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Matt Burke believes too many players were learning on the job for the Wallabies in 2022 and says striking the right balance in selection will be vital for their World Cup aspirations.
Burke, the brilliant World Cup-winning fullback, slammed the constant “chopping and changing” from Dave Rennie, believing players were serving “apprenticeships” while playing for the nation.
He also bemoaned the treatment of rising playmaker Noah Lolesio, believing the Brumbies No.10 would have been left “mind-f—ked” after yet another year where he was in and out of the side.
The Wallabies finished the year on a high note, running over the top of Wales in Cardiff to claim a stunning 39-34 victory at the scene of their last World Cup triumph in 1999.
The five-point victory, however, was just the Wallabies’ fifth win from 14 Tests in 2022, which left coach Dave Rennie with an unflattering 38 per cent winning percentage after three years in charge – the lowest win rate from a Wallabies coach in the professional era.
The struggles of the national side, specifically the inability to put away sides and ice others, has seen Rennie’s future come up for discussion, particularly since Eddie Jones’ departure from England.
Burke did not advocate for Rennie to be pushed on, nor Jones join the coaching set-up, citing a potential clash of egos, but said he was surprised by the constant selection changes.
“That’s the frustration that everyone sees in a number of positions that we’re chopping and changing the whole time,” Burke told The Roar.
Matt Burke believes the “chopping and changing” of selection hurt the Wallabies in 2022. Photo: Ian Jacobs/MB Media/Getty Images
Burke pointed specifically at fullback, where six different players wore the No.15 jersey in 2022. Only two of those, Tom Banks and Jock Campbell, were specialists in the position.
“I remember Timmy Horan saying about Jordan (Petaia) maybe playing fullback, and then I remember Jordan saying, ‘I think I might play fullback.’ But you don’t think you’d like to play fullback, you actually have to do an apprenticeship there and I think that’s where we’re stumbling at the moment,” Burke said.
“You need time in the position to be familiar with that position.”
Burke, who wore the No.15 jersey for the Wallabies during the 1999 World Cup, said it was imperative players of national interest were playing the role at Super Rugby level.
“For this period coming up in Super Rugby 2023, you’ve got to have a player and a person who is in that position week-in, week-out, so it just becomes familiar and you understand decision-making,” he said.
“You understand when to run and when to kick, mind you there’s not a great deal of kicking these days, and pulling the trigger in a fullback’s headspace rather than being a throw-in, ad hoc in there and not really understanding (the intricacies), having a go and having a good go, but I think that’s that consistency.
“You’ve got to know the 14 blokes in front of you feel safe when you’re out the back there. It’s not just the running and the passing, it’s the communication you have at the back there, and the chat is so important when you’ve got barrages, people are holding the ball for longer and longer, so you’ve got to be able to be a voice for people who are spent because they’re working so hard in the front-line.”
Matt Burke was impressed by Jock Campbell at fullback. Photo: Xavier Laine/Getty Images
Burke highlighted Campbell, who was excellent on his starting debut against France in Paris, as someone who could wear the No.15 jersey for the Wallabies at the World Cup but added striking the right balance was imperative.
“Jock Campbell got moved to a bit of wing action for the Reds, but he’s been the one who has probably spent the most time in that 15 role through Super Rugby and the previous two years,” Burke said.
“Him coming on this tour, I think it’s quite a good thing, so at least you’ve got someone there who can go, ‘Yep, I can play fullback and that is my job.’ It is so specific as well.
“He’s got speed, vision, we know he can get over the line, so you’ve got a guy in there who could fill a role and fill it well.
“Again, it becomes a balance. I’m not a big fan of having a first XV and fitting the best players in because sometimes if you fit the best in, it just doesn’t click, and you don’t get those real combinations in. He could do that job well.”
Burke said the Wallabies needed to continue to work on their game smarts and pointed to Rennie’s side allowing South Africa to take the ascendency into their return match in Sydney by scoring two quick tries in Adelaide.
“There was about 10 minutes to go, take the shot at goal, put scoreboard pressure on them,” he said.
“You don’t have to keep playing to score tries. But what those three points allow you to do is chase after. It’s understanding specifics around the park as well.”
Matt Burke believes Noah Lolesio’s player development has not been helped by his treatment at the Wallabies. Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
“For me, it was consistency or lack thereof in that selection policy (that reflected poorly on the year),” Burke said.
“Three 9s, 10, I feel for Noah Lolesio.
“We keep hearing he’s got great talent, great skill, but he doesn’t get a start in that last Test against Wales. You put Donno in there, I’m not taking away from Donno in that space, a rookie to guide the team around to someone who excelled in the French series a couple of years ago, kicked us to a win in Brisbane, so you need to play at the high level to be able to sustain and understand what’s going on there.
“I’m not a big fan of testing them out. You don’t test out at national level. You test out maybe at Super Rugby and club, but when you’re playing for your country, you know what’s going on.”
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.