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.”
Micko
Roar Rookie
That's not really relevant because Australia & NZ play each other more than other countries. Australia also loses to NZ more than any other country.
rusty
Roar Rookie
PS I'd include a game plan in the macro but Dan and Dave seem to have a micro plan that nobody can understand or play.
rusty
Roar Rookie
The basics are macro. Dan can't see the macro for the micro. Clear enough?
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Ther jerseys have been steadily improving year on year. The first nation's jersey is a wonderful strip, and the Cadbury Old Gold normal strip is pretty tight as well.
Republican
Guest
......you are a small nation that cannot be compared with the disparate Federation we are. Even our Indigenous are many nations as opposed to the Maori who I understand, commanded the one language. There is no point in making analogies between NZ and Australia as we are poles apart in every respect. The only trait we share is are our colonial beginnings and even these are a chalk and cheese narrative truth be told. Australia can compare itself with the USA and Canada more accurately, whereas NZ is more akin to any of the Scandi nations perhaps, where it is far more straightforward to maintain a national solidarity of political, cultural and social sentience.
Republican
Guest
.......but you don't support - you scape goat the Wallabies integral to your delusions of grandeur which is counter intuitive to the actual status of the code in Australia. The harsh reality is this is as good as it gets for Union in this country.
Republican
Guest
'They lost'. They - NZ were more than competitive v our inflated League side in a code that is of little consequence in NZ even less than Union here. Conversely the Wallabies were defeated by Italy while it's a fait a compli that they will.lose to NZ and has been for donkeys.
Craig
Guest
The scrum has improved immeasurably. Ten years' ago you didn't see the English, the French of the Saffas getting driven off their own feed.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Have you ever thought that in Aotearoa, that we Kiwi's, are more respectful, in embracing our culture? We are a nation, apart from a few monarchists, that are & becoming more orientated in the beliefs of culture, of the land & it's people. That does help, in uniting us as one.
Etepeus
Roar Rookie
Problem is if you sit out all the player that people on this site have claimed are not test standard, then you probably can't field a team. First five, sit out Loesli, Foley, Donaldson, JOC, Hodge, who then do you have, QC on 1 leg. Same at half back, White would play 80 minutes and every game, see how long he can last. Until RA seriously address development at lower levels, an internal competition that churns up options and forces everybody to be better, this same story will continue to be repeated.
Mirt
Roar Rookie
Just like this tour, winning Bill is about Rennie planning to beat Ireland and France. Well we’ve seen how that goes…. . But to get to a semi, Rennie needs to beat Fiji, then England or Argentina. If we get to a semi then start planning for two games against top 4 opposition. . This tour should have been aimed at games 1, 3 and 5. Go home with 3-5 wins. But Rennie wanted to win them all
Mirt
Roar Rookie
Hate to disagree with you ankletapped but two converted tries equal 14 not 10. . Take that 14 off, give them their 4 missed penalties ( 4 times 3 equals 12, just in case your wondering) and we have a 1 point win. Rennie is lauded for getting quality time into all that young talent, bring in the big boys for Ireland, another 1pt masterclass. Bring on the medical staff and water boys for Wales, you guessed it 1 point win, and we go home to a rapturous ticker tape parade after a 4-1 tour. . . Oh sorry, got carried away. Back to real life. Gordon, you goose!!
JOHN MANN
Guest
I was at the game and Australia did not deserve to win. An Italian supporter, in front of me, cried at the end because it meant so much to him. I'm like you and him, dedicated to my team and I will never give up.
GC Red
Roar Rookie
Brumball has been unable to topple the Reds and their second stringers for the last 2 years. Why does RA think it will be a success against world opposition.
Trytime
Guest
Mackellar again big noting. He hasnt been coaching for 2 decades. He was a bit part coach until he scammed a gig at brumbies who had Larkham. Mackellar is the problem. He supposedly coached these brumbies at super level and should have got them up to standard but clearly they are not. Now he has been handed the forwards gig at the wallabies by RA and has been a complete failure. REnnie did don’t want him hence the reason it took over 12 months to do the deal. Rennie could see he wasn’t up to it. Now RA, Rennie and the wallabies are paying the price paying for his incompetence.The players have worked him out and now don’t respect him hence why brumbies keep getting selected. Mackellar needs to be sacked after the review or he needs to walk. Give the forwards gig toFisher up to the World Cup.
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Not really sure that NZ v Kangaroos is a great example of how NZ are going to 'take over' another code??? They lost? NZ have won 24% of their matches v the Kangroos over history. In the 2010s decade they have won 5/21 (24%). The odds for NZ in the last match were 4.94 which is roughly 20% chance of winning in the bookies eyes. Looks to me that everything is completely in line with history? Nothing has changed. Bookies give Samoa 12% chance of winning this weekend. Probably better than it would of been historically but far from dominance by the PI players versus the puny uncombative Australian players. I hope Samoa do great this weekend and would be happy with either team winning, but the reality is it would be a massive upset if they won. The bookies are better at predicting things than us punters.
Tez
Roar Rookie
Ok Dan McKellar how the hell do you guys, the coaching group, fix the discipline problem? Why are the Wallabies the most penalized team in international rugby? Why are the Wallabies the slowest team to the offensive breakdown in international rugby? Tell me why after two years these problems are still cropping up? If you cannot answer then maybe all you guys should go. I am convinced we have the players but why do we not have the game plan or proper selections?
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Great comment. It is madness that this issue hasnt been addressed. It began in the second half of Chiekas era. Just selecting running forwards and leaving the breakdown to 1 or 2. Rennie has continued this. If you look at our packs how many over the ball players are there? Very few. Even if you don't win the ball back you have to slow down the opposition ball. The brumbies do this very well. They counter ruck excellently. I don't understand why the Wallabies dont? They have on occasions (the excellent win v SA last year) but most of the time it is a deliberate decision not to compete?
Sunny
Roar Rookie
I'm not actually sure if the WBs have been able to select their best 23 this year. I have no idea why they made so many changes for the Italy game. I would have thought consistency in selection would have helped get a better result. I still reckon if they can get all of their best players fit next year they're still capable of causing an upset. The problem for them is there are so many strong teams running around now. Hopefully they go well against IRL this weekend.
Tim Schuster
Roar Rookie
The country wouldn’t even know the Wallabies were playing, let alone care. The rusted on who are living the death spiral deserve a lot better. Get rid of any coach who makes the total less than the sum of parts.