The last man to captain the Wallabies to a win at Eden Park has urged selectors to be daring as the “new era” get their first taste of Bledisloe Cup action on Sunday.
None of the current 44-man squad were alive when Andrew Slack captained a side featuring David Campese, Michael Lynagh and Nick Farr-Jones who last knocked off the All Blacks at their Auckland fortress in 1986.
The latest crop – with an average age of 24 and 16 potential debutants – will get their chance on October 18, although the series begins in Wellington this weekend.
Slack can sense an opportunity in a COVID-19-disrupted season he says has thrown up “more pre-Test uncertainties than ever before”.
But he hopes new coach Dave Rennie rolls out a backline packed with players “that can change the game” and has endorsed Brumbies fullback Tom Banks’ recall after missing the World Cup squad.
“We’ve got to be aggressive in our selections and back guys in who can change the game,” the former centre told AAP.
“Others will think differently but I think it’s a new era, time to try things and there’s not a lot of downside to being non-conservative.
“And (by selecting boldly) even if we play well in defeat it will create plenty of excitement for what’s to come.”
Banks is in a three-way battle with Dane Haylett-Petty and Jack Maddocks to play fullback, Haylett-Petty on the comeback from a groin injury and Maddocks without the advantage of a Super Rugby AU title to his name.
“I’m a big fan of Haylett-Petty but I think Banks was very unlucky to miss that World Cup squad and I think deserves this selection,” he said.
“Deserving is an underused term, but he’s bounced back well (from missing the World Cup).”
Slack believes Jordan Petaia and Marika Koroibete are automatic selections at outside centre and wing.
And he’d love to see the dice rolled on the uncapped Tate McDermott and Noah Lolesio in the halves as well as Reds excitement machines Filipo Daugunu and Hunter Paisami on the wing and inside centre respectively.
“That would be fun to watch … I think McDermott’s a beauty and all these young guys strike me as calm and resilient,” he said.
“I can see Toomua or O’Connor being an option at No.12, but they’ve (the younger players) done all they can by playing well in the domestic competition.”
ANDREW SLACK’S WALLABIES BACKLINE
15. Tom Banks, 14. Filipo Daugunu, 13. Jordan Petaia, 12. Hunter Paisami/James O’Connor/Matt Toomua, 11. Marika Koroibete, 10. Noah Lolesio, 9. Tate McDermott.
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
Give him a break mate. They haven't even played a test yet.
Jack
Guest
Don’t think he was measured over the whole season. One of the reasons the Brumbies are a better team than the Tahs is their backs are better across the paddock. Noah, Simone, Wright included. They more often make the advantage line which makes the forwards job easier. When in doubt pick players from winning teams. Assume they had something to do with their teams success. Let’s not go back to Cheika’s selection strategy of assuming his special picks will step up to a higher performance at the higher level. Didn’t happen and won’t happen.
Olly
Roar Rookie
My worry with Dangunu and Koro on the wings is their height. Having two very short wingers at Test level can be an issue, particularly with box kicks raining down on them. Great attacking pair and would love to see them, just worried that at a duo they might be to short and put alot of pressure on Banks.
Try Hard
Roar Rookie
Slipper, Faaingaa, Thor, Simmons, Lotu, Wright, Hooper, Wilson, McDermott, JOC, Daugunu, Toomua, Petaia, Koroibete, Banks
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Correct. The piggies need to rule for the pretty boys to shine.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
I hate to say something good about a Tah, but I think Maddocks was better than Tom Banks this season
Obes
Guest
If Rennie is fair Dinkum he must pick this 23.I`ve included Hooper as Rennie has been instructed to pick him by RA.I would have gone for Fraser ..anyway 1 Slipper 2 Faaingaa 3 TT 4 Philip 5 Neville 6 Wright 7 Hooper (Really don't want him but he will be selected ) 8 Wilson 9 McDermott 10 Noah 11 Daugunu 12 Simone 13 Petaia 14 Wright 15 Banks 16 BPA 17 Slipper 18 AAAAA 19 LSL 20 Samu 21 White 22 JOC 23 DHP
Hoy
Roar Guru
I think his issue was sticking with the wrong people... that is my issue.
Crunched
Guest
We played 5 years with a Rookie at ten and look where that got us.Agreed.
Keg
Guest
If Toomua is 10 we will not win many games against the good teams.He is a poor playmaker and is weak in the tackle. He is also very very slow. JOC for me Simone 12. Noah Lolesio bench.You cannot have to old blokes in the inside backs. JOC is in great form at 10 .Toomua is not, so is out.
Davos
Guest
Slack is right. The failures of Toomua Hodge Hooper for years and years need to rectified .Not one top international test backrow worries about the Midget 7 in gold. Rennie you`ve made so many blunders as soon as you stepped into the role. Rennie will turn out to be across between Dungo Deans and the Clown.
gazza
Roar Rookie
Slack's selections lack a strong proven pack of forwards. Placing Banks ahead of Jack Maddocks is absurd. Maddocks solid at the back on defence and is the best at both taking the high ball and running back the ball or kicking long from the predictable All Black kick to the corners.
Rugger
Guest
I would pick O’Connor at 12 but not at 10. His footwork isn’t as quick as it was pre 2012 so he is not an attacking threat at flyhalf and against a world class defence can look ordinary at pivot a la 2013 British Lions
MO
Guest
Some of these guys have good skills. A test 15 would be a better handy 10 in most first grades.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
It also goes back to the days when our forwards would bust their buns but only achieve 30-40% possession and our backs were creative enough to win quite a few games. And the rugby world knew we could and feared our backs. Not a recent phenomenon, sadly.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
And that great winger Peter Griggs played 5/8 in Townsville. Some of us play a position and some of us are rugby players. And some of us can see skills and ability in a player that others cannot. Wish I had all the answers.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Eff, I think I'm with you regards defence. That's normally where games are won and it doesn't mean a negative game plan. As I tell my boys, if we stop them from scoring any tries, we probably only need to score one to win. And that doesn't stop us from attacking everything. (We actually call defence Attack Plan B.)
jameswm
Roar Guru
Agreed. Must be meaningful time.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Correct. If an injury risk, has to start, replaced by someone who is not a higher than average injury risk.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G'day Mo. I don't pretend to have the answer, but with a new coach, new era and young, confident players in the squad do you start with a player who has done okay as a test 13, or do you have him on the bench in case the young brigade loose their way?