Dave Rennie is an outstanding coach, there is no doubt about it. He is a first-time international coach and will dominate in the future on the world stage in some capacity.
However, has he transformed Australian rugby to where it needs to be, or are the athletes simply not up to standard?
Firstly, despite last week’s debacle against Argentina, he has created some significant depth, which should’ve been enough to get through that game.
But it transcended into a team without any structure or confidence.
The Wallabies, on paper, have always been a team to excite and create optimism for their fans, but unfortunately they have fallen well short in execution for 20 years now.
Whilst Rennie has created depth when those before him have not, the basics of skill sets remain the same.
Rennie has told the Australian public that he wants his players to play on “instinct”, as well as structure, but so too did Michael Cheika and Robbie Deans.
In simple terms, the Wallabies have been coached into structures for years and they cannot break it.
The great David Campese has stated that he wouldn’t make a current Super Rugby team due to his lack of structure.
What does this say for our current players? Campo has also stated for years that basic catch and pass skills are sub-standard.
Here is a classic point that speaks to this.
Cheika wanted the Wallabies to play a certain style and they couldn’t adapt.
He takes over Argentina and changes a game plan in a week and they delivered, almost without fault.
Why?
What is the difference?
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Quite simply, Australian rugby players are robots in a system. A system that may work for other countries, but was always outside the Australian way of playing rugby.
Look at the success of the Wallabies in the ’80s and ’90s and to a lesser extent, the early 2000s.
It was “caution to the wind” but we backed ourselves. I don’t think there is player in the current set-up who could and those who did (James O’Connor and Quade Cooper) have been advised otherwise.
England, NZ, South Africa, France and Argentina, meanwhile, have embraced it and evolved.
If you look at the team, there is immense talent, but no confidence and trust in those around you.
It is time for a new generation. It is time for Rennie to be bold.
The issues lie in Taniela Tupou, fullback and fly-half, whilst the rest of the forward pack has an abundance of talent and need to be coached/mentored to be who they need to be.
Tupou clearly is not great at present.
There is not much of a care factor.
He has just become a dad, and for a number of us, that becomes priority No.1. I’d let him go overseas and get him off RA’s books.
He simply isn’t up to scratch on the rugby pitch for international rugby, but is a great dad and can forge his own life for his family.
There is nothing wrong with that, I admire him. Enjoy your time playing in Europe or Japan or wherever you see yourself being.
At fly-half, well enough is enough, O’Connor is an awesome player but is lacking confidence there.
I would certainly have him in the World Cup squad and even in the match day 23, given our youth, but he is not a starting 10.
Cooper is the guy, but will he will be underdone and Noah Lolesio must start. Bring in Tane Edmed or Ben Donaldson to start their apprenticeship.
There are no other options and if Cooper becomes available, at least you’ve given some experience to these guys.
World Cup 2023 is gone for Australia, unless Lolesio can play flatter and Cooper is available, so don’t flog a dead horse.
Noah Lolesio in action against England (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Let these guys play and build experience.
Think back to Tim Horan and Jason Little, Michael Lynagh and Campese, yes it was amateur, but Matt Giteau also exploded onto the scene. Amateur versus professional, maybe, but why are the Springboks, All Blacks, France, England and Argentina all doing it with 20-year-olds and we aren’t?
If there is a mystical theory in Australian rugby to create this belief that “you need to grow” it hasn’t worked for 20 years and perhaps should be revisited.
We have 12 months, give them a chance.
Now to fullback, Rennie has to be bold.
Andrew Kellaway must start if available but Campbell is the complete package, as per England, South Africa, New Zealand etc.
Forget flamboyance, as we can’t catch and pass to the required standards, and go with tried and tested. I also think that Jock Campbell must be included somewhere. He is a Matt Burke and is safe.
As a left-field option, perhaps, and I say this with trepidation, Suliasi Vunivalu on a wing to negate high ball.
NRL is different to international rugby, but maybe at the back, it could create questions for the Boks and see if he’s the real deal for 2023.
Mr Rennie, at this stage, you’re at 40 per cent, you’ve created depth for a reason. Maybe being bold is a master stroke.
To keep it the same will mean a quarter-final exit. Give yourself a chance.
You know what you’re doing, you need more years, but no one has had success beyond four years, except maybe Hansen.
gatesy
Roar Guru
There is no room for "L" plates or "P" plates at test level. Simple
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
It’s not a question between coach, cattle or depth, arguably. It may be more nuanced than that. Player and coach Development culture, where player and coaching skills have cumulative effect, that is, skill development begins at junior levels in a continuum upwards till professional level. With a functioning national competition, for instance, we might be guessing less about which joey 10 to ‘gamble’ on at Test level. Our stop/start pro competitions do little for the development ‘flow’ and pressure tests required to develop specialisms. And there’s nothing more ‘special’ than a playmaker.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
The Wallabies are over-coached by a Kiwi coach who take away our initiative.
