Andrew Kellaway admits he’s been “chasing my lungs for the last 10 days”, but the fit-again Wallabies outside back says he’s “ready to go” and will pull on any jersey to line up against the All Blacks on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Kellaway, who missed the Wallabies’ opening two Tests after suffering a hamstring injury in training, is in the hunt to start in the No.15 jersey after Tom Wright was axed late last week.
A series of blunders against Argentina exposed Wright’s shortcomings, but his axing from the entire squad was a surprise given the Brumbies fullback was one of Australian rugby’s stronger performers throughout Super Rugby.
What Wright’s dumping revealed was that no one is safe under Eddie Jones’ watch, particularly with time of the essence less than a month out from the Wallabies’ departure to France.
“Seeing a guy of Wrighty’s class leave the group is only reaffirmation of that fact,” Kellaway told reporters on Monday.
“If you don’t take your opportunity then you leave yourself up for those things you can’t control.
“I don’t think that’s anything new. That’s something that’s always been there.”
Andrew Kellaway is poised to return against the All Blacks on Saturday at the MCG. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
On Saturday, Jones said Kellaway and Jordan Petaia, who is also hopeful for a recall after recovering from wrist surgery, had spent time training at fullback since the Wallabies regrouped last Thursday following four days off.
Curiously, Jones sidestepped whether Carter Gordon had spent any time in the position.
Realistically though, it’s hard to imagine anyone but Kellaway or Petaia in the No.15 jersey for a match of such significance.
Petaia’s explosiveness, raking kick and ability in the air has pricked Jones’ interest, but Kellaway’s street-smarts and ability to find space could have him just ahead to start at fullback.
Should Kellaway return, he’ll face a baptism of fire against an All Blacks side that is soaring.
Nor will he have time to get going either, with Ian Foster’s side showing magnificent accuracy and fluency in their game plan to blow Argentina and South Africa away in the opening stages of their recent Rugby Championship encounters.
Carter Gordon has had a promising start to his international career. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Yet, Kellaway, who scored on starting debut against the All Blacks in 2021 before scoring a double a week later against the same side on the wing, said that the high intensity at training had helped bring him up to speed.
“I’m getting used to coming back from injury at the moment. It’s been a pretty stop-start last two years,” he said.
“It’s tough coming back from injury but that’s part of the game and I’m fortunate the way we’ve been training lately. It’s probably as hard, if not harder than any game could throw at us, so I’m in the best possible spot to be prepared to come back.”
Nor is fullback the only position up for grabs in the backline, with Jones needing to settle on his midfield combination following Len Ikitau’s injury.
With Samu Kerevi likely to be retained, it leaves Waratahs duo Lalakai Foketi and Izaia Perese, as well as Petaia, battling it out to join the former Reds captain in the midfield.
What the performances of the past month have shown is that it’s hard to bring back multiple players from injury and expect them to hit the ground running immediately.
For that reason, it’s possible that Petaia, whose punch and ability to shrug away defenders is something Jones saw first-hand during the 2019 World Cup knockout stage, could come off the bench in his first match since the start of May.
Izaia Perese is an option to return for the Wallabies. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Perese, meanwhile, has impressed Jones since scraping into the Wallabies’ squad despite a slow start to the season for the Waratahs.
“He’s definitely a big option for us. He’s trained really well,” Jones told reporters on Saturday.
“When he came into (first) camp in June he was probably just making the squad. He’s really elevated himself, he’s got a great attitude to learn and is impressing us all round.
“He wants to go, mate. He’s off the long run, he’s banging it in short and not waiting for anyone to tell him what to do.
“That’s the sort of player we want.
“It reinforces the point I keep making. Australian rugby is at its best when we’ve got a bit of arrogance, got a bit of aggression, got a bit of boldness and we’re going at the opposition. It always has to come with smartness.
“That’s the team we want. A team that goes at the opposition.”
Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones has some crucial selection decisions to make ahead of their opening Bledisloe Test against the All Blacks. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
The Bledisloe fixture comes 10 months after the Wallabies’ heartbreaking and controversial 39-37 loss across town at Marvel Stadium.
While those painful lessons serve as a reminder of the decision-making required and the fact the Wallabies can’t be written off, more pressing is how the Wallabies balance using the ball.
After failing to win the ball back in Pretoria and being carved up across the park by the Springboks, the Wallabies weren’t able to capitalise on their turnovers against Los Pumas.
It meant the Wallabies once again had less than 40 per cent possession, leaving many to question Jones’ vision and tactics months after the veteran coach had emphatically decried that “possession rugby is dead”.
Kellaway said the Wallabies were still coming to grips with the changes Jones wanted.
“Are they reflective of where we’re at? I don’t think so,” he said.
“I think they’re more reflective of possibly our mindset as a group, which we’ve had to have a big shift.
“Eddie’s been working really hard to just change our perception around a couple of things, around the way we play the game, around the way we see the game. So, I suppose those stats maybe reflect a little bit of that but the most important stat at the end of the day is the score line, so we’ll work on tweaking that.”
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Man, we desperately need another Smith-like player. Guy just couldn't stop. Even in his twilight years he was still better than most today.
Try Hard
Roar Rookie
Agree mate..It's about leadership at the top. Also, Hooper (who I rate below Pocock and much lower than Smith) gave it his all every game, but rarely came up with the chocolates. McCaw and Carter gave it the same, but were part of a winning group. It's easy when your on top.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Hooper doesn't look as interested anymore. Which is a shame if you look at Ruchie McCaw and Dan Carter. They left the best for last and they were both older than these two.
Jazz
Roar Rookie
Put the whole three in, Kellaway, Petaia & Perese. Give them a go, prove their metal or lack of and see what happens! Seems we have nothing to lose but the Cup and another letdown but its worth a risk. AB's will be unsure what to expect from them so give it a shot. AB's will start fast and accelerate their play, so fitness, defense, cool heads will be paramount for the WB's. There's an interesting insight into Beauden Barret's mind on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod show interview, he's a class, very calm, smart and a calculated player. He mentioned they always need a plan a,b&c as the play dictates. The WB's seem to be like a bunch scattered chooks at the moment but i believe we are finally working in the right direction but just might not be as fast as some would hope for! We will get there and we just got trust the system and see what happens.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
If Kellaway could play like he can yap he’d be Ben Smith . He can’t and he is not a test class 15 . He is at 14 .
Try Hard
Roar Rookie
Qualify, I am a huge fan of QC. His hands and feet movements are unbelievable; but they have seen better days. I agree with your comments about McReight and his lacking of the physical side. But, like QC, Hooper is not able to keep up with the physical side and we have seen more than enough, when the physical side comes to him, he makes little impact. Hooper should move on. QC hand over to Carter Gordon over the first couple of rounds of the World Cup. White shouldn't even sit on the bench
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
What the hell? What does the condition of Canberra Stadium have to do with Wright's playing ability? And how is Wright's form in Super Rugby, where Jones has said he wants Australian players to play, not relevant?? Tom Wright made two errors in that last test; he knocked on from a low kick return (for goodness sake, Hodge has the worst hands in the world and he's always forgiven), and he threw a pass to Carter Gordon who wasn't expecting it (but should have been!). The big problem with the Wallabies is, and has been for a decade or more, their ATTACK. It's not their defence or their discipline, as rugby journalists and even some coaches keep paying lip service to, it's the fact that we can't break down defences and score tries. By default, we end up defending and under extreme pressure, then the errors and penalties come. Axing one of our best attacking players, a player with great ball skills and outstanding positional play, is a step backwards. Kellaway is brilliant, and I hope he is selected and plays well, but axing Tom Wright from the squad is a mistake.
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
Options for starting centres are probably Kerevi and perese. Alternative is foketi at 12 and Kerevi at 13 but latter not really so good as 13 option. Fullback kellway with Petaia on the bench covering centre, wing and fullback (our new hodge).
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
"A series of blunders against Argentina exposed Wright’s shortcomings, but his axing from the entire squad was a surprise given the Brumbies fullback was one of Australian rugby’s stronger performers throughout Super Rugby." Winning Super Rugby in Canberra in a tinpot stadium in freezing conditions doesn't mean you're good at Test Rugby. The Brumbies don't get results in Super Rugby Finals Series either. The warning signs were there.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
It will be interesting to see IF Kerevi uses his outside backs much. He has a tendency to "hog" the ball at times and starve 13's and wingers. Time will tell, I suppose.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
I somewhat agree with you. Problem is, there’s no clear substitute for Hooper imo. Up until now I feel McRight is lacking on the physical side (Hopefully he proves me wrong!) and I’d swop White for McDermott in a heartbeat. With regards to Quade, I honestly don’t understand the hate he’s been getting. I think he’s coming along nicely and I like the idea of gradually exposing Gordon to the fold. After them, there are zero other 10’s in Oz if you ask me.
Try Hard
Roar Rookie
Having the trio of QC, White and Hooper on the field for the first 60 minutes will be what weakens the Wallabies. All three are at the twilight of their respective careers and have become slow, predictable and ineffective.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Exactly. That's why our centres can't be passive in defense. Like Gordon, they should go look for the tackles. Hurt them with every shot. Like Rocky in Rocky Balboa , "Good ol' fashioned blunt force trauma." :laughing:
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Yep Kellaway is a pure 'crusaders style' player. We defo need more like him
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Kellaway will make a difference. He is a smart player like Will Jordan who almost plays better at international level than super. We need more players who can link and form combos in our backline. We have too many individual athletes. The combo of BB at 15 and Jordan on the wing was a joy to watch
Bodger
Roar Rookie
I always though Pete Samu was wasted a bit in the forwards, he would have made a world class 12 or 13 I think. He certainly had the speed and footwork to play in the centres.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Koroibete to start at 7. ;-)
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Kellaway seems to be a guy who reads the game well and combines well with others. That type of player that makes others look and play well. Kellaway to start and Petaia off the bench for impact. That is assuming we go a 5 3 bench this weekend. Defence at 12 is the big one for me this weekend, J Barrett has been excellent and that big body at 12 getting the ABs some real go forward putting teams under defensive pressure. If Kerevi does nothing else this weekend but smashes Barrett that would be a result. The AB backline is on fire but it feels a lot is started from 12 with big straight running.
Freddo
Roar Rookie
"Carter Gordon has had a promising start to his international career." I agree. Let him concentrate and shine in his best position(s) and let's not look to him as a panacea.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Kellaway and Petaia are both good options. Perese is dynamic but his decision making is not good enough for 13. It’s too important a position. We need back 3 getting ball and he won’t deliver that.