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Wallabies bring in injury-free James O'Connor for Pumas skirmish
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has detailed his no-handout selection policy after resisting the urge to unleash Sean McMahon on international rugby again in Saturday’s Test against Argentina.
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The Japan-based flanker will watch from outside the 23 for the third-straight weekend since joining the squad despite being eligible to play his first Test since 2017 thanks to the relaxation of the Giteau Law.
Rennie also resisted any urge to reinstate No 8 Harry Wilson after he played every Test last year, just like centre Hunter Paisami who is another currently able to find a way back into the 23.
Instead, Rob Leota earned his first start, replacing No 6 Lachie Swinton, and Rob Valetini has kept his spot alongside captain Michael Hooper in the backrow for Townsville’s first Wallabies Test.
Fit-again James O’Connor will return on the bench for his first Test this year, Reece Hodge replacing Tom Banks at fullback after the incumbent broke his arm in the defeat of South Africa last week.
The consistency is by design for Rennie, who is seeing improvements as the new world number three side eyes their first three-match winning streak since 2017.
“The All Blacks can rotate guys and don’t lose a lot and that’s where we want to get to,” Rennie said.
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“But our mindset is more around ‘you’ve got to earn the right to wear the jersey’.
“Our mindset is that we’re going to put out the best 15 we can.
“It’s around growing our game at the moment and we’re well conditioned now, our skill set’s improving and our game awareness has been better too.”
Samu Kerevi has understandably received huge plaudits for his impact in the midfield, but it's the unearthing of 22-year-old Len Ikitau that could be the defining selection of the Wallabies season. #Wallabies #AUSvRSA
Analysis from @BenSmithRugby ? https://t.co/mnDbip3baq
— RugbyPass+ (@RugbyPassPlus) September 21, 2021
Rennie said Wilson and Queensland Reds flanking partner Fraser McReight were unfortunate victims of the side’s renewed depth and, with the more versatile Pete Samu providing cover on the bench, their only way into the side was as starters.
“Harry’s been training the house down … you can’t fault those men,” Rennie said.
“In Fraser’s case he’s got the skipper [Michael Hooper] in front of him, but his attitude has been fantastic and likewise with Harry.
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“We’ve got genuine competition for places, creating depth and you can only fit so many in and Harry’s very close but we think Rob deserves a crack.”
Rennie said Leota’s strong running game would serve the Wallabies well, where the dropped Swinton’s prowess in the line-out may not be as crucial as it was against the Springboks.
And he said McMahon would need to be patient with Leota mounting a case the coach simply couldn’t refuse.
“Big man, good ball carrier and has trained very well and been very close to selection in the past,” Rennie said of the imposing Victorian.
“(Sean’s) worked really hard, got himself in good nick and will continue to press, but we’re pretty keen to reward Rob.”
O’Connor will provide backline cover for Hodge and No 10 Quade Cooper, Rennie admitting the playmaker may not have the speed of a typical fullback but could make up for it with his kicking and organisational skills.
The Wallabies will wear their First Nations jersey at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday, in what will also be their first Test match in Townsville.
Wallabies: Reece Hodge, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper (c), Rob Leota, Matt Philip, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper. Bench: Feleti Kaitu’u, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Jordan Petaia.
– Murray Wenzel
Comments on RugbyPass
Shame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
2 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
2 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
2 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
2 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to comments