Australia's diminishing class: how the 2019 squad compares to previous years
It’s been a steady decline for the Wallabies over the years.
Heading into the 2003 World Cup, Australia were ranked 4th in the just-introduced World Rankings – just a whisker behind 3rd ranked Ireland. The 2011 side were perched near the top of the rankings in 2nd place, sandwiched between New Zealand and South Africa.
As we approach the 2019 competition, however, Australia are ranked a lowly 7th in the world. Their lowest-ever rank was ‘achieved’ in 2018 but a poor showing at the World Cup could see them finish even lower than that, given that double points are on offer.
These rankings shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, results have starting drying up for the men in gold in recent times. The Wallabies have managed just four wins over heavyweights New Zealand, South Africa, England and Ireland in the four years since the last World Cup. All of those victories have come at Suncorp Stadium in Queensland.
There are a number of factors at play, but one of the more obvious contributors is the lack of world-class players.
The recent success of the Australian Under 20 side at the World Championship suggests that there is ample talent coming through the ranks, but for whatever reasons they’re not being converted into top-tier international players.
Gone are the days of the Stephen Larkhams, the Sterling Mortlocks and the Dan Vickermans.
Today we compare the Wallabies sides that competed in the 2003 World Cup final, the 2011 World Cup semi-final and the upcoming Bledisloe Cup match-up with New Zealand to assess what kind of stock Australia has access to.
Front Row
2003: Bill Young, Brendan Cannon, Al Baxter
2011: Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander
2019: Scott Sio, Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa
Although the Wallabies have traditionally always been one of the best sides in world rugby, they’ve rarely been able to field a front row that opposition would ever describe as fearsome.
Over the last decade, that’s slowly been changing.
The 2003 contingent of Young, Cannon and Baxter were all dynamic around the park, but they certainly weren’t up with the likes of Phil Vickery, Greg Somerville or John Hayes.
The 2011 trio made massive strides and, despite going through periods of finding themselves on the wrong side of referees’ calls, they always eventually adjusted to put themselves in a pretty good position heading in the World Cup.
In 2019, however, the Wallabies have a raft of props that’re up with the best. They’ve shaped up in their scrummaging and are still just as dynamic around the park – especially when Taniela Tupou is injected onto the field. The All Blacks have a good front row, but the Wallabies will feel like they can get parity with their neighbours over the ditch.
The hooking situation now is still fairly dicey, however, and Tolu Latu has been granted a start for this weekend’s match after two fine performances from Folau Fainga’a.
Ranking: 2019 > 2011 > 2003
Locks
2003: Justin Harrison, Nathan Sharpe
2011: Dan Vickerman, James Horwill
2019: Izack Rodda, Rory Arnold
For all the ground that Australia have made up in the front row, their locks certainly don’t measure up to what Wallabies fans were once used to.
Harrison, Sharpe, Vickerman and Horwill are all men that have been celebrated at both Super Rugby and international level for their years of experience and all-round ability. It’s obviously early days yet for Rodda and Arnold, but it’s hard to imagine them going down as greats of the game.
When Australia hosted the World Cup in 2003, however, the Harrison-Sharpe combo was still fairly new, with just 30 caps between them. Both players had amassed plenty of game time for their respective Super Rugby sides, however, and had earned selection after a string of strong performances.
Whilst Rodda and Arnold are more experienced than their 2003-counterparts, they’ve been thrust into the limelight more on account of there being few genuine contenders for the 4 and 5 jerseys.
The 2011 pairing of Vickerman and Horwill, in contrast, oozed class. Horwill was the captain of the side and Vickerman was an intelligent operator – both on and off the field.
Ranking: 2011 > 2003 > 2019
Loose Forwards
2003: George Smith, Phil Waugh, David Lyons
2011: Rocky Elsom, David Pocock, Radike Samo
2019: Lukhan Salakai-Loto, Michael Hooper, Isi Naisarani
Despite their falling stocks, the Wallabies have always had a good cohort of loose forwards – particularly on the openside. Waugh, Smith, Pocock and Hooper are four of the best openside flankers you’ll ever see doing the rounds – it’s just a pity the men around them haven’t always been of the same standard.
Three classy players combine in 2003, with Waugh and Smith excellent in the breakdowns and Lyons a strong carrier. Waugh was deemed Australia’s player of the year in 2003 and Lyons took out the prize a year later – showing the importance of both men.
