- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
It’s a bit overblown to call it a cavalry charge of reinforcements but the absolute best thing for the Wallabies in a World Cup year is to have every possible weapon available for selection.
Coach Eddie Jones will feel quietly excited that even his 24-7 work cycle as a coach won’t be able to keep up with Twickenham, Melbourne and Dunedin this weekend.
That’s where his eyes have to be focused to keep tabs on potentially key figures in the Wallabies’ World Cup plans.
So what are our talking points with Week 14 upon us in Super Rugby Pacific.
Good guy and good coach that Dave Rennie is, there was no way he was going to coach the Barbarians in 2023.
Enter “Eddie Everywhere.” Jones has the reins of the Barbarians side this week for the weekend clash against the World XV.
Surprise, surprise. Samu Kerevi and Quade Cooper are both involved. Whether they play a bit or a lot, Jones will know instantly how they are tracking for Test action in July.
Barbarians Head Coach Eddie Jones looks on at a training session at Latymer School on May 24, 2023 in London ahead of his side’s clash with Steve Hansen’s World XV. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Barbarians)
Flyhalf Cooper and inside centre Kerevi were just back into action at the end of the Japanese season. To watch them step up into the fast-paced environment of a Barbarians game works on many levels.
Is Cooper’s repaired Achilles ready for the agility required as a Test fly-half? We know he has the brain.
Likewise, how is Kerevi’s movement after a long term injury?
People have quickly forgotten that Wallabies ace John Eales missed the 1999 Super Rugby season with a shoulder injury.
As far as we recall, that season ended OK with Eales lifting the Webb Ellis Cup above his shoulders in Cardiff.
Friday night’s Melbourne Rebels v Western Force clash at AAMI Park is significant with Izack Rodda back for his first game of the regular season.
Having watched the Force lock in his pre-season trial against the Fijian Drua, two things stood out.
His willingness to work was still there with a couple of early ball carries and involvements.
He also had a little less leg drive that we are accustomed to which is understandable after a long-standing foot issue.
Izack Rodda will make his return to Super Rugby against the Rebels on Friday. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Getting that leg drive up to scratch in games so he’s punching over the ad-line is perhaps the biggest thing we need to see.
Equally, Rebels lock Matt Philip made a 53-minute comeback last round. He too needs to show that explosive leg drive after a major knee injury to get fully back in the picture for the Wallabies.
It’s great to see the two Wallabies locks back in action. Every game, every hit out, is vital.
Hunter Paisami has been out of sight with a knee injury. He has a big case to make in the final two rounds.
He’ll come off the bench against the Highlanders on Friday night and likely start against the Fijian Drua a week later.
The Queensland Reds centre has some catch-up to do with Samu Kerevi, Lalakai Foketi and Len Ikitau as frontline figures for the Wallabies.
NSW Waratahs outside centre Izaia Perese still has much to prove.
Hunter Paisami will make a timely return via the bench against the Highlanders. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
That’s not about whether he can run hard and bust tackles but whether he can make anyone around him soar too.
The impetus for one of winger Mark Nawaqanitawase’s best games of the season against the Drua wasn’t because Perese was feeding him the ball but because fullback Max Jorgensen was.
Perese (back spasm) is spelling from Saturday’s game against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Losing Tom Robertson to an ACL injury has scuttled his World Cup dreams but also heaped pressure on the Wallabies’ prop stocks.
It’s the last thing needed with Angus Bell’s toe issue such a question mark and Taniela Tupou yet to return after his major Achilles injury.
Did someone utter the name Blake Schoupp?
Tupou is planning to play some club rugby for Brothers in Brisbane as his way back into the game. It is a wise step because a mended Achilles can often flair into issues elsewhere with a calf muscle and the like.
Since Tupou has some of the world’s biggest calf muscles, it’s best for all that his return is the long game with club hit-outs before a rush into anything else.
Whether you are a Kiwi or an Aussie, we need to celebrate quality in rugby.
Beauden Barrett played his final Super Rugby Pacific match on Australian soil in Brisbane last round when a couple of lovely try touches highlighted how lucky we have been watching him for decade.
On Friday night, All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith will play for a final time in Dunedin.
Aaron Smith will play his final home game for the Highlanders. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
He’s been a one-club guy for the Highlanders in Super Rugby since 2011 when he was more regularly offering his barber skills to team-mates.
That’s exceptional service. His glue-fingered ways when receiving ball tapped off lineouts or randomly popping out of rucks is class.
Even Australians should appreciate A Smith.
Best Englishman in Super Rugby Pacific?
It’s a small field but Force outside centre Sam Spink is winning fans. His physical style and direct running will be back again in 2024.
As for Zach Kibirige? It’s not yet known what he’s up to, but he’s got speed to burn and has scored some phenomenal tries.
The Brumbies have a decent shot at overturning the table-topping Chiefs in Canberra.
Zealous and pressuring defence was the Reds’ formula a few weeks ago and the Brumbies can crank that up and get help from keeping penalties to a minimum.
You have to like how flanker Jahrome Brown has attacked the second half of the season for the Brumbies. Plenty of that grit from the pack en masse is needed.
No Anton Lienert-Brown is a nice assist for the Brumbies’ chances.