Mac
Guest
Watched Tane play for Eastwood against Manly yesterday. He was very good. Composed, dangerous (40m kick pass to his winger to score) and won the game for them in the last minute with a try saving tackle / hold up over the try line. The try saver on the death impressed me the most because he is a clear winner and none of the other 10’s mentioned would have had the strength to do what he did certainly not Lolesio. Throw him in DR
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
I don't think Australja lost their way of playing (whatever that is). Modern rugby just doesn't allow you time and space. You have to create it with forwards but it's much harder as everyone is big, strong, and fit.
pm
Roar Rookie
I think you're right, exactly: " more of his individualism he loses the better he gets". Unfortunately it was in a rarer moment where he was going for some of the old individual brilliance that he blew out his achilles. O wonder if he should have been playing. Had been out with a calf, and calf and achilles are obviously very closely interdependent. Maybe should have waited another few weeks
Phantom
Roar Rookie
He needs front foot ball to make a difference as most #10s do. Even the very best look poor in the reverse gear. The answer lies in the wallaby tight 5. Get that right and the loose trio can be at their best, pick the best passing halfback and the backline will do the rest. I think that too many test players are chasing the money offshore and playing in Japan especially is no recipe for anyone to advance their skill base.
AiDoc
Guest
We have a problem at board level. When the chief, with no memory of everything the NZRFU has done for Oz rugby, tries to embarrass our closest allies, we are a sorry lot. The Kiwis used to pay for the RSA and Neanderthal Hemisphere teams to come to Australia. Then we thanked them by stealing a RWC from them. Over 25% of our Super Rugby players are Kiwis who we pay nothing for being developed in New Zealand. This aggressive, moronic behaviour must stop and we must learn to cooperate. These people are the same "Born to Rule" thinkers who have destroyed the Liberal Party and shafted a vast number of local exporters to China. After the 2003 RWC, our bank accounts looked rosy but These people set out to destroy grassroots rugby through financial negligence that resulted in the transfer of some very ordinary players from the illiterate NRL player pool. The Kiwis beat us at almost everything because the rest of the world respects them. Our board behaves like the Baggy Greens of old who got us not respect but resentment.
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
Has the penny dropped? Australia is short on exceptional players when it comes to banning most of its overseas players. Australia has very long odds on winning super rugby titles yet plans its test team selection around a competition that we constantly are dominated in. Many Australian players who have played abroad have gained experience and improved significantly. Several Years ago the standard of South African rugby was in peril. When they allowed overseas players into the Springboks team they quickly became the best rugby team in the world. The lure of a potential Wallabies jersey as opposed to being set up financially for life to care for your family and provide that financial security is the choice that sees many players seeking the money, gaining experience, and actually improving their chance of playing for the Wallabies, as many who have returned from overseas are rushed into the Wallabies team. Choice: 1. play super rugby and hope you may be considered for a Wallabies jersey in the future, knowing that players who have played overseas get picked ahead of you anyway. Choice 2. Play in Japan or Europe, get financially set for life to look after your family, improve your rugby skills and experience, and increase your chances of playing for the Wallabies, after Australians back home realise your talent. Choice 3. Play overseas. Get financially set for life, improve your rugby and get selected to that countries team, either by descendant, or living there several years. Choice 4. Play rugby league. Be a big fish in a small pond. Not picking our best players, is the result we are experiencing and will continue to experience. The money is not going away. The simple nostalgic choice 1 is not pragmatic. Is it Australian Rugby's strategic plan to do everything in its power to get the best players playing Super Rugby? That is not working. Shouldn't the plan be to be the best in the world and pick our best players?
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
I would like to see Campese as attack coach!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
So give some youngsters a go in his absence. What an opportunity.
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
Interesting reflection Riggers...! Depth versus Experience seems to be the dilemma for Wallabies today. Analyzing the recent call to face the series with RSA we see that Dave Rennie has 26 players with less than 26 caps, 2 between 30 and 50 and finally 6 with more than 50 caps. The average number of caps for this AUS call is 24 compared to 33 for RSA. The Pumas are going through a similar situation and have seemingly struck a balance between the extremes of Depth and Experience.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the article. One thing I would suggest is that you remove the rose-coloured glasses for the Wallabies of the past. The very good sides under Jones, Dwyer, and McQueen were all super disciplined and had a core structure from which they could deviate in tiny ways. Their consistent results came from people knowing their place in the structure and delivering their roles with very few errors. The current side makes too many mistakes and I suggest that's a cattle problem rather than coaching
Rouaan
Guest
It was clear under Cheika that the WBs don't have a kicking game for test rugby. Rennie had 3 years to ensure they develop it in Superugby and test level. It is one year from the RWC and still no proper kicking game to add to the attacking arsenal of the WBs. BAD COACHING. Rennie's game plan stems from the Chiefs....for Superugby YES, BUT BOT FOR TEST RUGBY.
Val Saunders
Guest
Really is Dave Rennie 'an outstanding coach'. Let's just look at how he has used the overseas player rules in particular the locks. Last year when Skelton was picked in the side he came off the bench and didn't have a huge impact. This is the player that dominated in France - how? He started and played 80 minutes so his bulk had an impact on the opposition all game and he bent them. Now we have Arnold back, another player who dominates the line out every game in France. What did the Wallabies use him as - a lifter!! Now you cannot tell me the liner caller on his own is making that decision it's what the coaches want and the head coach is Rennie. I think that what is taking place with the Wallabies is highlighting a coach who may not be up to the job!
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
He's not the greatest 10 that walked the earth, but he's the best 10 option we have (before his injury).
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Why do we care about the club season all of a sudden when it hasn't mattered to Rugby Australia for the past few years?
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Rennie came with the promise of being "the smart man's Rugby coach". How wrong that was.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
I feel for Lolesio. He has to play deep because White stuffs around so much getting the ball out that he can’t play flat or he’ll receive the ball and the opposition at the same time. Between all his arm waving and crying at the officials and his slow service White is a liability
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
QC is by far our best 10, the results speak for themselves.