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DUBLIN – Dan McKellar has been coaching for two decades, but in all that time he says he has not seen a more devastated outfit than the one he was part of on Sunday (AEDT) following the Wallabies’ historic first loss to Italy in Florence.
The Wallabies assistant, who began his coaching career in Ireland as a player-coach as a 25-year-old, said they felt like they “let the country down” as they suffered their second straight defeat by one point, losing 28-27.
“I don’t think I’ve been in a more disappointed dressing shed than Saturday afternoon (in) Florence,” he said.
“The players that didn’t play, the staff, we were shattered. What you find where you coach at this level and you lose, you feel like you’ve let the country down. We certainly felt that.”
The consecutive defeats have seen every element of the Wallabies from coaching to selection come under heavy scrutiny, with Dave Rennie under more pressure than he has ever been since rolling into Australia in the first half of 2020, ahead of their crunch Test against world No.1 Ireland on Sunday (7am, AEDT).
Those losses, which followed their own one-point win over Scotland to snap a three-match losing run, have also put the pressure on Rugby Australia to act following a disastrous year which has seen the Wallabies win just four of 12 Tests.
McKellar went into bat for Rennie, saying the Wallabies boss “doesn’t pick the team on his own” and “there’s a whole lot of others that carry responsibility around selection”.
He added that the Wallabies’ coaching group remained “very tight” and “respectful” despite “robust conversations”, which were “encouraged” by a “composed and calm” head coach.
McKellar’s public support came after former captain Stirling Mortock declared Australia cannot win next year’s World Cup, with the Wallabies falling to eighth in the World Rugby rankings.
The forwards coach, who stepped down as Brumbies coach after five years at the helm to concentrate solely on his role with the Wallabies, naturally disagreed with Mortlock’s comments, saying they still had enough depth to mount a late charge in France next year.
“That’s Stirling’s opinion. Everyone’s got one. He’s allowed one. Do I agree with it? 100 per cent not,” McKellar said.
“There’s a good group of footballers here and there’s a core group of players that are still back in Australia as well.
“What you’ll find is the 33 that go to the World Cup next year are certainly good enough to win that trophy. We’re not worried about World Cup finals too much at the moment.”
Pete Samu of Australia leads his teammates towards a restart during the Autumn International match between Italy and Australia at Stadio Artemio Franchi on November 12, 2022 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
More pressing for McKellar is that the Wallabies deliver a response, starting this weekend against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium – a venue they have not won at since 2013.
“Professional rugby, you have got to learn to park it pretty quickly and move on,” said McKellar, who spent one season as a player-coach at Wicklow in his mid-20s.
“We’re about to come up against what I consider to be the best team in the world at the moment on their home turf in front of a sold out stadium. It’ll be a great experience.”
After three matches in as many weeks, the Wallabies had a lighter training day on a brisk but fine Monday afternoon after arriving in Dublin late on Sunday night.
Having rested a handful of players, the Wallabies are once again expected to once again make wholesale changes, with at least seven changes to the starting side expected.
Ireland, too, will make several changes after resting a number of players for their 35-17 victory over Fiji – their 11th straight victory at home.
Lions centre Robbie Henshaw and playmaker Joey Carbery picked up injuries during the match, but the likely return of Johnny Sexton, Andrew Porter, Josh van der Flier and Hugo Keenan have seen bookies make the Wallabies $6 outsiders.
Asked to expand on what made Ireland so good, McKellar said Andy Farrell’s side were the “full package”.
“I just think they’ve got all areas of their game in really good shape at the moment,” he said.
“They’ve got a good set-piece, Johnny (Sexton) just orchestrates, he sits in the pocket and directs, and he’s one of the best players in the world and just getting better and better with age.
“The detail around their game, the lines, the depth, the width, all the little micro skills that you look at as a coach.”
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.