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Opinion
With young Brumbies flyhalf Noah Lolesio taking the reins at number ten for the first match in Brisbane against a youthful French outfit, experience and composure will be crucial for both sides, looking to stamp their authority on the three-match series taking place across Melbourne and Brisbane.
The Wallabies’ back line has been hit with injuries to experienced internationals Nic White and James O’Connor, who would have been the first-pick nine and ten to lead the Wallabies.
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The Aussie back line is now thin on experience, with an average of just 16 caps for a player in the new-look back line. Only three players in the back line have over ten caps, being Tom Banks with 11 caps, Marika Koroibete with 32 caps and the all-important Matt To’omua with 54 caps.
The inexperienced halves pairing of Jake Gordon (five caps) and Noah Lolesio (two caps) is an exciting yet worrying pairing for an Australian team desperate to get back to winning ways in 2021. But how crucial will seasoned veteran Matt To’omua be to this young side?
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The 31-year-old Matt To’omua will line up at inside centre, after beating the clock to get himself fit to play, after battling with a neck injury since the end of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman where he missed the Melbourne Rebels’ last game versus the Crusaders.
The Melbourne-born inside centre/flyhalf has struggled to find form behind an underperforming Rebels outfit. The Rebels had three wins from eight games in Super Rugby AU and failed to qualify for the finals.
In Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, the Rebels lost all five games, struggling to find their feet in the short five-week tournament. Poor set pieces and a lacklustre attack were the glaring issues for the Melbourne team, which had key players Dane Haylett-Petty and Reece Hodge out for the majority of the season.
Matt To’omua led the team from number ten early in the season and then from number 12 later in the season with Carter Gordon wearing the ten jersey.
To’omua struggled throughout the year to find form but we saw glimpses of his best playing ability when running direct lines in attack, goal kicking and defending in tight off set-piece crash balls. His goal kicking was at a fantastic standard early in the season, especially against the Reds and Brumbies in Rounds 2 and 3. But he missed the winning penalty kick versus Reds at Suncorp Stadium early in the season.
To’omua scored a try against the Waratahs in Round 5 at AAMI Park in Melbourne, where he made a break through a gap near the breakdown then chip kicked the ball over James Ramm to score in the corner. He had the ability to identify the gap from the other side of the ruck off a poor pass from Joe Powell, then hold the ball in two hands and finally dummy while keeping his hips straight. That showed the attacking prowess that To’omua yields.
To’omua’s direct running and ability to hold the ball with two hands to keep his offload and kicking options unpredictable brings something different to the new-look Wallabies outfit. While in Round 8 versus the Western Force, To’omua’s supporting run behind Stacey Illi to receive the pop pass and then unlock Frank Lomani along the edge showed his ability to run different attacking moves between direct and evasive lines.
Then again in Round 9 versus the Brumbies, To’omua had the ability to run a supporting line behind Trevor Hosea to receive a short pass and then attract the defender of Folau Fainga’a and finally pass to Campbell Magnay who made a 50-metre break up the field and then passed to a supporting Joe Powell, who scored to the right of the posts.
(Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images)
The experienced inside back has a unique ability to run supporting lines, direct lines and also organise attack when other phases are occurring not involving him.
To’omua’s in-play attack kicking has improved in the past three years. In Round 10 versus the Waratahs, the opening try of the game was from a Rebels turnover on the Waratahs’ line. To’omua immediately rushed in from his defensive position downfield and slotted in behind the forwards to receive a pass from Joe Powell, then recognised the space on the wing due to the turnover, then booted a cross-field kick over to Stacey Illi, who scored a try in the corner.
To’omua’s ability to run direct lines in attack will provide a solid platform for set plays and kicking options, while his versatility in running support and playmaker roles to unlock Hunter Paisami at outside centre will bring flair to the Australian back line.
To’omua’s defence at inside centre was extremely impressive during the first two matches versus the All Blacks in 2020, before his international season was cut short by a groin injury.
Matt To’omua’s experience and ability in attack and defence could be vital to a Wallabies win come Wednesday night.
With the young Brumbies flyhalf Noah Lolesio inside him, the 54-Test inside back could be vital in guiding the number ten, and in the bigger picture, the whole Australian team, who will be desperate to win the first Test of the series.
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.