Why John Eales has urged Wallabies not to rush captaincy decision
It is not important who captains the Wallabies to begin the Joe Schmidt era following the instability of Eddie Jones’ brief tenure as coach, legendary former skipper John Eales says.
Jones used six captains during an ill-fated 10 months back in charge of Australia that yielded two wins from nine Tests.
He named veterans Michael Hooper and James Slipper his co-captains for the first Test of the winter.
But Hooper then controversially missed selection for the World Cup squad and has since transitioned to sevens rugby, while Slipper turns 35 in June.
Tate McDermott and Allan Alaalatoa had chances to captain, before Will Skelton was named skipper for the World Cup.
The role passed to player number six when hooker Dave Porecki needed to take over after Skelton picked up a calf injury during the group stage in France.
Schmidt appears likely to go for a younger captain to begin the new era.
Of the 2023 skippers, only McDermott is still in his 20s, while 23-year-old front-rower Angus Bell has also expressed interest in the role.
But Eales, arguably Australia’s greatest skipper, believes debating the captaincy is missing the point amid the Wallabies’ rebuild.
“The captain is probably less important than a lot of people make out, a lot of the time,” Eales, who won the World Cup with Australia in 1991 and 1999, told AAP.
“You’ve got to think about, ‘OK, what’s the system? How do we want to play the game? What’s the time we kick?’.
“And then you worry about who the captain is. The captain will generally emerge from that group of players.”
Eales said it was the responsibility of every player to take on leadership duties under Schmidt.
“Trying to create a culture where everyone is a leader is more important than thinking about who the captain is,” he said.
“In the teams I was a part of, I might’ve been the captain for a lot of those Wallaby teams but we had so many leaders.
“Sometimes they’re going to be people who are recognised internally and externally as leaders, but the only thing that’s really important is that they’re recognised internally as leaders.”
Eales said the Super Rugby Pacific season, beginning this week, would be crucial to setting the Wallabies up to begin the Schmidt era successfully.
Between them, the five Australian Super Rugby sides won only six of 30 games against their New Zealand counterparts in 2023, leading into the poor international season.
“With Super Rugby, if you’re not winning games it challenges your confidence,” Eales said.
“So being in a team that wins some games is important. It does make it easier to take that next step (to the Wallabies).
“The good news is there’s a lot of talent in Australian rugby at the moment and we’ve just got to harness it first at club level, then at Super Rugby level, then at Test level.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder.
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments