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SAINT ETIENNE – The Wallabies aren’t just battling some lineout issues but also a frustrating ear injury to Nick Frost that is plaguing the young gun’s World Cup campaign.
Frost, 23, is the Wallabies’ second tallest lock and was one of their best talents to emerge from last year, but the second-year Test lock has been battling an ear cut that has seen him miss the past two Tests on French soil.
The Brumbies lock, who refined his skills at the Crusaders and spent time working alongside arguably the world’s best lock of the past decade Sam Whitelock, cut open his right ear in Bledisloe I.
Unfortunately, the gash reopened in Bledisloe II.
Nick Frost’s gash suffered against the All Blacks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has proved troublesome. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
It led to the Wallabies’ lock going into hospital ahead of the World Cup squad announcement, with the wound becoming infected.
Since then, Frost has been plagued by the stiches reopening The Roar can reveal, which has led to him being restricted at times from contact sessions and meant he missed selection against Georgia.
Without Frost’s 206cm frame coming off the bench, the Wallabies’ lineout struggled against Georgia as third Test hooker Matt Faessler lost four lineouts in the final 20 minutes after replacing Dave Porecki.
All four lineout losses were without the side’s tallest 208cm lock Richie Arnold on the field, with the 190cm Rob Leota replacing the Toulouse-based lock.
Tom Hooper and Leota were beaten at the front of a four man lineout twice in less than a minute, before Faessler underthrew a third lineout loss in a row.
While Leota managed to settle it down by winning one at the front, another lineout was lost when Faessler overthrew one in the 77th minute inside Georgia’s half.
Wallabies forwards coach Dan Palmer said the lineout struggles weren’t just as a result of Faessler, saying the inexperience of the pack, with young props Blake Schoupp and Zane Nonggorr on the field too, played a part.
“The lineout at the back end of the game was under a bit of pressure,” Palmer acknowledged.
“But another thing to notice there is that was a pack with 44 caps between them, so that was a really inexperienced pack.
“They’re going to be much better for that experience and I’ve just got to do a better job of preparing them for those situations.
“I think in the first half set-piece was really solid. I think at the back end of the game, inexperienced pack, I thought they stood up at scrum time and at lineout time I think that’ll be better for that experience and I’ll do a better job of preparing.”
Assistant coach Dan Palmer says the Wallabies have got some work to do on their set-piece. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Jones, however, made his bed when he picked the youngest Wallabies World Cup squad since 1991 and, indeed, the youngest competing in France this year.
Palmer added that the lineout struggles in the final quarter weren’t just a result of one moving part and Faessler’s struggles.
“It’s always a combination issue in the lineout, like it’s very rarely one thing,” the one-Test Wallaby turned scrum specialist and then forwards coach.
“So, the combination of our calling, the options we decided to take in those situations and personnel; it’s not one person’s issue, it’s just something we’re going to have to work on as a collective.”
While Frost remains in doubt for Sunday’s (Monday, 1:45am AEST) blockbuster against Fiji in Saint Etienne, the Wallabies also have lineout specialist Matt Philip up their sleeves should they want to inject him in the second half.
The Wallabies are also hoping James Slipper puts himself in the frame to return against the Flying Fijians. Tight-head prop Pone Fa’amausili is also making steady progress from a calf injury.
Slipper hasn’t played since the Wallabies’ heartbreaking Bledisloe defeat, with the veteran prop dogged by a foot injury.
“Having that experience come back is always going to be a positive,” Palmer said.
“It’ll hopefully lift the quality that we get during the week. We’ve got confidence in all the players that are here.
“I’d expect them to be more involved this week, and I think that can only be a positive thing.”
Nick Frost and Tom Hooper pose with students at Ecole Elementaire Molina on September 11, 2023 in Saint-Etienne. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
While Palmer said there was a good “buzz” in camp following their first win of the season, he said the Wallabies were expecting Fiji to be a huge threat and that they would expect the Island Nation to try open up them.
“They’re a very different challenge to Georgia. They’re going to put different pitches in front of us,” he said.
“I think it’s going to be a slightly looser game, potentially.
“We’ll obviously come up with a plan for that. But, in reality, our focus is on us and getting our fundamentals in order. So, the fundamentals of our game are always going to be what we focus on and we’ll make little changes for each opposition.”
Langi Gleeson, who caught Jones’ eye with a stunning display against the Drua back in March in Melbourne, said the Wallabies were bracing for the physical assault that was coming and that they had to ensure they played for 80 minutes.
“They’re definitely an 80-minute team, so you can’t switch off in the last 20 minutes,” he said.
“Just the physicality that they possess, it’s something we’ll have to match this week.
“We have to start fast and finish fast. Set-piece is going to be really important for us and just matching that physicality that they possess.”
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.