Big questions facing Rennie after Wallabies attack stutters
The Wallabiesâ disappointing spring tour campaign raises serious questions for Dave Rennie to ponder during the off season.
There is still a tough Test against Wales in Cardiff to come but, after losses to Scotland and England, there is no escaping the conclusion that Rennieâs first overseas tour has been a failure.
The low key coach is not one to mince words and he was blunt after Australiaâs 32-15 loss at Twickenham, talking about âtoo many errors and dumb penaltiesâ.
But it was shock debutant Ollie Hoskins who won the post-match, speaking with a clarity only outsiders can muster.
âWe were pretty much our own worst enemies, I donât think we really got a foot into the game the whole day,â Hoskins said. âIâd be surprised if we had more than 10 phases in that whole entire game. We gave away too many penalties, we were dropping balls in contact, we shot ourselves in the foot a lot there.â
It must be a nightmarish come down for Rennie, the team and their coaching and support staff after a Rugby Championship campaign of which they could be proud.
England break through Australiaâs defence after a tight tussle at Twickenham.Credit:Getty
Theyâd fought hard to build momentum and continuity and had a five-game winning streak to show for it. But with the poorly managed withdrawals of three players late last month, on the back of a long season in various COVID-19 bubbles, things quickly began to unravel.
Michael Cheika popped up a lot for media duties last week. Each time he made the point that Rennieâs Wallabies had not been tested away from home, except for two Bledisloe Cup Tests. There were a lot of good young players who had their first test of two storied European grounds over the past fortnight. They are tough places to play.
The blows keep coming. An ankle injury to captain Michael Hooper towards the end of Saturdayâs match capped a bad two weeks. Rennie lost his two tight head props Taniela Tupou and Allan Alaalatoa to head injuries and called up the last of the so-called Three Amigos, Kurtley Beale, after a hamstring injury ended Jordan Petaiaâs tour. If Australia can make it unscathed through the Wales clash, it will be a small miracle.
The Christmas break will offer the chance to review and reflect. There will be many items on the list but one of the most important for Rennie to consider is his long-term choice at No.10.
James OâConnor was composed and kicked all of Australiaâs points but the Wallabies failed to score a try. Credit:Getty
Quade Cooper and Noah Lolesio must be the top two candidates after this season. There were pleasing aspects to Australiaâs defensive efforts against England and Scotland, but the attack was non-existent at Twickenham.
There were no bad players in the back line but they did not function together. Notwithstanding the cobbled together nature of the line up, this must be a worry for Rennie and attack coach Scott Wisemantel.
What do they do? We know there were players who might have had a run this year were it not for COVID-19. The likes of Will Harrison and Ben Donaldson, for example. Rennie had to work with who he could physically use, which is why Cooperâs offer of help was taken up.
No one expected that gesture to form the foundation of Australiaâs success, but now that he and Kerevi look like the best attacking combination the Wallabies can muster, more important questions follow.
Can Rennie build a World Cup campaign around two players based overseas? Will he be allowed to by the Rugby Australia boardâs powerful football committee, who are reviewing the Giteau Law? Should he?
These questions assume both players want more to do with the Wallabies. In Kereviâs case, in particular, that is no foregone conclusion.
There are two seasons of Super Rugby and one full international season left between now and the 2023 World Cup in France. It is an important 18 months for everyone.
Cooper will be in physical preservation mode, while Lolesio will be trying to turbocharge his development. Dan McKellar, about to enter his final season as Brumbies coach and Rennieâs senior second in command, will be integral to this.
James OâConnor will be fighting hard to press his claims from Queensland and his goal kicking under the pressure of a packed Twickenham will not be forgotten. There is also serious excitement around teenager Tom Lynagh, who will make his debut with Queensland next season.
Matt Toomua has gone unmentioned recently but is working his way back in Melbourne and has been one of Rennieâs first picks on the team sheet over the past two years.
In all these scenarios, what is apparent is there is vast experience down one path and precious little down the other. Does he bank on the Coopers, Toomuas and OâConnors holding up physically over the next two seasons and being in a position to produce their best in a World Cup? Or does he back Lolesio to come good, hope that Harrison plays the house down under new NSW coach Darren Coleman and that Lynagh will sorely tempt him with just one season of Super Rugby under his belt.
Itâs an awkward spot for Rennie and an unsettling one for Wallabies fans, with the clock ticking on 2023.
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