Great article. I have ‘hope’ we can beat Wales. Let’s be clear – they aren’t particularly good these days. But in my gut I don’t think we will based on what I’ve seen. The author has nailed it. Eddie seems angry and I am sure it’s a toxic culture in camp. One of fear, anxiety and bitterness depending on who you are. How is anything good going to come from that on the pitch?

I’m equally as sure that most, if not all players, can’t wait to get back to their Super team environments and away from the toxicity. Key amongst them would probably be CG. The Rebels haven’t done much right but they way they nurtured and brought him through was perfect. Kevin Foote is probably the #1 Eddie-hater out there as he does his best to destroy his best player.

Meanwhile Noah smiles and sips on a Rose somewhere else in France thanking his good god he escaped this car crash…

Oh dear. Now I’m even LESS confident about Sunday. What bright spark at Team WB decided to put Arnold out to the media. Arnold?!! The guy single-handedly gave away almost 25% of all of our penalties including one of the dumbest things I have ever seen on a pitch around 60 mins when he crossed the ruck and collapsed on the halfback. I don’t even want to see you on the park again let alone hear from you!!? This just kinda sums up Eddie’s Wallabies for me 🙁 #clueless

In recent days I’ve been an Eddie belter as much as anyone. It simply beggars belief not playing Kellaway. He simply must play against Wales. As a Rebels fan (yes we do exist haha) I actually want to see Don at 10 and Kells at 15 with Gordon and Fines on the pine. Most sport is about confidence and self-belief. CG has none right now and Don does.

Another problem exists with the ever-promising but rarely-delivering Jordan Petaia though. He can’t really pass, doesn’t use his size and is used to a regular ‘brain fade’ or two in a game as well. But I think we’re stuck him in this RWC. Kerevi also doesn’t pass which is why our wingers are anonymous so far and have to rely on kicks. That’s a problem with our structure and little to do with CG.

But even though I’ve been enjoying a kick or two at Eddie I’d like to highlight some opportunities amidst a very negative board of comments (which I get!)

First off Wales don’t look particularly good. A pretty lucky win over Fiji and fell over the line against Portugal. Remember the WBs kept Fiji to ONE TRY. That takes effort on D. The WBs now have a week to prepare without the question marks over Skelton & Tupou. They’ll get a week to train together as the team that will run on the park. (But not too much please Eddie!!!)

Should we beat Wales – I think we will – we can start CG again against Portugal to try and rachet back up his confidence against a good but lesser side. Then the bye at the perfect time a week before 1/4s to rest some troops and try and get some back.

From there neither England or Argentina look fearsome…

So yes, with some rose-coloured glasses firmly on, EJ and the WBs – should they beat Wales – could very conceivably run all the way up to the Semis of the RWC. Who woulda thunk it?

I’m parking that bad game, all of EJs bad squad selections and am now backing the guys we have to top Wales. The D effort against Fiji shows me there’s ‘ticker’ in this team.

Perfectly put. The way EJ has mismanaged CG is like watching a car crash in slow motion. It’s just painful. Kid has zero confidence now…

Haha – consider it done 😛

I like your perspective. I hope you’re right…

I totally agree. Happy to have much egg on my face after Fiji #fingerscrossed

I really worry for Carter Gordon under Eddie Jones. The kid has an amazing Super season and rightly was picked for the WBs. But then in a typically sensationalist EJ move he was picked as the only freaking 10 in the RWC squad??!! No mentor to guide him. Pressure anyone?

Then EJ fries his mind even more by now demonstrating that he doesn’t really back him or have belief in him by playing a player who was recently dropped from his Super rugby team. Just to cover his kicking. Why the F didn’t Carter kick against Georgia to get his confidence back up? Gordon struck them well against France but was just missing… That’s just a bad call.

And last but not least EJ now compounds his selection madness by refusing to play our best fullback (who can over wing and 13) because he feels he now HAS to play Donaldson. You can almost hear and see the confidence being squeezed out of Gordon as this all plays out. And the pressure ramps up. I hope this kid doesn’t become just more EJ roadkill…

From the little I have seen of Eddie’s return and continued tin-eared selections like no Quade in the squad, Donaldson starting, Vunivalu on the bench and Kellaway in the stands his teams appear to be very much about Eddie and little to do with our nation…

I’ve only watched rugby for about 40 years so what would I know?
However to me Jones’ continued man-crush on Vunivalu for this game is verging on the ridiculous. His main (only?) rugby asset is his athleticism. However he will be playing against the most athletic team in world rugby! IMO that completely negates any competitive advantage in playing him. Plus the other athletes he will face actually know how to play the game of Union…
Meanwhile one of the best fullbacks in world rugby who um, CAN COVER 4 POSITIONS (sorry about the caps) wears his blazer in the stands. Probably texting his travel agent.
This is a bad, bad call…

Totally agree. I REALLY hope Kellaway gets the #15 spot for Fiji. He runs great lines and would be wonderful off shoulders in the middle of the park. Wales got pay there. Plus we will need his defence against a rampaging Fiji. Start Don at #10 to hopefully bank some points from kicks and Gordon for 30 mins at the end.

