn't offering us much. I like the Coleman and Arnold combination because those boys can run the ball, and they couldn't do any worse in the lineout. Still want to find a good new six we will need to replace Fardy soon.
taylorman
Guest
True, love the way he's been able to remain injury free...touch wood...but as a starter that is more at risk, especially at the often ferocious starts you often get at test level. He needs to put in a full test season but so far he's the King Midas of rugby...everything he touches...
Worlds Biggest
Guest
No doubt Cheika has his eye on the future with the debut's of 6 or 7 players this season already, this policy must continue on the EOYT. These upcoming games are a must win so established players must be there along with some of the rookies. I think everyone agrees that Stephen Moore needs to retire, deep down he would know himself that the game has passed him by. Cheika is unlikely to drop him but geeez I'd like to see him retire after the Boks game in front of his home crowd. He has been a quality player for a long time and been a big fan of his. On the EOYT I'd like to see blokes like Tongan Thor, Ready, Robertson, Neville and Browning get a run.
Porkie
Guest
It's already happening Steve, The wallabys aren't playing international rugby, the media has created a myth, around Aus rugby
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Thanks, Ruck! And yes, I am actually pretty uncertain regarding the Giteau law, I might actually agree with you re. scrapping the law.
Porkie
Guest
Hope wallabys learnt from last two failures , and come to the party with a plan, and play rugby, otherwise they will be humiliated again
Porkie
Guest
ooh yes there is a need to be worried about the wallabys, SA rugby has the players ,talent , and the passion for the game , wallabys don't.