Just how bad will the Rugby Championship be for Australia?

I think a win at home to the Wallabies over Argentina is being generous.

Jez, what you say is true, except that I don't think anyone is saying: " We will win the world cup." Are they really that delusional?

It's going to be very bad. The Wallabies look more of a rabble than ever and lack the likes of Pocock and Folau to step up every now and then to paper over the cracks. The only game breaker in the side right now is Kerevi, but he is only just coming into his own at Test level and can't do it all from 12. He'll also be targeted heavily all year, negated by the best sides.

Sounds very much like ''groundhog day''

Close but I think step 2 will be more Lose at home to a battered and jet lagged Pumas team = we were better than them it's all the refs fault, we will win the WC. The Brumbies are a better team than the Wallabies right now. Mostly due to coaching. The Pumas are basically the Jaguars who towelled up the Brumbies a few weeks ago. The outlook is not good.

So accurate

Many players struggle to adapt to year round rugby which is what it is for test players. Need to remember that Coleman was really only quite good for about a year or two.

Have to wait until November to see the start of that mate

Mate interested in what you think the “real” story is around Coleman. I’ve always thought him and Arnold should be the long term solution for the Wallabies but over the last few years he’s really dropped away. If there is a story I’d love to hear it

Great call from on the audio about the breakdown. It is non-existent. Defence is the first thing that should be looked at when selecting. Tackle % is half of it and attacking the breakdown is the other half. We don't even have the Tackle % right. Lukhan and Tupou % are in the low 70's at super rugby level - as forwards they cannot be selected for test match footy with those figures. Then there is the breakdown. It is the most important part of the game and it is completely neglected. Hooper was the only one who was even partly a threat there. Cheikas only success came with Pocock, Hooper, Fardy in the back row cause they actually attack the ruck. We have this mindset that it's just the opensides job to poach but it is everyones job to at least attempt it and slow the ball. Look at the kiwis v argies. Two teams were constantly attacking each others ball. I am very positive about the future (and present) of Australian rugby. We just have to focus on picking players based on the right metrics - breakdown number 1. The breakdown should be coached more at super rugby level and lower. However, a quick solution for the wallaby team is to just pick the best breakdown exponent in each position (especially the forwards). It surely can't do worse than we have been doing. There are generally over 180 rucks a game and only 20 lineouts and 10 scrums... I know what I would be focusing on.

Not contention about Toupu or their bloke. We will be last. OC , Coleman and Toomua will be no help. Nor are HP , Hodge and HTH.

Somebody else wrote that the Wallabies have to hit rock bottom, forcing urgent change, before they can improve. Maybe the Rugby Championship with no wins will deliver that moment.

PK, the unfortunate truth reveals most enthusiasts recognize innovative quality rugby and are quick to make known, their displeasure when they are short changed. There is no shame losing with dignity, the shame only surfaces when the trend continues. The elephant has been in the room for a prolonged period with few questions asked. If this was your business you would be addressing the issues and perhaps changing the strategy, personnel and business model. Maybe, the RA has a master plan, which has yet to be revealed.

Genuine excellence is THE ONLY THING that breeds a healthy national code and wins test matches, and it's immensely apparent that the RA stopped focussing on ANY form of excellence a long, long time ago. They've been feeding us prime BS for years, and hoping we'd never notice.

I think we know what will happen. Step 1, lose the first test to an under strength SA team = everything is going to plan "we're close". Step 2, win at home to a battered and jetlagged ARG team = everything is great and we are on tract to win the the WC. Step 3, get smacked around by NZ at home = everything is going to plan "we're close". Step 4, better effort in NZ but still smacked around = everything is going to plan "we're close". Step 5, win against an 16th placed Samoa side = everything is great and we are on tract to win the the WC. Step 6, lose to Fiji in the WC = everything is going to plan "we're close". Repeat repeat repeat. I'm not even angry, I'm just tied of being a fan of a team that seems like they are pleased with losing.

Nothing has changed for Aussie Rugby...Cheika still keeps making excuses..when that whinging stops (and it happens Every loss) then Aust rugby will progress

Worrying to see Australian Rugby in this situation. Hopefully, things change sooner as a competitive Wallabies outfit makes Rugby better to watch.

The comments about rushing JOC back into the Wallabies as some sort of remedy for all our ills is concerning, and shows the recurring tendency of RA and the RA-aligned press to continually clutch at straws. Far more important would be to improve the core squad starting with the back row and stop the policy of picking backs out of their specialised positions. Also revamp the rest of the squad by only picking match-fit and in-form players. The Pumas and All Blacks have world class line outs. So what should Australia do? Pick the best line out combination we have. And its Rangi-Coleman-Phillip-Jones. Best offensive and defensive line-out stats in the Australian conference, at one point in 2019 best stats in the whole 2019 Super comp. Only one of these picked for the Wallabies. Coleman is "injured" - the true story of his non-availability will eventually emerge, Rangi was the form hooker of the Australian conference but Uelese picked (Uelese did not start once for the Rebels in 2019), Phillip was the stand out forward for the Rebels but not picked, and Jones is a toughened unit after his stint for Bordeaux in the Top 14. Good to see Coleman still being shown in the RA promotional footage, though. And a reminder for Cheika and team: the Rebels came second in the Australian Conference. The Waratahs came 3rd (or second last), and the Reds last. And the Rebels beat the Brumbies in both matches during 2019.

you ask far too much

It would be wonderful if the Wallabies could make a statement at Suncorp as the Arg’s no-longer offer disarray and a pithier of mindless free kicks. Please inform Cheika we are not interested about how well they trained, only results. We were never fascinated by post match peevishness where everything and everybody receives a serve as the losses mount. We are not interested in Michael Hooper delivering his standard, “although there were many positives, we will review the game to see where we need to improve”. No Gents, all I ask is a professional, well planned honest 80 minutes.