Rugby news: Bernard Foley’s shock World Cup admission, James O’Connor axed from Wallabies
Bernard Foley has made a shock admission about Australia’s disastrous 2019 World Cup campaign ahead of his Wallabies comeback.
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Returning playmaker Bernard Foley believes the 2019 Wallabies cared “too much” about their World Cup campaign, as he seeks to help the team turn around their flailing form to become contenders at next year’s tournament in France.
Not since the 2019 final pool match against Wales has Foley worn the Wallabies jersey. On that occasion, he was hooked after 44 minutes by then coach Michael Cheika, with Australia losing, and was then left out of the 23 altogether as the Wallabies were thumped 40-16 in the quarter-final by England, their worst World Cup result.
Now, Foley has returned to the Wallabies after coach Dave Rennie picked the 32-year-old with playmaking stocks as uncertain as they were three years ago, with Australia facing world champions South Africa in Adelaide on Saturday having just been thumped 48-17 by Argentina a fortnight ago.
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With Quade Cooper injured long-term with an Achilles tear, Noah Lolesio in and out of the side, James O’Connor sensationally axed from the squad, Reece Hodge jumping in and out of the No.10 spot and rookie Ben Donaldson brought in this week to gain experience, Australia’s playmaking conundrum is reminiscent of 2019 when there was no clear first-choice five-eighth.
“I’ve had time to reflect on it, we were probably in a place where we cared too much,” Foley said.
“I think we were trying to force things to happen and trying too hard to change the outcomes and really go in there and have an unbelievable tournament.
“The intent was all right, the purpose and why we were there was spot on, but just the execution and how we carried it out, and how we weren’t able to circuit-break ourselves enough through those couple of years leading up to it and in that 2019 World.
“That’s what I’m really enjoying [about] being back in here and really understanding there is only a finite amount of time you’re in this jersey and in this program and doing what we get to do, so really make the most of it, to try to enjoy it, have fun, but work hard and really appreciate the opportunity we have.”
Foley believes this Wallabies squad can develop key backline combinations in time for France 2023, a tournament he hopes to play in.
“Combinations and time together builds better relationship, builds better connections and you get that understanding of how to play,” he said.
“In 2019, reflecting on that journey, is completely different to what we’re talking about now. The intention and the purpose was right back then, just the execution and game plan.
“Today and what we’re working with, competition for spots is a healthy thing in teams, you want guys to drive. Coming in here for one day and seeing guys, everyone is working together to get a better outcome, to get a better product.”
Foley empathised with Cooper, who made a similar return to the Wallabies from international wilderness last year, leading them to five successive victories, but then suffered a knee injury moments before kick-off in the first Test against England in June, and then his Achilles injury in the first Test against Argentina that Australia won.
“I thought he did a wonderful job last year and this year, speaking to the guys, his influence and effect on the team has been massive,” Foley said.
“It’s sad to see his injury come at that time, I thought he had done a lot and [was] pretty impressive in his time here, and even when I spoke to him in Japan and saw how he was keeping, his mindset and physically how he was keeping himself in shape.
“It’s pretty sad for him, but that opportunity falls on me now.”
The Wallabies host South Africa on Saturday in afternoon match at Adelaide Oval, a double header with the Wallaroos playing New Zealand beforehand. They will face the Springboks again in Sydney the following week, before the two-Test Bledisloe Cup against the All Blacks starting on September 15 in Melbourne.
JOC’s career hangs by thread after axe
The Test career of James O’Connor is hanging by a thread after he was cut from the Wallabies squad following their record loss to Argentina last week, with coach Dave Rennie saying he could not implement his game plan.
The 32-year-old playmaker was the shock omission from Australia’s 35-man squad to play two home Tests against South Africa, with veteran five-eighth Bernard Foley recalled alongside No.10 options Noah Lolesio and Reece Hodge.
For 59-Test star O’Connor, the road back does not look promising.
“The issue on the weekend wasn’t physical, he needs to convince us he can implement the plan that we want,” Rennie said.
“And it’s difficult to do it when you’re not in the squad.
“Should he get another opportunity with us, he needs to highlight he’s made some shifts.”
The Wallabies lost 48-17 to Argentina last weekend, and now face world champions the Springboks in Adelaide Oval on Saturday week.
Rennie said the door was not fully closed on O’Connor.
“He was pretty devastated, he’s desperate to be a Wallaby, he’s going to ensure he keeps himself in good nick,” Rennie said.
“Based on injuries this year, an opportunity could be around the corner.
“But we’ll get together with him prior to the squad assembling just to go through his game, give him clarity around the shifts we need to see if he gets another opportunity with us.”
Rennie has chopped and changed playmakers since he took over from Michael Cheika in 2019, and now has recalled Foley, who hasn’t played a Test since the 2019 World Cup.
“We left James out, Bernard comes in, obviously we’ve still got Noah, we’ve got Hodgey who has played a bit of 10 for us in recent weeks,” Rennie said.
“James got a crack in the last Test, we thought this experience would be really important and wanted him to drive the ship and allow us to implement our plan, and we were pretty clunky to be honest.
“We lacked cohesion so he’s missed out on selection.
“We needed to find out where James was at and give him an opportunity to play at 10, you can see based on selection where we see Noah.
