The future is now
Jeremy Balkin, our guest columnist for this week, makes a passionate plea to the Australian selectors (read also coach Eddie Jones) to start looking towards the 2007 World Cup and cut some of the "dead wood" out now.
The Eastern Province Rugby Football Union has been plunged into disgraceful turmoil, but disunion is nothing new for Eastern Province. Paul Dobson looks at the past troubles in Eastern Cape rugby.
Australia were comprehensively beaten by South Africa last Saturday.
The standard excuses don't hold any currency now. The referee was reasonably fair, the Springboks weren't exceptionally rough and the two intercept tries were the difference on paper based on the final score. Putting aside the spin, the Wallabies were totally out-played.
At the end of the day, the Wallabies were just too predictable. They were predictable in their kicking options, running options, their moves and their tactics. In years gone by, they may have won with last night's performance. But times have changed, and world rugby is now more local than ever.
As the global benchmark and with week-in-week-out Super 12 competition, nothing is sacred anymore as everyone knows what everyone else eats for breakfast, how many pillows they like to sleep with, what kind of toilet paper they prefer, and, each others strengths and weaknesses.
The Wallabies looked tired, flat and boring. They have some great players. They have some great players who were world-beaters in their day, who played last Saturday. They also had some pedestrians playing who actually looked like they should've been sitting watching and screaming at the TV with me and not actually with the ball anywhere near them.
I wrote in an article last week about a guy called Craig Wing (Wing and a Prayer) who plays Rugby League in Australia. He is a phenomenal athlete and player, but may not be the answer to Australian rugby's prayers, but at least he's an option. Never have I seen such a blaring example of the desperate need for rejuvenation in Australian Rugby as I painfully saw at Ellis Park.
What can I say and where do I begin?
Chris Latham at No.15, he's been a fantastic and loyal servant to rugby in this country, but why on earth do they persist with him? Yes, Mat Rogers was injured, but what about Waratahs player of the year Peter Hewat, or Brumbies Mark Gerrard or Western Force Cameron Shepherd or Lote Tuqiri at number 15?
Think of the future, these guys are all fantastic and skilled players who should be given a run. Unless Chris Latham or even Mat Rogers is going to be fit enough or still around by 2007, why do the Wallabies not give one of these young guys a run and some vital experience in the Colosseum of Ellis Park 18 months out from a World Cup?
In the halves, George Gregan and Stephen Larkham. I love these guys to death, and will defend them 'till I die. They have been the architects of many memorable wins for the Wallabies over the years. They are great role models and tried their guts out all night against the Boks.
But, when Larkham left the field, there was a gaping chasm at fly-half. George Gregan is tough and uncompromising and leads by example all the time. Chris Whitaker is another loyal servant to the game in this country, but he's in the twilight of his career and it's hard to see him as a long-term replacement for George Gregan nor a more effective alternative.
I think the time is right to give Matt Henjak a run or even try Matt Giteau at number 9. At number 10, try anything as a stop-gap measure. Australian rugby needs to form a long-term fly-half and scrum-half combination to lead Australia to the World Cup in 2007 and more importantly for the years after.
The time is now to find a medium and long-term replacement. I've suggested Craig Wing, Elton Flatley is not a natural No.10, why not givee and probably won't be around much beyond 2007.
Lote Tuqiri is awesome, and in my opinion is wasted on the wing. In Rugby League he played very successfully at fullback. He needs the ball in his hands, he's dangerous with space. At fullback, he'll get plenty of ball and space. You do the math.
In the centres, Stirling Mortlock is reliable but his running lines seemed predictable. He too, is in the twilight of what has been a phenomenal career. Long term Clyde Rathbone and Morgan Turinui need to be wearing No.12 and No.13. If Rathbone is fit, put him in his favoured and best position!
In the forwards, the Wallabies were out-played by the impressive Boks pack. The line-out was woeful and cost us vital ball, possession, field position and points.
Jeremy Paul, in my opinion should not be the starting hooker. He tried hard, but was out-gunned. Brendan Cannon is not a long-term answer but he'll suffice for now. His on-the-park leadership is another bonus. Poor Huia Edmonds is just an hour flight away playing for Western Province in the Currie Cup as he can't even get a Super 14 contract for 2006. What a massive loss for Australian rugby. (I'll write more about him soon.)
In the locks, Daniel Vickerman is hopefully fit again and he needs to put straight back into the pack and quick smart to partner Nathan Sharpe. Rocky Elsom copped a forearm on the chin and sadly left the field. He's played well for the Waratahs and Wallabies this year and a bit more experience could well see him in that position in years to come.
Why not try Scot Fava, the former Brumbies No.8 who's just signed with the Western Force at blindside flanker? He's tough, reliable, strong and quick to the breakdown. He's being wasted as the '23rd man' and they should find a place for him.
In the front row, we need some spark. The Boks really overpowered us in the scrum department. It has been well-noted the lack of quality depth of front rowers in Australia. When he isn't kicking field goals for the NSW, Matt Dunning is a pretty decent prop for the Waratahs and certainly holds his own in the scrum. He's been around for a while and never been afraid to have a go. He's also got age on his side and I think it's time to give him a run.
I don't have the answers in the short, medium or long term for the Wallabies.
But changes will need to be made the replace the fine servants that the Wallabies and Australian Rugby have had over the years. Clearly many players will retire after the 2007 World Cup and younger players will get their opportunities then.
But why wait, why wait for the inevitable? Let's make the tough calls now and make the mistakes now and not in France in 2007.
New Zealand, France and South Africa all have gone through respective periods of rationalization and rejuvenation of their players over recent years. Come 2007, their young kids will have two to five years of first class world rugby under their belt and ready to play and win.
I love the Wallabies to death and it frustrates me so much when we lose, especially to the Springboks.
Being a first generation Australian, born in Sydney to South African parents and having a South African girlfriend and many ex-South African friends, it's not easy for me being an Aussie and losing to the Boks.
Taking the emotion out of the argument, the time is right to make some strategic long-term changes now, rather then when it's too late.
The future of Australian Rugby is now.
Proposed Wallaby Team for 2007:
1. Matt Dunning
2. Huia Edmonds/Adam Freier
3. Al Baxter
4. Daniel Vickerman
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Rocky Elsom/David Lyons/Scot Fava
7. George Smith/Phil Waugh
8. David Lyons/Scot Fava/George Smith
9. Matt Henjak/Matt Giteau
10. Stephen Larkham/Lachlan MacKay (Craig Wing)
11. Mark Gerrard
12. Morgan Turinui
13. Clyde Rathbone
14. Cameron Shepherd
15. Lote Tuqiri
