'We're pretty desperate': Wallabies out to avoid disastrous tour against Wales
Australia coach Dave Rennie has painted the Wallabies’ end-of-tour clash against Wales in Cardiff as a battle between two sides “desperate” to end difficult, injury-hit campaigns on a high.
Both Rennie and his Wales counterpart, fellow New Zealander Wayne Pivac, have had to chop and change their sides for the Principality Stadium clash on Saturday (Sunday morning AEDT) after the spring tour battles have left their squads with a heavy casualty list.
Rennie, out to avoid the ignominy of a first winless spring tour of Europe for 45 years, has made four changes to a team who lost their inspirational leader Michael Hooper to a foot injury in the loss to England.
Pivac’s side, having also lost their own warrior leader Alun Wyn Jones among 15 players made unavailable through injury, have been beaten by South Africa and New Zealand and struggled to down Fiji.
When it was put to Rennie in Cardiff on Thursday that both sides, particularly the Welsh, would be desperate to win, he responded drily: “Yes, particularly the Australians.
“I understand that (desperation) after a couple of losses and finding their way past Fiji at the weekend – but we’re pretty desperate as well.
“We haven’t performed as well as we’ve needed to against Scotland and England, and we’re keen to make up for it.”
Rennie has brought in replacement flanker Pete Samu to replace Hooper, trusting that he can bring his own “athletic edge” against Wales and suggesting he’s “more than equipped to do the job”.
And the team has been boosted with tighthead props Taniela Tupou and Allan Alaalatoa both overcoming head-knocks to line up, while hooker Tolu Latu has been promoted from the bench.
James Slipper, back at loosehead, will captain the side for just the second time, armed with high praise from Rennie.
“Everyone had told me what a high character man he is, and he’s salt of the earth, really impressive. Huge amount of respect in this group and people love him,” said Rennie.
“He genuinely cares about people and cares about this jersey, so it was a pretty easy choice to make him skipper.”
Why is it that the teams on the cusp of the top flight of test rugby rarely seem to actually play each other?https://t.co/Zz064lTzeI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 19, 2021
Reds winger Filipo Daugunu will start his first test since breaking his arm against France back in July while Waratahs’ versatile centre Lalakai Foketi is set for his first cap after being rewarded with a bench place for his excellence in training.
Four European-based players are in the 23, with Rennie noting that the future of the ‘Giteau law’ around overseas players’ representation for the Wallabies would be reviewed after the tour.
“There are negotiations that need to happen. Obviously, there’s a fair bit of money these players are on over here (in Europe) but there’s certainly two or three guys who have generally talked to me about the opportunity to come back home (to Super Rugby),” said Rennie.
Of his Kiwi coaching battle with Pivac – they’ve crossed swords in both Britain and New Zealand but not at international level – Rennie added: “I know him (Pivac), he’s a good man.
“They (Wales) have got genuine on-ball presence, a pretty strong backline and an excellent back three. It is a good side.”
Wallabies: Kurtley Beale, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu, James O’Connor, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Pete Samu, Rob Leota, Izack Rodda, Rory Arnold, Taniela Tupou, Tolu Latu, James Slipper (capt).
Reserves: Folau Fainga’a, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, Will Skelton, Lachlan Swinton, Tate McDermott, Lalakai Foketi, Tom Wright.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments