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Australia's obsession with talent: 'Someone puts in a good performance and all of a sudden they're the next Wallaby'
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has hit out at the instant-star syndrome enveloping Australian rugby, saying the best Wallabies players will earn their stripes the hard way.
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McKellar described as “madness” the hype around teenage rugby league player Joseph Suaalii, who is being courted by both Rugby Australia and NRL club South Sydney.
It summarised a disease he says has crept into the 15-man code in which pundits push the cause of young players when they show bare glimmers of talent.
Lock looms as a problem area for the Wallabies selectors this year following the departure of several experienced performers, but McKellar is unimpressed to see a host of rookies being thrown up as candidates.
Two of them are starting for the Brumbies against the Queensland Reds in Saturday’s table-topping Super Rugby AU match in Canberra.
However, Nick Frost and Darcy Swain aren’t yet ready for Wallabies duty, McKellar says, and nor are the likes of raw Melbourne Rebels pair Trevor Hosea and Esei Ha’angana, who have also earned some glowing reviews since the lockdown.
“I think in Australia, someone puts in a good performance and all of a sudden they’re the next Wallaby,” McKellar said.
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“We’ve got to be a little bit more patient than that. It’s getting ridiculous there and it does the players no favours at all.
“Frost for example had a good solid game last week. Back it up this week. Do it for the next 50 games and if you sneak in a Test or two then you’re obviously playing well.
“You’re not going to be a good Test player off a good half an hour at Super Rugby level.”
The most left-field suggestion McKellar had heard was Suali’i could be a Wallabies bolter to face the All Blacks off the back of his freakish performances against schoolboy opposition.
“He’s a 16-year-old kid who’s getting a whole lot of pressure put on him at the moment that he doesn’t deserve either,” McKellar said.
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“It’s an innocent family who are blessed with a whole lot of talent and ability and all of a sudden he’s in a position where league and union are both in a fight for him. It’d be a stressful time for him and for his family.
“We’re looking for a diamond in the rough all the time. Just let the players develop.”
– Daniel Gilhooly
Comments on RugbyPass
Good decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
5 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
29 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
5 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
5 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
9 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
5 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
29 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
9 Go to commentsWowee!
9 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
9 Go to commentsJust remember: He is not a winger. Took Ian Foster 2 years to figure that out.
9 Go to commentsExcellent article, Nick. We (your RP colleague Brett McKay and my 8/9 Combo cohost), are going to have LSL on our podcast later this month. He has shown consistent excellence as a leader and lock. I’ll chat with you offline about a line of questioning if you have time. H
29 Go to commentsSo no Irish fan or journalist suggested JGP was as good as DuPont. Then even the guy who supposedly did is from Wales and said JGP would be the best around if it was t for DuPont. Right, so what is this story about again
19 Go to commentsGreat news for the URC. Leinster will always attract top talent. Another huge name added to their stable
9 Go to comments