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Twickenham triumph casts doubt on necessity of overseas Wallabies

Will Skelton of Australia looks on during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Australia and Georgia at Stade de France on September 09, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The Wallabies are off and running in their bid to win their first grand slam since 1984, and it’s all thanks to a massive team effort, which is a trademark of a Joe Schmidt coached side.

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The fingerprints of the Wallabies coach and his experienced assistants are finally beginning to show from players 1-through-to-23 and that’s when coaches begin to have the good kind of headaches at the selection table.

Schmidt has taken a group of inexperienced players, with the lowest average age in the Rugby Championship and got them playing like a team of professionals.

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Focused on the detail, fixated on the process, thinking about the next job.

The performance at the weekend was by no means perfect, but it showed growth in all the right areas, execution, patience, and maturity in decision-making.

Two key takeaways can be drawn from the weekend’s result, first, the Wallabies proved they are a side with big points in them, after a poor try tally in the Rugby Championship.

Second, the Wallabies won without a single overseas player in the matchday-23.

For years, Australian pundits have been calling on Wallabies coaches to have a carte blanche overseas selection policy, and on Saturday night the Wallabies proved they can win big matches, on the biggest stage without them.

It’s a pertinent discussion point because Schmidt and his band of coaches will be thinking of how, or perhaps even if, they include their two overseas picks, Will Skelton and Samu Kerevi this weekend.

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Had it been any other coach, there’d be no doubt the pair of internationals would be on the team sheet against the Welsh in Cardiff, but Schmidt has always maintained a desire to prioritise and select domestic talent.

Match Summary

2
Penalty Goals
3
5
Tries
5
3
Conversions
4
0
Drop Goals
0
122
Carries
161
6
Line Breaks
13
20
Turnovers Lost
13
3
Turnovers Won
8

This is not a suggestion the pair, particularly Skelton, wouldn’t value-add to a Wallabies side, merely it’s positing suddenly the Wallabies are now at a stage where they don’t need ‘rescuing’ from OS players, and can rather welcome them as augments.

Captain and no.8 Harry Wilson suffered a concussion against England and will not be available for selection, this opens the door for Skelton to return.

Second rowers Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams were aggressive, industrious, and largely accurate in all their key roles at Twickenham.

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Their speed across the ground and Williams’ great kick-off receipts were vital elements to the Wallabies win and should not be understated.

At the risk of breaking up their partnership, Schmidt could look to shift Lukhan Salakaia-Loto to blindside flanker, a position he has played for the Wallabies before, and play Rob Valetini in his traditional Wallabies spot at no.8.

Otherwise, Schmidt could put Williams on the flank and keep LSL in the row, both options give the pack speed across the ground as well as another big ball carrier.

Either way you slice it, Schmidt only has four specialist locks in the squad, and by shifting one of them to the backrow, Skelton is the obvious choice to come onto the bench.

Skelton is an excellent mauler on either side of the ball and will give the Wallabies a dominant ball carrier.

Wales run a rush defence, similar to England’s, so bringing him on later in the game, against tired legs, could see him wreak havoc and get the Wallabies well over the gainline in-tight.

“At La Rochelle we’re very set-piece dominated, French rugby is very physically, confrontation as well, which I really enjoy,” Skelton said.

“It’s when I come into camp with the speed I’ve got to catch up on. The physical stuff I back myself there. It’s just trying to get the calls and details right.”

Wales is the lowest-ranked side the Wallabies will face on this tour and it’s the game where mistakes like poor positioning, late alignment, and growing pains have the lowest chance of attracting grave consequences.

Skelton value-adds considering how thin the Wallabies’ locking stocks are, he’s an exceptional talent, his selection now and moving forward to the British and Irish Lions series is not only a good option, but a crucial one.

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Integrating him into the systems during this tour is vital, so he knows how fit he must be to help the team next year for the Lion’s tour.

The next big selection headache for Schmidt comes in the backs with Kerevi.

There’s no denying Len Ikitau and debutant Joseph Aukuso-Sua’ali’i shone in the midfield together.

During the Rugby Championship, the forwards shouldered the bulk of the workload to get the Wallabies over the gainline, but that dynamic changed at Twickenham thanks to this midfield combination.

One of the biggest equalisers was the masterstroke of shifting Ikitau to no.12.

His ability to beat the first defender wasn’t impacted, as matter of fact, it appeared to be enhanced, he was afforded more time with the ball in-hand at inside centre.

His strong performance was also accompanied by debutant Joseph Aukuso-Sua’ali’i, whose first foray into professional rugby at the ‘home of rugby’ proved to be everything Australian rugby fans had hoped for.

JAS, as he is affectionately being called across the social media platforms, didn’t bowl players over with his large frame, rather he looked like a man with all the time in the world.