“He’s a strong chance to be involved next week, he’s worked hard on the little areas that he needed to make shifts beyond the England series and as we’ve said, he’s a good kid, he’s played a lot of big rugby for a young man, just about all his Tests are against top four sides in the world.
“It’s such a massive position for us, Quade [Cooper’s] injury heading into the England series and then the Achilles issue beyond that has given opportunities to Noah to play a little bit more.
“Even when we bought Quade back in, we went a 6-2 split and that’s when Hodgey’s versatility comes in, that was at the expense of having Noah on the bench for either of those Tests.
“There’s certainly going to be opportunities over the next few weeks for someone to grab that position.”
Rennie suggested it would be too soon for Foley to start against the Boks in the first Test.
“We’ve got to make sure he’s ready to go, we waited for the second Test for Rory [Arnold], we’ll make a call on Bernard once we get him into camp on Sunday,” Rennie said.
Waratahs backrower Langhi Gleeson, 21, is the bolter in the squad.
Rennie said a yet-to-be-determined young No.10 will join the squad on Monday, along with veteran Kurtley Beale, and they will train alongside the team and have physical tests.
Wallabies squad for South Africa Tests (age, team, Tests played)
Allan Alaalatoa (28, Brumbies, 56 Tests)
Rory Arnold (32, TBC, 30 Tests)
Angus Bell (21, NSW Waratahs, 19 Tests)
Jock Campbell (27, Queensland Reds, uncapped)
Pone Fa‘amausili (25, Melbourne Rebels, 1 Test)
Folau Fainga‘a (27, Brumbies, 29 Tests)
Lalakai Foketi (27, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)
Bernard Foley (32, Kubota Spears, 71 Tests)
Nick Frost (22, Brumbies, 4 Tests)
Langi Gleeson (21, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)
Jake Gordon (29, NSW Waratahs, 13 Tests)
Reece Hodge (27, Melbourne Rebels, 57 Tests)
Jed Holloway (29, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)
Len Ikitau (23, Brumbies, 17 Tests)
Andrew Kellaway (26, Melbourne Rebels, 14 Tests)
Marika Koroibete (30, Saitama Wild Knights, 47 Tests)
Rob Leota (25, Melbourne Rebels, 10 Tests)
Noah Lolesio (22, Brumbies, 12 Tests)
Lachlan Lonergan (22, Brumbies, 6 Tests)
Tate McDermott (23, Queensland Reds, 17 Tests)
Fraser McReight (23, Queensland Reds, 4 Tests)
Hunter Paisami (24, Queensland Reds, 18 Tests)
Jordan Petaia (22, Queensland Reds, 20 Tests)
Matt Philip (28, Melbourne Rebels, 24 Tests)
David Porecki (29, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)
Pete Samu (30, Brumbies, 24 Tests)
Scott Sio (30, Brumbies, 71 Tests)
James Slipper (33, Brumbies, 119 Tests)
Darcy Swain (25, Brumbies, 13 Tests)
Taniela Tupou (26, Queensland Reds, 42 Tests)
Rob Valetini (23, Brumbies, 23 Tests)
Suliasi Vunivalu (26, Queensland Reds, 1 Test)
Nic White (32, Brumbies, 52 Tests)
Harry Wilson (22, Queensland Reds, 11 Tests)
Tom Wright (25, Brumbies, 14 Tests)
WALLABIES GAMBLE ON VETERAN No.10
Three years after his last international, Bernard Foley has been recalled to the Wallabies to boost their playmaking stocks against world champions South Africa.
Foley, 32, was named in Dave Rennie’s squad for the two-match Rugby Championship series starting with an afternoon game in Adelaide on Saturday, August 27.
Kurtley Beale, who was also in the mix for selection and conducted fitness tests this week, missed out on the squad.
However, key players Andrew Kellaway and Angus Bell, who were injured during the England series, have returned for Australia as they seek to rebound from the humiliating 48-17 defeat to Argentina in their previous match.
Foley’s return is a sign that Rennie is continuing his search for a reliable No.10 after the long-term injury to Quade Cooper in the opening TRC match against Argentina a fortnight ago.
After Cooper’s injury, Reece Hodge replaced him as five-eighth and helped the Wallabies to a strong victory.
However, Hodge was relegated to the bench for the second game, with James O’Connor starting, and Australia suffered their heaviest loss to the Pumas.
Rennie has tried Noah Lolesio in the contentious position over the past two years but the 22-year-old’s mixed form has seen him in and out of the national team.
O’Connor has also struggled to take ownership of the No.10 jersey, creating a headache for Rennie one year out from the World Cup.
Foley has not played an international since the 2019 World Cup, and hasn’t played any top-line rugby since May 22 for Japanese League One team Kubota Spears.
The 32-year-old joined the club after Australia’s quarter-final exit at the World Cup in Japan, and after 71 Tests for the Wallabies it appeared his international career was finished.
Rennie had asked Foley to make himself available for selection last year but the player declined, and then Cooper made a stunning return, leading Australia to five successive wins.
While it may be a stretch too far to start Foley against the Springboks in Adelaide, Rennie will be hoping his experience can help the team’s preparation next week, as they seek to rebound against the world No.3 ranked side.
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