Well then, here’s a problem. Does anyone else feel like some of Eddie’s decisions are quite reactionary and knee-jerk? So you put Donaldson on to take-the-pressure off Gordon and then for 65 minutes (as others have said) he became anonymous, hardly touched the ball. Had very little confidence.
Meanwhile… the bloke you’ve put on as insurance has a great day out with the boot and scores a double? Why the heck wasn’t Gordon kicking with Donaldson as cover? I would still have Kellaway at 15 every day. He creates gaps and opportunities and is solid in defence plus he can cover 11,13 and 14. As games get harder you need X-factor.
So now we have the #1 Flyhalf back in his shell when he should be coming out of it and the inferior player at the back now almost undroppable. Nice one Eddie??

This is a bad Eddie error. Not giving Lonergan a minute during RC to prove his wares. The Donaldson call is nothing other than buying an insurance policy. Yup, as dour and unexciting as that. I hope to h&ll Gordon lands his kicks (he’s been striking them fine) and Kellaway returns to what should be his #15 jumper. Won’t hurt against Georgia but moving forward it will…

I really don’t like the call on Kellaway. I think at best you could say there are a few WBs that have great “potential” but there really is a dearth who are proven quality at a world standard. Kellaway is one such player. Seems like Eddie wants to put his chip between red and black at the casino with Gordon and Donaldson. It sends poor messages to both Kellaway AND Gordon though. Gordon – I don’t believe in you as a kicker, I need cover for when you fail. And Kellaway – I’m sacrificing you because of the squad I’ve chosen.

Hmmm…. just some random thoughts.
> I think I’ll judge Eddie and the young Wobblies after Georgia. With the exception of Argentina this new team has played all their first tranche of games against the best teams in the world. That’s tough going!
> Gordon’s kicking. He’s missing them; not mis-timing/ hacking them at least. If it were golf he’s getting good distance and striking them well, but missing the middle of the fairway. Not a lost cause
> I’d like to see the Force halfback get more time. Crisp passes and looks dangerous constantly. Has done all SR and looked good against a great team at International level. Not sure about Tate. His service seems too slow for this level…
> A run of games against lesser opposition ahead should see us gel and will tell us the reality. I actually think it’ll be us and Fiji that move on. And I think it’ll be Argentina and Samoa who progress in their pool.

Did anyone else notice how positive the journos were at this presser? (Bar a couple of qns re: Wallaroos – fair enough) I couldn’t help but laugh. I thought SYD airport was an out-of-control car crash but perhaps Jones had complete control of the steering wheel…

I agree with the premise of your article Christy. My further thoughts include:
> Hooper was the last of a loooong line of WBs captains who were decent players and erudite spokesmen but were too used to being part of a losing culture… Pocock, Moore, Horwell et al
> I actually think this WBs team will actually grow and perhaps even thrive in the pool matches. It’s been a baptism of fire to date and Georgia, Wales & Fiji are a world away from the quality of SA & the ABs (and throw France in there too). I think we’ll get to the 1/4s with some momentum and possibly even to the semis. #letssee
> I disagree with not taking Quade however. Simply because it creates SO MUCH pressure without release for Gordon. In the pool matches if they are won it would be prudent to remove him to the pine in the last 1/4. Quade would’ve been an experienced head to bring on to simply see out a game (ie not having to try too many things/ risk etc)
> Whilst I really like the pace and energy of the Force 1/2 (sorry can’t even remember his name) it’s pretty criminal that Lonergan didn’t get game time in the RC to see how he went. Whilst we won’t see it now I really like the sound of Lonergan/ Gordan with the kicking actually being done by the 9.
> Last but not least is Vunivalu. Even through a computer screen this stinks of Corporate influence. Jones/ McLennan clearly are targeting the NRL for this important 4 year bracket ahead. And don’t want to dissuade prospects in their cross hairs. You can’t keep pushing a square shape through a round hole though? This guy just isn’t up to it… Won’t get game time. He’s there on ‘business’ for the ARU and I reckon his selection may single-handedly see off some quality outside backs to Japan or France…

It would’ve been a profitable draw too. It was paying $51 mid week! I thought about it. Btw – I didn’t get on it haha

Love to learn. Thanks for that intel about the Proximal Zone of Learning. For what it’s worth I totally agree. Cheers

I think there is a rose-coloured-glasses hangover from history regarding the Wallabies. The glory days of Larkham, Gregan, Eales and Farr-Jones, Ellas etc before them… A time where the WBs rightly were world-beaters on any given day. But a time that was very early in the professional era. I think professionalism and the fact that rugby is a comparatively minor game in AU now versus NRL, AFL & Football needs context.