He could always free his arms for an offload and put his teammates into space.

Sua’ali’i’s ability to get the offload away bypassed the need for a bullocking midfielder, a fact which only adds difficulty to Schmidt’s calculations regarding Kerevi.

The 49-capped Kerevi would be running out for a milestone game if he was to be selected, but his current form is far less obvious than Skelton’s, having played only one warm-up match for his Japanese club side, Urayasu D-Rocks.

However, like Skelton, Kerevi has form as being one of the best in his position on his day, and the 108kg centre would add bulk to the backline.

Kerevi’s inclusion may depend on how winger Dylan Pietsch is fairing after coming off in the second half with a badly corked calf.

Schmidt remains optimistic about his health but nonetheless, if a player is not showing signs of being at 100 per cent for ‘Test match Tuesdays’, then he has often erred on the side of caution, omitting them for the sake of clarity of the team.

Kerevi is certain he can regain the form that made him a global star of the game, his teammates are sure of this too, but can he do enough in just two games to convince Schmidt of this?

“I’ve played over 40 caps now (49) at Test level – I know what it feels like to be in that arena and what your body needs, but also the mindset that you need,” Kerevi said.

Schmidt is shaping this side nicely, but the clock is against him with only three more Tests before the Lions tour, this creates pressure on every decision he makes.

So Kerevi’s potential aside, the most pressing question is: is the Ikitau-Sua’ali’i axis the centre pairing for the Lions, and if so; does this mean they must play the three remaining games to foster that connection?

The answer to this question appears to be yes.

However, the Wallabies depth at centre is also thin, perhaps as thin as it is at second row.

With Hunter Paisami injured and Australia XV options Josh Flook and Hamish Stewart being good without being great, the 31-year-old Kerevi may yet have a hand to play in Wallaby gold.

Kerevi’s club coach is former Scotland international Greig Laidlaw, who has said Kerevi is the fittest he’s seen him, an element to Kerevi’s game that was lacking last year.

Schmidt needs time to mould and improve the Ikitau-Sua’ali’i axis and he can do that and have Kerevi coming off the pine, to help nurture young Sua’ali’i in his transition back to rugby.

However, if Kerevi was to be selected, he must deliver a performance as eye-catching and as impactful as the other centres did at Twickenham.

Schmidt cannot afford to be nonchalant with the few minutes he has left before the Lions tour, and with only two Tests remaining in the World Rugby Reg-9 window, Kerevi is racing the clock as well.

The Wallabies’ win at the weekend has put players plying their trade abroad on notice, only the best-of-the-best can hope to attract the selection of Schmidt.

The game against Wales at ‘the Principality’ is the only fixture where the Wallabies go in as favourites, having beaten them twice in July and because they suffered their ninth consecutive loss to Fiji at the weekend.

If there’s a game where Skelton and Kerevi can show their wares and show they can get across the detail in the game plan and execute, it’s this one.

John Ferguson’s 23 to play Wales:

  1. Angus Bell
  2. Matt Faessler
  3. Taniela Tupou
  4. Nick Frost
  5. Jeremy Williams
  6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
  7. Fraser McReight
  8. Rob Valetini
  9. Jake Gordon
  10. Noah Lolesio
  11. Max Jorgensen
  12. Len Ikitau
  13. Joseph Aukuso-Sua’ali’i
  14. Andrew Kellaway
  15. Tom Wright

Reserves

  1. Brandon Paenga-Amosa
  2. Isaac Kailea
  3. Allan Alaalatoa
  4. Will Skelton
  5. Langi Gleeson
  6. Tate McDermott
  7. Ben Donaldson
  8. Samu Kerevi

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Comments

20 Comments
A
AM 18 days ago

You miss squad rotation and lack of depth particularly in the front row so makes your whole article nonsense. With that in mind Skelton, Philip/Arnold, Sio, Ainsley, Latu, Kerevi, Hodge, Samu and even guys like Pereze should be used because they are as good as or better than the bench players. Skelton is a starter in any team in the world other than maybe SA.


Sio and Ainsley are better scrummagers than AAA and Slipper. Latu is at least as good as BPA at scrum and is better over the ball. Kerevi and Hodge are better than Paisami and Hodge is useful at fullback for wrights off days which are pretty frequent and has 70m boot.


If Schmidt keeps the same squad through to the lions, which is the immediate concern, he will have ground guys like Bell into dust. Same thing that Eddie jones did to the top ranked England team in the penultimate World Cup. Players are already playing too many games in a season.


Skelton should start. He’s not an impact guy his strength and maul defence, niggle at the breakdown and ball carrying. Rennie made that mistake before.

O
OJohn 19 days ago

Of course Skelton should come in and so should Kerevi. Both are world class players. Williams is playing out of his skin but is simply too small for an international lock. He is playing so well he should get the 6 spot or as a reserve.

