Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored the need for both the Wallabies squad to find some consistency under new coach Dave Rennie, and for Rennie himself to find a level of consistency within his squad.
After the loss in Auckland, where he made some surprising changes, considering the strength of the performance in Wellington, Rennie flagged more alterations for the third match in Sydney. He made nine in total, five of them to the starting side.
After the thumping in Sydney, he swung the axe again, with six changes to the starting side and another six on the bench.
“I guess the first thing we reminded the boys that it’s Test footy. We were just way too loose with ball-in-hand, and as we’ve learnt the last two Tests you can’t keep giving the ball back to the All Blacks,” Rennie explained after naming his side for Brisbane.
“Really, we need to be at our best to knock the All Blacks over, and we need to apply pressure to them so they’re not at their best and that’s what we saw in Wellington and that’s what we need to see this weekend.”
In naming his fourth side of his tenure, Rennie took his tally of first gamers to ten in four Tests, in naming Tom Wright, Lachie Swinton, and Angus Bell on the bench.
He wanted a reaction and there’s no question he got it.
If Rennie’s tweaking around the edges each game hasn’t already got players on edge and removed any possibility of anyone becoming comfortable in their position, then the performance of the team in Brisbane after so many questions were posed about combinations that just didn’t look right surely did.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Now, with a weekend off before facing Argentina at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney next weekend, the entire squad comes back into camp on edge.
Taniela Tupou had earned a start after strong Super Rugby form, but a couple of so-so games and consistent Allan Ala’alatoa showings off the bench sees the Queensland tighthead back in no.18. And what’s more, his second-half impact off the bench has renewed discussion about this being the best way to bring out him best. You can easily picture Rennie and Tupou having that same conversation.
Rennie won’t have Swinton available again this year, but it was abundantly clear he was thrilled with what the New South Wales hard man brought for 35 minutes on debut.
“I thought Lachie made a big statement in the 30-odd minutes that he was on the field,” Rennie said post-match in Brisbane.
“Everything that we asked of him bringing a bit of edge; what we know about tackle, around clean, around work-rate, he was massive.”
The challenge now for Ned Hanigan, or Pete Samu, perhaps Liam Wright or Fraser McReight, or maybe even Isi Naisarani, is going to be to find that same edge Rennie wants.
Essentially, the coach will be asking who of his back-row options is ready to be his 2013 Liam Messam.
Filipo Daugunu was one of the form players in the competition by the end of Super Rugby AU, and even carried that through to his Test debut in the first Bledisloe Cup match of the season. But a couple of less-than-stellar performances opened the door for Tom Wright in Bledisloe 4, who promptly scored a try with his first touch in international rugby and looked dangerous enough in attack that he’ll be had to drop.
Irae Simone had what most though to be a pretty solid debut in Bledisloe 3 and was surprisingly overlooked for Brisbane. Yet Hunter Paisami turned in a stormer in the relatively unfamiliar inside centre position and will be similarly difficult to overlook.
(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
Yet he may be moved back out to his more familiar outside centre spot. Rennie conceded that Reece Hodge’s display at flyhalf in the win over New Zealand meant that he too would be difficult to leave out, even if James O’Connor is ready to return next week as hoped.
Which yet again fuels debate about Hodge’s best position, something Rennie said last week was something the player himself would probably like to sort out too.
“I know he wants to cement a spot, and, to be honest, probably his preferred spot is 12 or 13 or 15, not winger, but he’s very excited about playing 10, so maybe 10,” Rennie said before the Test.
After it: “I thought he was really good. As we know he can kick from a long way out, we did talk about if we got options early we would kick for goal and try to create some scoreboard pressure. I thought Reece was excellent.”
“We’d expect James O’Connor to be back available for the next game and he’s been excellent in the first two Tests, so good to have choices,” he also said, when pressed if Hodge had done enough to play a third Test at flyhalf.
It’s the Rennie way shining through already. He’s set the expectations of his players high and now they’re all on edge in trying to make the coach happy.
As it stands right now, the average Wallabies fan could struggle to list Rennie’s strongest available side, and the same applies for the players, too. But it would be reasonable to assume the man himself has a good idea after what he’s seen so far.
It’s not unreasonable to expect the All Blacks to make short work of Argentina this weekend in western Sydney, and the challenge for the Wallabies will be to do similar next weekend in Newcastle.
