Veteran coach Laurie Fisher has joined the Wallabies in an assistant role for the rest of the Rugby Championship after the departure of Matt Taylor.
Taylor, the team’s defence coach, parted ways with the team citing personal reasons in the wake of the loss to Argentina.
Fisher, the current Brumbies forwards coach, was set to join the camp on Sunday.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said in a statement: “We’re grateful Laurie has been able to join us at such short notice and would also like to thank the Brumbies for their support too.”
“He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience which will only benefit our playing group ahead of what are going to be extremely tough Test matches in the Rugby Championship.”
Fisher, 64, added: “I’m excited to join the coaching group at the Wallabies and would like to thank Dave for the opportunity.”
“I’m looking forward to getting on the grass this week and contributing to the success of the group moving forward.”
Former Springboks coach Nick Mallett has urged Jacques Nienaber to move away from his preferred six-two forwards-to-backs split on the bench.
“The real issue facing this team presently, I think, is the 6/2 bench split that has landed the Boks in trouble for three straight Tests now,” Mallett wrote in a column for 24Sport.
“It’s a real problem when you have to make virtually three changes to your backline when one player gets injured.
“If you get a wing going off early, as Jesse Kriel did on Saturday, you suddenly have to make a lot of changes. We saw Damian Willemse go to inside centre, Damian de Allende to outside centre and, even worse, Lukhanyo Am moved to the wing after Kriel left the fray. That is a lot of reshuffling.
“I don’t care how well Am played on the wing. You’ve got the best No 13 in the world – both on attack and defence – and he is invaluable in terms of closing down options and shutting down space in midfield.
“Willemse is playing so well at the moment and could easily slot into inside centre, which he did, but I think the more sensible play would have been to move De Allende – and not Am – to the wing, where he started his career. That keeps your critical defender in his proper position.
“Am had an excellent game and can obviously do a job on the wing, but I don’t think De Allende had a very good game at outside centre where he has less experience. His understanding of running up and closing space wasn’t as good as Am’s, which was to be expected.
“The big issue with the 6/2 split in its present form is how it impacts the defensive alignment of the Springbok backline. The attack was fine, and they scored two very good tries, but the Boks were nowhere near where they should be defensively.
“Willemse was one of the best centres in the United Rugby Championship, and his tackling and reading of the game were standout features. I don’t think the Boks would have lost anything, defensively, if they had paired him with Am in midfield.
“These things are easy to say in hindsight, but the Dweba performance could have predicted given what we saw against Wales and knowing how well New Zealand can compete on the lineout.
“The mistakes the Boks made early in the game were down to hooker mistakes, putting them under pressure and taking away any early momentum. I think that is an area they will need to relook, heading into their two Tests against the Wallabies.”
Dave Rennie opted for a 6-2 split for the first time in his career in the opening Test win over Argentina but switched back to his preferred 5-3 for the second game.
CUW
Roar Rookie
maybe they should be a factor in comments section ? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
BackInBlack
Guest
It’s a balance between their form leading up to the tournament eg as favourites or genuine contenders measured alongside performance at the tournament. Performance also weighed by the quality of each contest. If you looked at the Boks accidental victory in 2019: - they were convincingly beaten by the MIB in their opening match - finished second in their group - played Japan in the QF - luckily escaped France in the SF (copped an early red carded against an average Wales) - played a spent England in the final Pretty fortunate in anyone’s language if you ask me
Gavin
Guest
You’re funny. Loved to see you do a show on the stage.
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
Andre Esterhuizen did play against Wales and was largely ineffective.
Butch
Guest
Really looking forward to seeing some of the Brumbies toughness in the WB forwards. Fisher by all accounts will not tolerate anyone not following plans or having a bit of slack time. The success of the Brumbies over such a long time offers real potential for some strong WB performances in the next month. And boy not a moment too soon to involve Laurie.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
yes
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
Two years ago? so before he was involved with the Wallabies and while he was the head of the top performing Australian team was the time time fire him?
Double Agent
Guest
Yo! All you bois listen up......you've all jis bin......BRUMBIFIIIIIIIIEEEEEDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Cheating seems appropriate
Dirk
Guest
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Dirk
Guest
Careful, you will upset the paper-skinned South Africans with that observation.
Trytime
Guest
Yep as per others it’s not only me that has seen Mckellars incompetence!
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
He is the true backbone of the brumbies. Make Laurie wallabies coach
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Mallet is correct. AM Is the best 13 in rugby . Lawrie Fischer is a better coach than Rennie so that’s a good thing . Now make Quadie attack coach !
Jacj
Guest
Donaldson is better 10 than his performances for the Tahs, Australia A or Randwick have demonstrated. Where is the high opinion of his skills and ability coming from I wonder.
rusty
Roar Rookie
I worry more about the half...
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
I’d like to see one of the SA rugby sponsored analytics videos on the boks water breaks. They seem to pump 20 out a game so what is one more
rusty
Roar Rookie
Don't you get most of your players from Queensland? Wherever that is ??
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
I’ll agree the word “cheating” is a bit harsh as seeking medical treatment is in the rules… abusing that to catch a breath is 100% unsportsmanlike. And I’d go one further and say that it tarnishes the name of the hard boks.
rusty
Roar Rookie
Tom Lawnton for 2.