BPA should be the starting hooker obviously.


Schmidt of course won't put our best players in their best position because then the team starts to look like it might threaten the All Blacks. He will also avoid Rodda who can pick apart an All Black lineout.


McDermott is way better than Gordon but then again, Gordon will be no threat to the All Blacks. Kellaway and Wright must swap but Schmidt wont. That's what kiwi coaches in Australia do.


As for Donaldson, fair dinkum he's about the 5th best 10 in Australia if he's lucky. We know what you are doing Joe. Protecting the All Blacks.

J
John 19 days ago

I think Matt Faessler is actually killing it, and am happy with BPA coming off the pine.


Would just like to see a little bit more tight gainline metres from BPA as he is a bigger body.


These are huge conspiracies OJohn.

c
cs 19 days ago

Sensible as usual John. I'd keep McReight and Valetini in their spots and give Gleeson his shot as a starting 8. A more conservative approach, balanced by swapping Donaldson for Edmed on the bench. Better to give Tane a moment here than bring him on cold in one of the next two

J
John 19 days ago

Cheers cs!! I'd like to see a massive performance from Gleeson, he has so much potential from a physical aspect.


I agree, I am big Tane fan.

J
JW 20 days ago

Can Sua'ali'i play 10 John? Nice article, loved the flow and structure.


Where is his hyphenation supposed to be? Aukuso appears to be his middle name.


I don't want to appear stuck on the bench split because I've been on about it again for the All Blacks this weekend, given the injury dynamics, or because I was on about it before that, back when the ABs had no idea who their best backrowers were, but the idea of Will Skelton being on the park for more than 20 minutes scares me.


I'm not sure Harry Wilson makes the run on team come Lions next year, and it might not be a simple case of switching back to Wright either. Farrell is likely to come with a hard and fast game plan, but with a workhorse jumper at 6 (well currently he's a bit of a twixt and between coach anyway), does Schmidt combat that?


I can see both (or the trifecta if you will) aspects aligning. Joe might want to only use big Will for a 20 min period at the death (or any bloodbin type stuff through the game, no I'm not with the perth conspiracy group), but he might also want to have a fresh lock/6 on the bench. I don't really suggest JAS is the back up 10 to enable a 6/2 bench, Wright and even Kellaway (or a 9) have the talent for it imo, but he is someone you would have no restraints in using freely, moving to the wing or fullback (aside from how accustomed he is to each position of course) to make room for Kerevi to essentially cover every blackline position from the bench.


It might be that Faz's blackline attack is too threating to not have 3 backs on the bench in case of early injury, but I can see reasons were it might be a consideration. I don't really like LSL as a quality starter, or much more than big Will on the bench, either. Are there possibly other lock/6's like Williams that could push there way in? This would most likely be an overseas necessity pick!

J
John 19 days ago

Thanks JW!


re JAS playing 10, I don't think so haha


I agree re the ambiguity around the selection of Wilson if Liam Wright is fit. We need a taller lineout operating 6 and Wright fills that role really well.


Wright at 6, Valetini at 8, Fraser at 7 could be lethal. 6-2 split bench with Wilson and Skelton on the pine is not bad at all.


The locking stocks are interesting, but at least we finally have some competition.

M
Mitch 19 days ago

Sua’ali’i is an outside back. I can't see him playing flyhalf.

B
Bull Shark 20 days ago

Go Wallabies!

G
GrahamVF 20 days ago

Haven't heard much from the Kiwi/NSW hater?

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JW 1 hour ago
All Blacks report card: Are Razor's troops heading in the right direction?

perhaps one or two up and coming youngsters who were either capped recently or are uncapped and are targeted for long term eligibility in another nation.

Yes some sort of loyalty needs to be used to stop the Lakai's or Sititi's if they hadn't been signed up in time, from thinking they can leave.


Everyone already thinks that SR is weak because theres no longer anyone to challenge the top 4 kiwi sides, despite them not challenging them for over a decade already, so you might as well take them down to the other 8 teams level?

If the quality of the comp drops then it will lead to slower player development for those who play in this comp. It will lead to lower standards and a lower bar.

I don't really agree with that in and of itself. A competition where more games are contested is going to drive performances up. You just need to ensure there are those with that top level performance experience, like James O'Connor, they don't actually need them do be delivering that performance they're championing.


If the NZ teams were weakened to where all 12 teams were on a comparable level (theres always 4 NZ sides that are still the best in the world) I'd argue that actually increases everyones development. It's just key that players still know what that highest bar is even if theyre not reaching it.


Of course one of the most important aspects is the marketability of the competition as best in world. But as I say until the ABs return to the top noone is going to beleive that of SR so maybe now is a good time to try some changes?

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