'He gets his chance': Young gun set for playmaker role against Boks
SPOTLIGHT: Noah Lolesio’s chance to nail down the Wallabies’ No.10 jersey will arrive against South Africa, but assistant coach Dan McKellar is adamant the team’s Test fortunes will be decided elsewhere.
The Brumbies flyhalf was overlooked for the two Tests in Argentina, a horror loss costing veteran No.10 James O’Connor his spot in the squad to face South Africa.
Bernard Foley, 32, has been recalled from Japanese rugby but it’s the man 10 years his junior who’s set to face the world champions at Adelaide Oval on Saturday ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“He [Lolesio] was close to playing in Argentina but it’s a position where it hasn’t been nailed yet,” said McKellar, who has overseen the young playmaker’s rise at the Brumbies.
“He gets his chance this week. He’s got Whitey [scrumhalf Nic White] on his inside who he knows very well.
“There should be really good cohesion, now he just goes about doing his job.
“I think so, yeah [he can make the No.10 his own]. My advice there is he doesn’t have to go out and think he needs to be the best player on the field, be man of the match.”
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McKellar said Lolesio’s direction would be crucial but the Wallabies’ success would be measured by the forward pack’s ability to handle South Africa’s set piece.
“There will be no surprises, although I shouldn’t say that, there may be one or two,” McKellar mused.
“Their big percentage is going to be around their set piece battle, set piece strategy, our ability to defuse it and look for an opportunity off the back of it.
“They’re very good at what they do, won a World Cup on the back of it.
“But as we’ve shown in the past, when we get our game right we can trouble them.
“It’s easy to talk about and put on a whiteboard … it’s about having the composure and skill set to execute that under pressure.”
South Africa have lost their last seven Tests in Australia, their last victory coming in 2013.
McKellar isn’t fussed by that dominance though, particularly with the wounds of Argentina a fortnight ago still healing.
“We were pretty filthy about how we performed in San Juan,” he said.
“We didn’t win the collisions and didn’t have a thirst to win the collisions.
You’ve got to stick tight; it’s Test footy, it’s hard.
“You’re always going to have these periods.
“You’ve got two choices, bitch and moan and blame others or stick tight, stick together and take on board the feedback.”
