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.”
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
First the centers, Frank Bunce. Later the wingers - Naholo came in looking for work and could Jackal - BTW he was formidable and built like Malcolm Marx. Hope he made some big bucks - way better than Caleb who is a poor imitation of Dad Eroni.
Carn Reds
Roar Rookie
He's bigger than KB whos name it being used in the same sentence. I'm not sure where this concern is coming from. He sticks his tackles and makes good breaks.
Zero_Cool
Roar Rookie
Honestly, we really needed to have played him against England, if not then, then against Argentina in the second game when we had that backline shuffle. At minimum, he needed to have come off the bench in Argy 2. He really needed to be allowed to establish himself as the Test Fullback, BEFORE the EoYT. Instead, we will probably yo-you him in and out of the Test Team for the End of Year Tour. He's probably our best, most fullback like fullback. He's so deceptive and such an intelligent player, if D-Mac can excel at Test Rugby then no reason Campbell can't, but you can't know that until you actually play him. He is everything we want in a fullback. Great under the high ball, knifing ball runner and an underrated and deceptive playmaker. Not to mention his positioning is probably the best in the country, and he'd probably allow us to play two power wingers even against the European Teams as he is a great coordinator of those back 3. Now even if he's played for the whole EoYT he's still likely underdone for the World Cup at Test Level and he's not getting any younger.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Our team, all of our teams, need work on flexibility insomuch as it can help with our ability to jackal. Not enough guys are real threats over the ball.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
For sure, size paired with smarts and quickness is most preferable. He is a lean guy, which doesn’t necessarily take away from strength, but I reckon his frame would handle some extra muscle without taxing his agility too much. As long as he does some plyometrics to keep training those fast twitch muscles in tandem with strength workouts. On that note, I think rugby would do well with incorporating more plyo training into their regimes, agility across all 15 positions is becoming more and more important.
jameswm
Roar Guru
As rookies you mean?
Mo
Guest
I appreciate you know a lot about this James but don’t nearly all the afl guys pump on 5 kgs of muscle?
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Campbell is our future . He can’t tackle front on but neither can most of our wingers . After watching that match I was thinking that Rennie is lucky that he doesn’t need many of them . Campbell , Frost and Robertson excepted . Most should have a red line ruled through . The two wingers really have no idea but after another year of provincial rugby they just might be useful one day.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
That said, if he could do it and retain his agility, I'd like him to carry those extra 6kg
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
There is a youtube out there of Te_nug's gym fitness/strength training. Another great one is his skills training where he credits "Mick the kick" for developing/advising drills.
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
Aaron Smith has gone from 170/75Kg to 83Kg. When first selected he tackled front rowers, successfully - tecnique. Bit more self-preservation now, but he still makes momentum killing tackles. Kolbe does from wing and in past super rugby did from FB - technique and guts needed.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
Jock has a little bit of 'Larkam' about him. I have seen him ghost his way through back lines at club level for a while now - don't know how he does it. He could be special in the right team set up. He tackled a charging Jack Cornelson down the left side, front on, against Japan, and stopped him dead.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Cheslin Kolbe is a small guy. But not all small guys are Cheslin Kolbe.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Ah that’s his name, keep getting Hugo mixed up as a Healy for some reason. I made a comment on the live feed that Jock looked similar to him, at least physically, in the way he kicks and runs to elude defenders. I definitely think talk over his size is overblown, we have an obsession with size over smarts.
Jack
Guest
“Banks is very poor with far too many dumb mistakes”. Is this a belief or is the comment based on actual evidence? You’d pick a player based on your views of his up side even though he’s yet to put in a consistent super season. Banks would be the starting fullback now if he wasn’t injured. His $value in the world market is easily twice that Campbell - based on performance.
Tez
Roar Rookie
I would take Jock on the Spring Tour and give him a crack but I would not take Banks .... we know what Tom can give and it is probably not enough.
KF
Guest
Interestingly enough, Sevu Reece is listed as 179cm 87kg (seen 98kg, but it must have been typo) OTOH, there are other smaller players who played as fullback e.g. Cheslin Colbe - 171cm 75kg, Leigh Halfpenny 178cm 85kg, Gio Aplon 175cm, 78 kg.
PeterK
Roar Guru
For the NH tour Koroibete is not available. So Kellaway 1 wing, the other wing up for discussion, Campbell f/b.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
He’s 6kg lighter and the same height as Hugo Keenan, who is a candidate for best fullback in the world.
arthur (Artie)
Guest
one fullback I greatly admire is Jaminet of France. This guy is not just good , he is a great player and certainly one of the best in the world. His weight- 85kg, the same weight as Jock Campbell. Time to give Campbell good game time with the Wallabies. Please keep Beale right away from the Wallabies.