Bledisloe Cup: Dave Rennie wields axe yet again in search of winning formula for Wallabies gainst All Blacks
No-one who has watched the Wallabies lurch from one disaster to the next will be upset to see new coach Dave Rennie wielding the axe on any players who underperform.
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For everyone still baffled by Dave Rennie’s savage strategy to turn the Wallabies from easybeats back to world beaters, his latest ruthless selection changes for Saturday’s final Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand should provide some clues.
While his constant changing of the side has made it almost impossible to start building the combinations he needs for future success, Rennie’s blunt message to the underperforming Wallabies should finally be getting through.
The only consistency in the ever changing line-ups is that any Wallaby who underperforms is given the axe - and already Rennie has wielded the blade more times than Jack Nicholson in The Shining - without any hesitation or sugar-coating, which should be welcomed by Australia’s long suffering supporters fed up players treated like pampered poodles.
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“It‘s tough lessons but this is Test footy,” Rennie said.
None of the players would have felt safe after last week’s humiliating 43-5 loss to the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium but the casualties included some of Australia’s brightest young prospects – Noah Lolesio, Filipo Daugunu and Irae Simone – as well as experienced NSW loose backrower Ned Hanigan.
Earmarked as Australia’s next long-term five-eighth, Lolesio was dropped after just one match, losing the position to Reece Hodge, who has only started one of his previous 42 Tests in the playmaking role but has been consistently strong off the bench.
With the Bledisloe Cup already back in New Zealand’s hands, there is little at stake other than pride but Rennie resisted the temptation to give Lolesio a chance to atone by instead presenting Hodge with his shot.
“We seriously looked at starting Noah but Hodge has got an impressive skill set – a big-kicking 10, a big goalkicker,” Rennie said.
“He‘s been a jack of all trades and filled a lot of holes and maybe this is an opportunity to establish himself.”
Excellent on his debut last month, Daugunu lost his spot on the wing because he didn’t “treasure” the ball enough last weekend.
His replacement is Tom Wright, an uncapped former NRL player already schooled in keeping possession, while inside centre Simone was dropped after just one match and replaced by Hunter Paisami.
Rennie’s explanation for Hanigan’s dumping was the most telling, when he opted for uncapped blindside flanker Lachie Swinton, who is regarded first and foremost as a tough guy who won’t take a backward step.
“We need a response,” Rennie said.
“Last week wasn‘t good enough and I expect to see that on Saturday.”
Whether that translates to a victory over the All Blacks or not remains to be seen but the Wallabies will rarely get a better chance.
Suncorp Stadium is the one ground in Australia where the Wallabies regularly beat New Zealand and the Kiwis have also made mass changes – eight in total – with the Bledisloe Cup already secure.
The All Blacks don’t hand out jerseys often but have included four uncapped players in their side to Australia – but insist it’s not a slap in the face to the Wallabies about how little they disregard them as a threat.
“It‘s an All Blacks – Wallabies Test and that’s special,” New Zealand coach Ian Foster said.
“We know how fired up they‘ll be, so we have to make sure we are as well, because we don’t want to give ourselves any excuses at the end of it. Players are jumping out of their skins to get onto the park.”
Wallabies only have pride to lose amid more radical change
Former Manly Sea Eagle Tom Wright has been rushed into the Wallabies starting side for Saturday’s final Bledisloe Cup test against the All Blacks while utility back Reece Hodge will take over as the Wallabies playmaker after regular five-eighth James O’Connor was once again ruled unfit and rookie Noah Lolesio was dropped to the bench after flopping last week.
With nothing to lose other than pride after the series was decided in Sydney, new coach Dave Rennie has once again opted for radical changes to try and get the Wallabies back to winning ways.
In addition to calling in Hodge, Rennie has also picked two uncapped players in his starting side – Waratahs hardman Lachie Swinton and Wright, who switched from NRL to union two years ago after playing five-eighth for Manly.
Wright will start on the wing after getting the nod over Filipo Daugunu, who struggled last week and was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on All Blacks sensation Caleb Clarke in a dramatically reshuffled backline.
