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Opinion
Since COVID birthed the domestic super AU competition, the disparity between the top and bottom teams in Australia has never been clearer.
The Reds and the Brumbies clearly have the best cattle going around, and when we get to playing the Kiwi teams, they both will have a good shot to knock over almost anyone in that competition.
But can Matt To’omua’s boot really drag the Rebels to a win against even the 11-game losing streak Chiefs? If the Reds can put on 41 points on the Waratahs, can you imagine how many points the Blues would manage?
What this tells us about the state of rugby in Australia is that we are badly lacking depth, especially for when Wallaby season comes around.
Geoff Parkes posted an article last week titled highlighting the amount of talent that is currently ‘lost overseas’ to the higher paying European and Japanese clubs.
I thought I would take it one step further and name who I think would be the best Wallaby 23 of only players currently ineligible for selection.
1. Jermaine Ainsley
2. Tolu Latu
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Will Skelton
5. Izack Rodda
6. Ned Hanigan
7. Liam Gill
8. Sean McMahon
9. Will Genia
10. Isaac Lucas
11. Semisi Tupou
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Tom English
14. Andrew Kellaway
15. Kurtley Beale
16. Effie Ma’afu
17. Pek Cowan
18. Sam Talakai
19. Matt Phillip
20. Adam Coleman
21. Rory Arnold
22. Ryan Louwrens
23. Billy Meakes
Some positions are clearly stronger than others, the tighthead situation for example, is considerably better on home soil than overseas. However, the main position groups I want to emphasise are hooker and second row.
Who is the best hooker in playing in Australia right now? The incumbent Brandon Paenga-Amosa now looks to be stuck behind Alex Mafi at the Reds, who is off a to a great start this year following some offseason work on his lineout throwing.
Folau Fainga’a scores a lot of tries for the Brumbies off their vaunted rolling maul but around the park he doesn’t seem to stand out.
Jordan Uelese has been so unlucky with injuries getting a solid gauge on his abilities is tricky. For me Tolu Latu would walk straight back into the Wallabies.
Despite some off the field issues he is strong over the ball, has a solid set piece and has the hands to be a genuine link player with the backs. When the best teams around the world have hookers like Jamie George and Codie Taylor, versatility at the hooker position is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury.
Tolu Latu’s with the Waratahs. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
I’m sure almost everyone will agree the biggest problem area for the Wallabies this year will be second row. It was the biggest area of weakness last year and we have got weaker over this past offseason.
Any of the five second rowers named in the 23 above would make a very strong case to be selected into starting Wallaby team.
We have seen that Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Matt Phillip, and Izzac Rodda are all very consistent and solid players but to compete with the All Blacks they would need a dynamic counterpart.
So, in steps Will Skelton.
For anyone who doesn’t believe Skelton would walk straight into the current Wallaby team, I implore you to do some digging and see just how much his game has improved since he last played in Australia.
In 2018 he was named Saracens player of the year, ahead of the likes of Billy Vunipola, Owen Farrell, George Kruis, Maro Itoje and Jamie George just to name a few.
He’s big, aggressive, has a high work rate for his size and would give the All Blacks someone to fear. We desperately need that if we want to dethrone the Kiwis from their near two decades of Bledisloe tyranny.
What is the solution to this depth problem? it’s too simple to say just find a way to keep everyone in Australian rugby. What if we extended the Wallaby eligibility to allow players in the Japanese Top League to be selected as well?
With the very manageable two-hour time difference and the games now being streamed on Stan it would give the chance for the players to earn a bigger pay packet while still staying in view of the selectors and general Australian rugby public.
Whilst it might not solve our Super Rugby depth issue it would go a long way to help our Wallaby one. And as much as I’d love to see the Reds or Brumbies beat the Crusaders later this year, I would much rather see the Bledisloe Cup back on Aussie Soil.
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.