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Opinion
Happy Rugby New Year!
Personally, I don’t think rugby is in as dire a position as many would have us believe.
First, recall that Dave Rennie left 12 injured squad members behind when the Wallabies toured and sent 11 home, injured from the tour.
Not quite the exact match day 23, but close, yet we managed to finish on a relative high with a gritty win over Wales.
One of the tries of the year scored against World No 1 Ireland, and a couple of close results versus Ireland, France and Scotland. Italy, much improved and we deserved what we got, with that many changes.
Quade Cooper and the Wallabies (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
The strength and conditioning review has had its first casualty with a top-level resignation, and I’m sure that there is more to it than that.
Four Achilles injuries in one team in one season should ring alarm bells.
We unearthed some great talent in Mark Nawaqanitawase, Nick Frost and Langi Gleeson. Most of the wingers and fullbacks survived intact. Jordan Petaia continued to improve and remained injury free. Jock Campbell was pretty sound at the back and only made one real defensive error, that I can recall.
We are in pretty good shape for most positions in the forwards. When you have a guy like Pete Samu playing off the bench, you are in a good position. Will Skelton improved with each performance and, can hopefully slot in fairly seamlessly at WC time.
The likes of Harry Wilson and others left behind, would have made them hungry for next year.
Coaching and recent coaching changes at all five franchises.
Queensland stepping up with the introduction of Phil Blake and Mick Heenan, who should allow Brad Thorn a bit more leeway, Bernie Larkham at the Brumbies, with Munster experience under his belt, (and Lord Laurie back).
Simon Cron at the Force, with a highly impressive CV, Kevin Foote at the Rebels and, of course, Darren Coleman at the Waratahs, looking to launch from the solid platform of last year.
First challenge for those coaches will be managing everyone back to full fitness, and losing star players through the compulsory resting policy, but you would think that they have had a reasonably long pre-season, the benefit of seeing the Australia A program in action, and time to plan and co-ordinate and, co-ordination should be the mantra from the top down.
I’ve put my spreadsheet together with all positions – a column for each of the 15 positions – each in order of current merit. It will be interesting to see how it develops. I just hope that Rennie, in consultation with the franchises builds his and sticks to it, rigidly.
The time for experimenting is now over and you would hope that the franchises meet with the Wallabies every couple of weeks to firm up that order of merit.
I wrote an article here in October of 2021 entitled Why I am a glass half full rugby fan, and I stick by that mantra.
Can’t wait for Feb 24.
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.