Irae Simone, who made his debut at inside centre last week, was dropped from the 23 man squad and replaced in the starting XV by Hunter Paisami while Tom Banks returns to fullback after Dane Haylett-Petty failed a concussion test.
With O’Connor unavailable because of a knee injury and Lolesio needing more time, Rennie opted for Hodge in the pivot role. The Melbourne Rebels utility back has started on the bench in the past three tests and has only started at five-eighth once in his previous 42 tests for the Wallabies – against Japan in Yokohama in 2017.
The feisty Swinton will start at open side flanker with Ned Hanigan reverting back to the bench, in a clear sign Rennie wants more aggression from his forwards after they were steamrolled in last week’s record 43-5 humiliation at ANZ Stadium.
Veteran lock Simmons was named at second row for the injured Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the only other change in the starting forward pack, though there were two more changes on the bench.
Uncapped NSW prop Angus Bell was included on the reserves while Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga’a was recalled after being dropped for his erratic lineout throwing in the drawn first test.
“Lachlan, Tom and Angus have been excellent over the past seven weeks and have earned their first jersey for Australia through hard work and good performances,” Rennie said.
“As a whole group we were really disappointed after last weekend and we get a chance to show our character on Saturday in Brisbane.”
Rennie also paid tribute to loosehead prop James Slipper, who will earn his 100th cap, becoming just the 13th Wallaby to achieve the feat.
“It’s going to be a really special night for James in front of his family and friends back at his home ground and I know the team will be doing everything they can to make sure it’s a memorable result,” Rennie said.
New Zealand also named a heavily changed side, which included four uncapped players and the return of menacing loose forward Ardie Savea after he missed last week’s rout to remain in New Zealand following the birth of his son.
Akira Ioane was selected to start at blindside flanker while exciting outside back Will Jordan, hooker Asafo Aumua and loose forward Cullen Grace were all included on the bench.
“We have reset this week and our focus has been on this weekend and the Tri Nations,” All Blacks coach Ian Foster said.
“It’s an All Blacks – Wallabies test and that’s special. We know how fired up they’ll be, so we have to make sure we are as well, because we don’t want to give ourselves any excuses at the end of it.”
Foster also made a stack of other changes, including giving last week’s man of the match Richie Mo’unga a week off and moving Beauden Barret to five-eighth, with his brother Jordie Barrett taking over at fullback.
Rieko Ioane starts on the left wing for Clarke, with Sevu Reece named on the right wing, TJ Perenara starts at halfback and Ngani Laumape at inside centre.
Codie Taylor starts at hooker, while Scott Barrett starts at lock, alongside Sam Whitelock, who earns his 100th cap.
“We’ve been really delighted with the whole squad, so we feel that there are some players who are really putting their hand up and deserve an opportunity,” Foster said.
“Secondly, it’s been a big three-week test series to date against Australia; it’ll be another massive test, so we’ve brought in some freshness and new energy into the group. Players are jumping out of their skins to get onto the park.”
WALLABIES: 15-Tom Banks, 14-Tom Wright, 13-Jordan Petaia, 12-Irae Simone, 11-Hunter Paisami, 10-Reece Hodge, 9-Nic White, 8-Harry Wilson, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Lachie Swinton, 5-Matt Philip, 4-Rob Simmons, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1-James Slipper
Reserves: 16-Folau Fainga’a, 17-Angus Bell, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Ned Hanigan, 20-Liam Wright, 21-Tate McDermott, 22-Noah Lolesio, 23-Filipo Daugunu
ALL BLACKS: 15-Jordie Barrett, 14-Sevu Reece, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 12-Ngani Laumape, 11-Rieko Ioane, 10-Beauden Barrett, 9-TJ Perenara, 8-Ardie Savea, 7-Sam Cane (captain), 6-Akira Ioane, 5-Sam Whitelock, 4-Scott Barrett, 3-Ofa Tuungafasi, 2-Codie Taylor, 1-Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Replacements: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Alex Hodgman, 18-Tyrel Lomax, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Cullen Grace, 21-Brad Weber, 22-Damian McKenzie, 23-Will Jordan.
Originally published as Bledisloe Cup: Dave Rennie wields axe yet again in search of winning formula for Wallabies gainst All Blacks