Well that was all a little unexpected wasn’t it? I mean given our performances at the Rugby World Cup. Given England’s performances at the same tournament, for that matter. Yeah sure our Super Rugby season hasn’t been crash hot, but that man Cheika would be able to bring us together. Surely?
Things haven’t quite panned out as planned (well, at least how WE planned) and the Wallabies are down two – zip despite dominating possession (68% over the two games) and territory (70% over the two games).
The English have now won the series, and deservedly so. We move to Sydney this weekend in the hope of possibly extracting some sort of positives from the month of June. The team will be announced on Thursday and you can probably expect selection consistency with perhaps just a few personnel changes around the fringes (perhaps).
Given the preparation the Wallabies have had, in terms of mid-season catch-ups and camp outs, and then a week or so on the Sunshine Coast with a squad of 40 odd players, the candidates are all there for us to consider.
But what of those of who weren’t in the squad? I’ve come up with five candidates, none of whom I believe were in any of these Wallaby catch ups, who I reckon could have played a role in sorting out some of the issues this team has had. It’s all 20/20 hindsight type stuff, and a couple of these lads are injured, however I reckon they’ll be looking at the next three or so weeks of Super Rugby to push their claims for the Rugby Championship and beyond.
Jono Lance (Western Force)
Despite the impressive form of rookie 12 Samu Kerevi, there’s a belief that we need a so-called second playmaker to ease the pressure on flyhalf Bernard Foley. The Poms have rushed Foley aggressively knowing that he is the fulcrum upon which the Wallabies backline structure lays. An alternate playmaker outside of him, to share the load of kicking and attacking, may just provide that point of difference to the Wallaby play.
Christian Lealiifano and potentially Matt Toomua are the leading candidates being discussed, but it would have been interesting to see if Lance would have been an option had he not torn his pectoral muscle in week 3. The championship winning former Red and Waratah made the move to the west to provide him the opportunity to play in the 10 jersey and the move seemed to pay off immediately. Coming off a stellar NRC for the NSW Country Eagles, Lance started the Super Rugby season in eye-catching form.
Lance brings to the table a strong kicking game, but more importantly a clever and mixed kicking game, something lacking in the current set up. Whilst many proclaim the physicality of Toomua, there are few better backline defenders than Lance. Add to the package a strong running and passing game and his goal kicking (100% in Super Rugby this year and 83% in last year’s NRC) and Jono could have been an important foil at 12 outside Foley.
Cadeyrn Neville (Queensland Reds) and/ Tom Staniforth (Brumbies)
The lock position for the Wallabies was one of the most talked about in the lead up to the English series. With Kane Douglas still unavailable the question was always who would partner Rob Simmons in the two row. With Rory Arnold blooded, Simmons played less than half an hour in the first test and was subsequently dropped for the second test, with Sam Carter making a return to test football.
Whilst the Brumby pair worked hard last weekend, in general our pack has lacked anyone with go forward. The Wallabies seem to be lacking that real athlete that the All Blacks (Sam Whitelock), Springboks (Etzebeth) and of course England (Itoje) enjoy.
Neville and Staniforth, in my eyes, are the closest we have in Australia at the moment. Recognising it’s understandable that neither have been part of the Wallaby catch-ups as neither have been able to secure a starting spot in their respective state teams.
Neville started the season at lock for the Reds but lost his starting gig to Ben Matwijow for a few games, before grabbing it back again. A former elite level rower, Neville’s athletic qualities are difficult to argue against. Staniforth may not have claims to be a near-Olympian but he is a modern day forward with plenty of size, strength and skill. At 21, and behind a couple of test locks, his appearances have been limited for the Brumbies but they have certainly caught the eye.
Both standouts for their respective NRC teams (Neville for Brisbane City and Staniforth alongside Lance at the Eagles), both players are strong runners of the ball. Neville has ranged a bit wider, and has run for almost 200m this season, whilst Staniforth has made his presence felt closer to the ruck.
I’m not saying that both should have started this series, but I reckon they are the type of lock forwards Australia have been looking for and could well be in contention for test matches later this year.
Jed Holloway (New South Wales Waratahs)
Now this would seem to be an obvious one given the impact Jed has made on Super Rugby this year. Many on G&GR had predicted his selection in the Wallaby team v England and whilst injury may have been a factor in his non-appearance, Jed actually informed us on a one of our earlier podcasts that he was never a part of any of the Wallaby catch ups. The rumours that Cheika didn’t rate him at the Tahs, seem to be reinforced by this current snubbing.
Regardless, Holloway had been an attacking force for the Waratahs before a recent string of injuries, and actually has a better metres-per-carry stat than Israel Folau. His ability to back up the break, find space and link with his support play has been a major catalyst for many a Waratah try scoring raid.
Given the attacking structure of the Wallabies this year, and the placement of Fardy and Hooper out wide, it’s not too difficult to see how Holloway could have been a handy option in green and gold. The balance in the backrow is something that just hasn’t clicked this series, particularly after losing David Pocock and Holloway’s Number 8 credentials (particularly over the largely sight unseen Leroy Houston) seem hard to ignore.
Andrew Kellaway (New South Wales Waratahs)
With World Cup incumbents Adam Ashley-Cooper and Drew Mitchell safely ensconced in French rugby, and the in-form Joe Tomane out injured, the wing spots were another couple of jerseys under contention. Rookie Dane Haylett-Petty has impressed in his two starts, whilst veteran (and Wallaby vice-captain) Rob Horne has been largely unsighted. Injury, following a poor attempted tackle, curtailed his first test opportunities whilst he was generally MIA in Melbourne.
What has impressed about DHP has been his willingness to get his hands on the ball and his effectiveness in attack. He’s also been an important kicking alternative to Foley. Given the lack of second play maker (and kick taker) Haylett-Petty, a converted fullback for the time being, has been one of the Wallabies’ best this series.
Andrew Kellaway seems cut from the same cloth. A fullback, with plenty of experience on the wing, Kellaway strikes as one of those players who steps up at every higher level he plays. He’s made the decision, at Waratah level, to move Folau to 13 all the more effective by producing a series of impressive performances at the back.
With his attacking strike-power, an effective kicking game and excellent finishing skills it is easy to see the youthful back fitting in comfortably at the end of the Wallaby backline. Horne is without doubt a very solid player and a strong defender. But that’s never been the leading credentials selectors have looked for in Wallaby wingers. Kellaway would bring strike power and further support at the back for Folau and his limited kicking game.
So what do you think? Are any of these non-squad members a chance to debut for the Wallabies this year? Who do you think can have the biggest impact on this Wallaby team in the short team and long term?
