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Jock Campbell caught the eye in Australia A’s Japan tour opener but questions were raised over his physical suitability to excel at Test level.
The No.15 jersey remains both problematic and hotly contested for the Wallabies, and Campbell gets his chance to stake a claim with three games against a Japan XV.
He was one of Australia’s best in the 34-22 win in Tokyo on Saturday night – safe and sound in fielding the Japanese kicks and adding moments of real impact with the ball in hand.
And while he won praise from former internationals Morgan Turinui and Drew Mitchell, commentating on the game for Stan Sport, both mentioned his physicality as a potential issue.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has been unable to lock down a regular No.15 and plenty of others have been given their opportunity ahead of the Reds man. Campbell even found himself switched out to the wing to give Jordan Petaia a run in the No.15 during the Super Rugby campaign before he returned to the role.
“It’s an important three weeks for Jock Campbell,” said Turinui, in the context of the fullback’s ability to break into the squad for the Wallabies’ Spring Tour which starts later this month.
“You think Reece Hodge will go, Andrew Kellaway, Kurtley Beale, and I dare say the Wallabies staff are looking for an excuse to take Tom Banks. He’ll be taking part in the next two Australia A games.
“Jock Campbell? I’d love to see what a guy like him could do in and around a Wallaby squad. He’s a footballer, isn’t he? I’m not sure whether he can cope with the physical demands of Test rugby. But there’s just something about him.”
Mitchell also mentioned Campbell’s physique.
Jock Campbell during an Australian Wallabies training session. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“I quite like the look of Jock Campbell. He’s not got the biggest build so maybe physically, he’s got a little bit to go in that area, but he’s just got an eye for an opportunity,” Mitchell said.
“You see in the way that his speed changes, the acceleration when he sees some space in a line but also he’s really good at picking out a tight forward player, somebody who’s not as agile as he is to just create an opportunity.
“He’s been really good in behind as well with his cover tonight which is an area that the Wallabies haven’t been so great on throughout The Rugby Championship.”
Campbell’s Australia A coach Jason Gilmore said he got “a little bit annoyed at that [talk] about the outside backs with their size.”
“If you look at fullbacks in the NRL, you take out Latrell Mitchell, most of those guys are smaller guys, but they’re fast,” Gilmore said after Saturday’s game.
“You’ve got to have speed and evasion if you’re going to be a little bit smaller, obviously. But I don’t see Jock as a small fullback.
“He’s not Suliasi [Vunivalu] in stature but at Super Rugby level he keeps aiming up every week, so I definitely back Jock to have a crack at the next level.”
While Campbell is listed as being 1.86m tall and 85kg, Banks – the incumbent before a broken arm against England – is listed at eight kilograms heavier and the same height.
While Campbell awaits his first Test cap, there were nine Wallabies on show against the Japan XV. As expected it took a while for the team to gel, and they were behind 9-6 at the break before flourishing after the break.
Mark Nawaqanitawase came off the bench to score two tries and while Gilmore was cautious about championing his Test prospects this year he added: “He’s had a really good year. His confidence is high, he’s toughened up and he had really good 20-or-so minutes to finish the game.”
Gilmore felt Ben Donaldson at flyhalf grew into the game in the second half and he also praised the efforts of Vunivalu. Donaldson kicked often in the opening 40 minutes but not always with the required accuracy, and on occasion surrendered some hard won field position.
But he was much more in control in the second half, and set up one of Nawaqanitawase’s tries with a deft kick in behind.
Vunivalu scored a try using his power near the line and was another who came into the game more in the second 40 minutes after a difficult first half.
The coach had praise for lock Nick Frost as the youngster continues his development, having come straight from the Bledisloe Cup game in Auckland to play a significant role on Saturday.
“Frosty was good today,” Gilmore said. “I thought he was really busy. He’s just got to keep working as a tall guy on his body height with his carry.
“He stepped forward in the first half probably just a little bit upright through the contact and Japan managed to slow our ball down a fair bit. That’s always a challenge for a tall guy but I thought he was really industrious.
“He keeps going back, hitting rucks. He’s got the potential. He loves it. He’s hungry. But this tour will be really good for him to bang out three games.”