The cohort in 2011 wasn’t quite as strong – with Pocock being the obvious exception. Still, you have to feel like the back row had a slightly better balance with Elsom playing on the blindside flank, compared to Smith in 2003.
Hooper aside, the current loose trio is relatively inexperienced compared to the back rows of yesteryear. Naisarani has the potential to be excellent for the Wallabies and showed plenty of form for the Rebels this year, while Salakai-Loto hasn’t offered too much in his two starts in 2019.
Ranking: 2003 > 2011 > 2019
Halves
2003: George Gregan, Stephen Larkham
2011: Will Genia, Quade Cooper
2019: Nic White, Christian Lealiifano
It’s unlikely that Australia will ever be blessed again in the halves as they were in the early 2000s. Gregan was brilliantly skilful but also a top-notch captain and commander. Outside him, Larkham was a safe pair of hands to guide the Wallabies around the park and also offered enough on attack that the defenders couldn’t just drift onto the midfielders when ‘Bernie’ had the ball.
Perhaps the duo of Genia and Cooper could have pushed Gregan and Larkham for a claim as the Wallabies’ best halves combination – they certainly had plenty of promise. Genia, in particular, is an excellent passer and possesses many of the same traits as Gregan but probably left Australia before he reached his potential and hasn’t quite looked as sharp since his return – evidenced by the fact that White has gotten the go-ahead for Saturday night. Cooper is an enigma that can set the world alight one day and then have an absolute stinker the next.
Still, both pairings have the advantage over the White-Lealiifano axis – which looks fairly safe but lacks any real X-factor. They’re a smart duo that will boss the Wallabies around the park well, but don’t expect them to create too much on their own.
Curiously, all three pairings played together at Super Rugby level: Gregan and Larkham and White and Lealiifano at the Brumbies, as well as Genia and Cooper at the Reds and Rebels.
Ranking: 2003 > 2011 > 2019
Midfield
2003: Elton Flatley, Stirling Mortlock
2011: Pat McCabe, Anthony Fainga’a
2019: Samu Kerevi, James O’Connor
If there’s one area where the 2019 crop has arguably more talent, it’s in the centres. Kerevi and O’Connor are individually excellent players. Both have ample X-factor (although O’Connor has lost a bit of the spark that made him so dangerous in his early years) and their combination could be very well-balanced. They’ve also collectively accrued over 70 test matches. Unfortunately, we’re yet to see this combination in action.
Contrast that with the combination of Flatley and Mortlock that excelled at the World Cup in 2003. They were both in the relatively early stages in their careers, with both players having fewer than 30 caps before the tournament kicked off – but they’d achieved enough at the international level that there would have been no concerns about their experience. Arguably neither player had the physical dominance of Kerevi or the ball-playing skills of O’Connor – but they were both considerably more complete players than either of the 2019 starters.
The less said about the 2011 midfield the better. It was somewhat of a miracle that ether McCabe or Fainga’a made onto the international stage – let alone started in a World Cup semi-final.
Ranking: 2003 > 2019 > 2011
Outside Backs
2003: Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers
2011: Digby Ioane, James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper
2019: Marika Koroibete, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale
Like the loose forwards, there has rarely been a lack of respectable outside backs doing the rounds for the Wallabies.
That being said, Michael Cheika still doesn’t look to have quite found the right balance with his current players. Koroibete has his moments on attack but has found himself stood up on defence by more nimble opposition. Hodge has the opposite issue – safe on defence, but his skills are better suited to setting up his teammates than doing any damage himself. Beale is a great talent, no doubt about it, but it still feels like the utility has never really lived up to his potential in the backfield for the Wallabies.
Compare that back three to the 2003 and 2011 squads, and it’s easy to see which era of players comes up trumps. The beaten finalists, Tuqiri, Sailor and Rogers, were all excellent attackers, with Rogers brilliant at setting up those around him. Tuqiri and Sailor were as good finishers as any – not necessarily as quick as some others doing the rounds, but able to throw their weight around a bit more.
The 2011 trio probably had the perfect combination of skill, speed and strength. O’Connor would have done a good job anywhere in the backline and made the most of his skills, not confining himself to the left wing even though that was his designated position. Ioane was one of the form wings in 2011 and was a danger any time he got his hands on the ball. Ashley-Cooper was the perfect foil, safe as houses at the back but also quick enough to create plays – and smart enough to know when to push passes and when to hold off.
Ranking: 2011 > 2003 > 2019
Comments on RugbyPass
Did footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to comments