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.”
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
Umm, how old is he? Chopped and changed by DR
Saw that Larkhams caps in 1999 were 25, and he was the lead capped no.10, with Lathham and Kafer listed as the other 10s, 5 caps and 1 cap each respectively (I can’t recall who got what game time in the WC, obvs remember Bernie’s drop goal). Berrick Barnes had 0 caps in 2007, Larkham the other, with over 100 by then at 33 years of age. I don’t understand the criticism of Rennie not developing his 10s if you measure his record against the past, we rarely get a great 10, the norm is something serviceable. Cooper (I’d call great) and Noah seem like a reasonable if not ideal pairing, and if QC is injured maybe it has to be Foley and Noah, or forget Foley and just play Noah and Donaldson, either way it doesn’t look so terrible when you look at our other Wallaby WC pairings. It does seem terrible if you compare across the ditch.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ Do not agree. QC is the past not the future. “ Do not agree OO. QC is the present not the past. Blind Freddy sees that as clearly as old man Sexton is the same for Ireland, yknow, number 1 in the world.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ the criticisms of Rennies strategy and culture building are like loose left hooks in a dim pub.” Yes Tom, and embarrassingly inspired by a mob of elbow patches in old blighty.
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
Tom, Essentially I agree with the author that the development of NL has not been well managed and could have been done better, particularly in the context of the history of the problem and the lack of a standout 10. My issue is that the comments fall largely into 2 groups DR is the saviour or should be sacked. My problem is that if you didn’t know 10 was an issue for the wallabies since at least 2019 you weren’t paying attention, I feel that when we went to 3 selectors in the lead up to RWC 2019 we went into a phase of find a fill in 10 to get us through the next game. I felt that was the approach at RWC 2019. The timing seems to coincide with the arrival of Scott Johnson. DR seems then to have taken the same approach. So I just can’t handle the suggestion that he has dealt with one of our major problems well. I don’t think he has done a great job but I don’t think he should be sacked. His role was to take us to RWC 2023. We now have a dream draw, with a SF almost guaranteed. He should have the opportunity to see it through. I am not optimistic about who things will work out but that was the decision RA made and should be accountable for it. As I assess the facts, it looks like more of 2019 before DR realises there is no 10 from the current player group and he has not or can not develop NL into a test 10 in time for 2023. Perhaps I should not use the word “deluded”, and yes, we can agree to disagree. I am a frustrated Wallabies fan. I feel that Rugby survives in Aus despite the best efforts of RA. The game is taking off in many other countries but struggling in Aus. Here we just seem to accept the same excuses and repeat the same mistakes again and again.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
Whats there to agree to disagree on? My statements: "Tom Wright should not have been selected as fullback this year. Either should Petaia or Kellaway. I would have had Campbell in 15 as soon as Banks got injured" "Campbell didn't get a chance to show his worth" Where did I ever say that Wright is a better fullback than Campbell? Given a full season of SR at 15 do I think Wright will end up as a better Fullback? absolutely. Do I think Wright is a better outside back? 100% but outside backs are both wings and fullback.
100%
I read your earlier comments closely OO, but I remain confused: in 2020 and 2021 you say play Noah against some of the lesser sides, which matches do you play Noah on that roster? There weren’t too many lesser sides, and he got ample game time at home against France lite. And if you’re playing him against the lesser sides, who do you play at 10 in the other matches? Against the better sides? Players who are even less experienced than Noah? Doesn’t make sense, particularly if you’re writing off JOC, Hodge, QC and Foley. Quade revealed himself to be the best 10 in the country in part due to accidents of circumstance, but some credit needs to go to those who guided him back and you listen to the players around him how much he’s valued, so it is mentorship.. His form on return revealed that his absence was a greater sin than his age. You play your best 10 when they’re fit, as Ireland do with their old warrior Sexton, and you work to install others beneath, but it’s not a given that these will all be world class or even a relative strength in the side. Good sparring with you though, we can agree to disagree without either of us being deluded ????
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How was his demise one missed tackle against France? He was selected at 15 for the very next test
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
No Tom - read the earlier comment. The fairytale you and the other DR deluded tell is just not factually accurate. In short 10 a problem at the start of his appointment, time wasted with JOC and Hodge, no accelerated development of young talent, failure leads to QC and Foley not “mentoring”. Failure to properly identify the problem at the start, initial application of the wrong solution. DR should never have got himself to the position he was in in relation to 10 in 2021. The point of the article is that the development of NL has been very poor. I agree and have explained my view, it is consistent with the facts not the fairytale.
Olly
Roar Rookie
No point having a winger if you can’t get the ball to them…..bigger problems at 10 and 2 and can’t see them not selecting Kerevi…..if the Hooker fire then that opens up one more overseas play slot which will be a fight between Koro and Skeleton. Simple reality of the current situation.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
But he isn’t no BS. Complains about players learning positions at test level. But that happened with Larkham when he played. That seems like pure BS from him
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Is it worthwhile discussing when he says things like players shouldn’t learn a position at test level when he was in the team when Larkham was doing just that?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How can a player that isn’t in the 23 without injuries be a coaches favourite?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
This seems wilfully ignorant from Burke. He played with Stephen Larkham who is one of our greatest 10s… who learnt on the job at test level. As for the chopping and changing. When first and then sometimes 2nd and 3rd choice players are injured, this tends to occur. You have to try players. They may not work out.
Hicks
Roar Rookie
Delusional, Korobiete is the best wing the Walabies have, so unfortunately for you he will be in the best Wallaby 15.
Hicks
Roar Rookie
Yeah naaaaaaah mate. I’d have Marika the John Eales medalist before Skelton any day of the week. Best wing in the world imo. Will hasn’t played that that great anyway and can be replaced. All games he has played over the last 2 tours of Europe the Wallabies have lost.
Hicks
Roar Rookie
He said Marika will be the first "outside back" selected, Quade and Kerevi are inside backs.
Ok, so your argument is that Rennie was wrong to bring Cooper into the squad in 2021 as a mentor and for depth when JOC is injured? Wrong to play him after we lost three straight in 2021 with Noah, and wrong when we won the next four with Cooper at the helm, before we lost to Scotland when he’d left the squad? Are you suggesting he should have bought an even greener player instead of Noah, or persisted with Noah after the three losses, and not bothered to look to other experienced 10s for mentorship?
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
Do not agree. QC is the past not the future. These are selections to win the next test not to win the next RWC. Sadly the facts don’t match your narrative, QC only came back after JOC and Hodge did not make it. Foley even later. Not a grand strategy by a wise coach, a decision made in desperation. If they were brought in to mentor the next gen wouldn’t you do that at the start of your appointment. Just more spin from the DR deluded.