'You've got two choices, bitch and moan and blame others or stick tight'
Noah Lolesio’s chance to nail down the Wallabies’ No.10 jersey will arrive against South Africa but assistant coach Dan McKellar is adamant the team’s Test fortunes will be decided elsewhere.
The Brumbies five-eighth was overlooked for the two Tests in Argentina, a horror loss costing veteran No 10 James O’Connor his spot in the squad to face South Africa.
Bernard Foley, 32, has been recalled from Japanese rugby but it’s the man 10 years his junior who’s set to face the world champions at Adelaide Oval on Saturday ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“He (Lolesio) was close to playing in Argentina but it’s a position where it hasn’t been nailed yet,” said McKellar, who has overseen the young playmaker’s rise at the Brumbies. “He gets his chance this week.
“He’s got Whitey (halfback Nic White) on his inside who he knows very well. There should be really good cohesion, now he just goes about doing his job.
“I think so, yeah (he can make the No 10 his own). My advice there is he doesn’t have to go out and think he needs to be the best player on the field, be man of the match.”
McKellar said Lolesio’s direction would be crucial but the Wallabies’ success would be measured by the forward pack’s ability to handle South Africa’s set piece.
“There will be no surprises, although I shouldn’t say that, there may be one or two,” McKellar mused.
“Their big percentage is going to be around their set piece battle, set piece strategy, our ability to defuse it and look for an opportunity off the back of it. They’re very good at what they do, won a World Cup on the back of it. But as we’ve shown in the past, when we get our game right we can trouble them.
“It’s easy to talk about and put on a whiteboard … it’s about having the composure and skill set to execute that under pressure.”
South Africa have lost their last seven Tests in Australia, their last victory coming in 2013.
McKellar isn’t fussed by that dominance though, particularly with the wounds of Argentina a fortnight ago still healing.
“We were pretty filthy about how we performed in San Juan,” he said. “We didn’t win the collisions and didn’t have a thirst to win the collisions.
“You’ve got to stick tight; it’s Test footy, it’s hard. You’re always going to have these periods. You’ve got two choices, bitch and moan and blame others or stick tight, stick together and take on board the feedback.”
– Murray Wenzel
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.
17 Go to comments