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Time and time again the axe gets called in a knee-jerk reaction to the abysmal state of particular aspects of Australian rugby.
Recurring themes currently include, but are not limited to, the merit of maintaining Bernard Foley and Michael Cheika. While I am not foreign to the matter of making outlandish claims immediately post-match, I do want to argue the case that these problems do not realistically have a solution – so how are these issues addressed and remedied?
I cannot recall the last weekend that I flicked through the online smorgasbord of opinion circulating the web without entangling myself in an article calling for the head of Foley and for someone else to take his place.
Ordinarily, this could be a fair claim, but who should step in?
Matt Toomua has been on the bench for the Wallabies, but his injections have seen him run into defenders with limited impact, usually back toward the ruck.
Compounding this, he still has obligations with Leicester and so his services are not guaranteed for all matches.
Perhaps he would provide a bit more oomph with a starting berth, but I have seen nothing yet to instil me with the belief he is the solution to an overhaul.
Quade Cooper is too hot and cold. Watching him steer the Brisbane City side against Western Force on Sunday afternoon seemed just about right; entertaining enough to enjoy the spectacle, but too risky and inconsistent to see in a Super side, let alone at the international level.
Reece Hodge and Kurtley Beale have played as fly-halves briefly at international level, but neither find that position to be their best or most effective platform, in particular Hodge.
The remaining options are youngsters who have been unconvincing at Super level as it is. There is no one that immediately comes to mind to fill the void and, as a result, the desire to remove Foley may exist, but the ability to suitably replace him remains near impossible.
A similar story exists for Cheika.
How many times has his resignation been called for? The notion comes out after every loss.
Sometimes it is warranted judgment, but very rarely does a genuine replacement get a mention.
If an adequate successor lied in waiting, perhaps Cheika may not still sit in the hot sea, but as it stands, it is hard to pick a silver medal with only one participant.
Michael Cheika seems to be always under fire (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Looking at the Super Rugby sides has never been fruitful for the Wallabies and the coaching role. Cheika boasts a title with the Waratahs from 2014 and since his induction has only experienced one ‘good’ year with the men in gold.
Ewan McKenzie had a similar situation when he came in relatively fresh off the back of a Reds premiership in 2011, only for his reign to be cut short and fairly underwhelming despite the initial prospect of promise and hope he offered.
Even more to the point, the most successful Super Rugby coach in history, Robbie Deans, still could not find the missing key for the Wallabies.
Looking overseas is not out of the question, but who is going to want to come over? Lucrative offers already exist in club rugby in European nations and some of the names often touted as ready-made replacements may not want to tarnish their international record by taking on an organisation that is as shambolic as the Wallabies and Australian rugby.
I am not endorsing that passion is lost and that heat-of-the-moment comments are rebuffed completely.
I like the constant discussion it sparks and the responses in support and in retaliation. However, these arguments need to be backed by a solution and not just an outline of what is going wrong.
Something drastic is surely brewing as, so often quoted, the definition of insanity would be to keep doing things the same and expecting a different result.
So, whom would you bring in? How and where do we find and implement a new pivot in which to direct this backline and a new coach to steer this side and install some faith back into the gold?
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.