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The Wallabies rookie looking to repay Dave Rennie's faith

By AAP
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

After recovering from two serious knee injuries in his early 20s, Rob Leota is just thankful to be a part of the Wallabies squad.

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So it was much to his surprise when he got the nod to start in the back row for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with Argentina, after earning his first cap off the bench two weeks before against the Springboks.

“It was crazy, I got caught off guard,” the imposing back rower said.

“I didn’t really get any comms before it, it was a pretty unreal moment and to be able to tell my family as well.

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“My face just popped up on the screen (in the team meeting) and I just froze for a bit…and it didn’t really click until the boys started clapping.”

Sporting a mullet, Leota comes across as a softly-spoken, gentle giant.

But on the field it’s the opposite, which is why coach Dave Rennie has faith the 190cm, 110kg powerhouse from the Melbourne Rebels will be a force to be reckoned with against an equally-imposing Pumas pack.

“He’s a big man, strong ball carrier. Has trained really well and has been very close to selection in the past,” Rennie said.

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“We’re pretty keen to reward Rob – he’s been with us full time – and that’s a big part of the decision.”

It’s that backing that has Leota confident ahead of his run on debut for Australia and spurs his inner-belief that he can fulfil his coach’s investment.

“When you’ve got a coach who believes in you, even though I got caught off guard, I know there’s a reason why I’m there,” he said.

“It gives me a lot of a lot of confidence that the coaches really believe in me, back me to do a job and to fulfil my role.”

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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