The question over these last two Tri Nations games will be whether he wants to run out that strongest XV, or instead play some more aces up his sleeve.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Oily: Why do you think Simone could play 10 all I have read about him talks about his centre play? I would rather give Harrison a chance than a centre with little or no experience of 5/8.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Harrison is a good footballer but he needs a bit more time. We have enough experienced players who are simply better than him at this stage of his career. No need to rush the young guys, give them some time to further develop their skills and understanding of professional rugby. Honestly, I would not even play Lolesio on the bench as I think Simone is a better option and better prepared for Test Rugby.
Aiden
Guest
Plus, we hardly had our best team on the park. Our fourth string 10 ... not even a 10 really. We missed our form 10 and 12. A debutant on the wing. No LSL who’d been playing well. No excuses for the ABs, in fact worse for them, their changes were planned, ours were forced by injury.
Aiden
Guest
Ideally you have a consistent team of your best players on the field. We have a lot of guys that don’t have the full package in their positions, but have good qualities. Maybe a horses for courses approach in the key positions is not a terrible way to go. Not chopping and changing so much as having different players who can slot into a game plan designed to beat particular teams under particular conditions.
Mike
Roar Rookie
We may not know who the messiah is, but we do know who the very naughty boy is, eh Lachie?!
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Comment 1 - I think DR was being honest when he said "we're 3 games into a 4 year journey" so with that in mind, injuries and the Bled lost changes maybe less surprising when you are trying find out what your group can do. It worked out well! Comment 2 - an "opinion" piece without a byline? Mmmmm, wonder who that could be! A well reasoned article from someone who understands Australian Rugby at the moment, cheers.
Mike
Roar Rookie
Philip and Simmo combined will be a huge loss. I think Philip is far more talented, but the loss of Simmo's experience and steadiness as well as Philip's technique and enthusiasm will tear a hole in two of our most important positions
Mike
Roar Rookie
I am not sure how that works. As a bench utility player he is likely to get less playing time in all positions combined. Surely the ability to cover comes from squad training, i.e. that the player actively trains to cover an extra position. A regular 15 can still do some training with the squad at 12 for example. I suspect that will make him a better player in his 15 poistion anyway.
Mike
Roar Rookie
Stillmissit, I agree, but I really don't think Harrison has a problem. He is only 21 (I think). The two most experienced test flyhalves are in their 30s. There is Hodge at 26 and then its young players. Opportunity will surely come Harrison's way if he is patient. The injury toll alone during a typical test season suggests his chance for at least a bench spot may come sooner than we expect!
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Simmo is definitely off, think Phillip as well. Hopefully DR "bloods" Hosea against Argie.
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
Hi. My concern is with locks and captains. Our choice of locks are pretty thin with the likes of Arnold, Coleman and Skelton overseas and now I hear that Philip and Simmons are both due to depart Oz in 2021. Can anyone confirm that please? This leaves the cupboard really bare so there is an urgent need to bring on and upskill the remaining possibles. While Hooper is improving as a captain especally in BS4, though he may have been under orders re kicking for goal, I still think we need to search for a new leader. I think Philip and Hodge may be good candidates to develop. We need players who will lead from the front and rouse the troops, can be calm in the all situations and instil this in the troops, 80 min players, have rugby nouse and be good communicators with the troops and the ref. Both have many of the necessary straits but will need to develop the others. What are your thoughts roars?
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
Hi blerp, you obviously haven't read Nick Bishop's Wed article. Wright worked his butt off in the rucks cleaning out and without his contribution WBs may not have won. Wright is not the only one. Many players work hard off the ball and unfortunately their efforts largely go unnoticed. Many do not see the work done off the ball. They only see what the ball carrier and the tacklers do. It's very easy in the heat of the action to miss all the off the ball work. It is only with articles like Nicks that people's eyes are opened to this. From then they start watching out and seeing these contibutions and start watching replays to check what they might have missed first time around. However, there are some who are so one eyed for or against certain players that they will never appreciate what some players bring to the game. Cheers.
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
Don’t all scrum half’s? It’s in their DNA. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
Good post mate..your definition of an 8 is spot on.you find one..move Wilson to 6 and the Wallabies will have a grt back row and a more dynamic line out which will give the Wallabies another attacking platform. The AB'S need a nos 8 like the one you have defined..the search is on..
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
McCaw..
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
Yes :thumbup:
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
Charlie Faumina is good example of that..good enough to start but used as a weapon of the bench..
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
He never stopped talking though :laughing:
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
He gives the team another attacking option..variation is important..however so is Toomua's Generalship..a good problem to have as the Wallabies develop..Toomua can also play 10..
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
Paisami's hard/straight running was excellent. I love it when players charge at the gain line and then recycle the ball and go again..a much better way to gain momentum and apply pressure instead of throwing the ball away with ludicrous hail Mary coach killer passes :thumbdown: