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For three years Dave Rennie wasted the chance to usher through new ideas and a fresh leadership voice.
Eddie Jones, possibly sensing it too late in the four-year World Cup cycle to change things up and rock the boat, opted not to change course and instead named co-captains for the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship.
It was, according to Jones, supposed to be a “powerful force for us” with Michael Hooper and James Slipper asked to lead the Wallabies in 2023.
Yet, in their first Test of the year, on their first trip to the Rainbow Nation in four years, in front of 50,000 in Pretoria with Boeing 747s flying overhead, the Wallabies lost every physical battle on the field from the set-piece to first-phase defence off lineout.
Every defence coach out there will tell you that’s partly a mental issue.
Eddie Jones has some soul searching to do ahead of the Wallabies’ Test against Argentina in Sydney. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
The Wallabies’ work rate was exposed too, with Kurt-Lee Arendse scoring his first of three tries moments after six of Jones’ starters were caught defending two Springboks on the blindside.
Ditto, their detail and awareness, as three forwards – Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost and Rob Valetini – all went to the maul at the same time allowing the Springboks to play the short side and gift Arendse his second.
The Wallabies were spared further embarrassment given the Springboks went into cruise mode in the final quarter of the match with the Test in the bag. Had the 12 players headed to New Zealand been on the bench, the margin could well have been 50 and not the 43-12 score it finished.
Jones, of course, had players missing too, including the precious commodities of props Taniela Tupou and Angus Bell, as well as crucial backs Andrew Kellaway and Jordan Petaia.
The fact Jones didn’t risk either prop despite bringing them on the tour showed how important they are for the Wallabies over the next four months.
Clearly, the Wallabies’ prop stocks were low against the world-class trio of Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and replacement Vincent Koch, but the decision to name Jordan Uelese and Zane Nonggorr on the bench was flabbergasting. Nor was Allan Alaalatoa at his best either, having been rushed back from injury to start.
But the Wallabies’ scrum woes meant they never stood a chance.
Presuming Bell and Tupou get back on the field over the next month, that will be one of Australia’s biggest areas of improvements between the Pretoria nightmare and the time the Wallabies face the All Blacks in Melbourne.
The Wallabies were beaten in every physical contest against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on July 08, 2023 in Pretoria. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Nor were the Wallabies’ second half lineout struggles a surprise either.
After all, Uelese, who was the worst-performing hooker in Super Rugby this year, was given the nod ahead of Matt Faessler, whose Reds side had the best lineout in Australia.
It was a bizarre decision that backfired, with Uelese pinged three times for not straight throws. Embarrassingly, these were throws to the front of the lineout.
Hooper was targeted in defence, with Springboks centre Andre Esterhuzien, who was given a rare start in the absence of Damian de Allende, and loose forwards Pieter Steph du Toit and Duane Vermeulen often running at the veteran openside flanker.
While modern day Test rugby requires two in the tackle in those scenarios, the sight of seeing Hooper bounce away in defence has increased dramatically. The writing was on the wall during Super Rugby.
The tempo was missing from Nic White’s game while his decision to kick from turnover ball instead of running the ball in the 27th minute despite a clear overlap was exactly what Jones’ kick-heavy strategy was designed for, while Quade Cooper was far from perfect either and targeted in defence.
Reece Hodge was shown up by Esterhuizen in the midfield while Suliasi Vunivalu was involved in three penalties and did nothing on either side of the ball to quell the sceptics that he’s Super Rugby talent let alone international standard.
Manie Libbok looked world class on starting debut during his side’s big win over the Wallabies. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Who Jones turns to over the coming days ahead of Saturday’s crucial Test against Argentina could shape the Wallabies’ success not just at this year’s World Cup but the next.
While Jones returned home in 2023 believing the Wallabies stood a chance in France, the veteran coach’s selection this week, with momentum crucial heading into the World Cup, is crucial to their success.
But it’s also the vision of that selection that is just as crucial.
Indeed, four years ago Fabien Galthie opted to turn to youth in key positions for the World Cup in Japan.
They didn’t wave the white flag, but they backed youth in certain areas and turned a new page, believing the positive and courageous steps made on the eve of the 2019 World Cup would pay dividends over the next four-year cycle as they prepared to host the campaign. In fact, it almost paid off at the time as they came within an inch of making the last four.
France’s head coach Fabien Galthie looks on during a training. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images)
On the eve of their home World Cup, France is second on the World Rugby rankings and have lost just once in two years. They are one of the World Cup favourites.
Jones is in a similar position to Galthie, the cunning former Les Bleus captain and halfback turned coach, was four years ago.
Galthie was bold in his selection and vision. He turned to players like Antoine Dupoint, Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud.
Jones must be equally firm in his vision, as he approaches selection this week.
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.