South Africans and NZ’ers still sleep, breathe, eat and xxxx rugby. But now in the Northern Hemisphere there is vast money for players and deeply funded and successful national systems in place. Neither of these exist here. And we’ve seen a gradual slide in the WBs performances over the last couple of decades…

A sure and steady decline in AU rugby matched by a slip in the rankings. From Top 3 to around 6 – 9.

When an 8th ranked team plays the best in the world we should be happy with a win every 2 or 3 years. The Bledisloe now is actually a bad thing for the health of Union in this country IMO. Playing the ABs so much is actually harmful to the code. Losing fan support, sponsors and the interest of the general sports fan. Maybe it should go more like the Lions? Thoughts?

The reason I’ve banged on so much with some context is that I DO actually think the WBs will progress through group stages at the RWC. In fact I think they will be GLEEFUL to play Georgia & Wales after the Boks and ABs. Fiji – let’s see. That could be a banana skin.

If we played teams more our peers with similar rankings – and won more (or had the chance to) – then I believe the health of the game would be much better. And interest from the general fan greater. This perpetual judgement based off how we play the ABs (and the Boks to a lesser extent) isn’t really that helpful for the greater assessment of where the team might actually be. #mytwocents

The MCG will be more than half full on Sat & I’m looking at my glass the same way – full not empty. So much easier to list why this team won’t win. Untried combos, rehab returns, etc, etc, etc… However this team actually could win. You have to score 30+ points to beat the ABs on a dry track. And this backline has that amount of points in it. Will they win? Who knows. But can they win – this style of team can! Looking forward to seeing how they go.

Yup – it can be death by a 1000 cuts with officiating sometimes. It’s a real barrier to attracting new fans and in your case losing current ones. Needs fixing. Thx for your feedback!

For me the two biggest signs of the ills facing SR in AU come from the Force and Brumbs crowds. It used to be, as sure as the sun will rise each day, The Force at home will pack their stadium. But it’s been noticeable this year how much emptier it’s been. Is it the amount of ‘fly-ins’ in this years team perhaps whose main connection to Perth is a stamp in a passport putting fans off? I’m genuinely wondering? The Rebels at least have seemed to blood and grow home-grown talent through their ranks whilst not winning many games.
And as for the Brumbies? What the hell is up with their crowds – or lack of? For the last few years there have been paltry attendances. And now they are arguably back to as good as they’ve ever been and people aren’t showing.
Want to know what’s wrong with SR? Track down some of those that used to go to Brumbs matches and ask them why they’ve not coming any more…

Well not a huge amount to analyze. The game was all about that Drua start. 12 points in 4 mins and win by 10. Pretty simple. The Drua are like that mate who can either sink every ball on the pool table or none. Today was just ‘their day’ in their own backyard.

Apart from being unhappy with a ‘L’ I don’t think the Rebels should feel too bad actually. In the 2nd half they brought their structures and easily won that half despite the damage having been done. Oppressive energy-zapping humidity and a slippery pill too much to overcome being that far down. Rebels of old lose that by 40 – 50.

Uelese is a liability. Rennie got it right dropping him from the WBs. That crooked throw 10m out from the Drua line, late 2nd half may have been the game? Score then???

This won’t be the last AU/ NZ team that loses on this ground this season…

I reckon it’s time to move on from Jordan Petaia. The kid has had soooo many chances. There are probably few more talented backs in world rugby based on skill. But time and time again he has failed to rise to the occasion. In fact at Wallaby level he seems more prone to doing something dire than amazing. I suspect EJ will bring him to camp but I think we have better options in every position he plays.

Sadly for the Wobblies under the blow torch of RWC pressure, his age and previous injuries I don’t see Cooper lasting the tournament. So really I think the search is on for ‘the’ #10 if we get to the later stages of RWC.

It really just has to be Gordon as Cooper’s ‘understudy’ based on form doesn’t it? Noah has had literally years to prove he can make the step up and I really haven’t seen enough when he’s had the chance. JOC – the difference between his best and worst is so vast it makes him such a risk at 10, however he can play multiple positions which may book him a ticket? I was a big Edmed fan last year but this year both NSW 10s have been invisible really. Jack D isn’t RWC level and Foley is the past not the future.

So I would take Cooper, Gordon and JOC – and hope that I’m wrong about Quade’s body.