Australia’s worrying Super Rugby results point to a Lions domination – Stephen Larkham is the coach they need to call
Based on Australia’s Super Rugby results, to say quality is spread thin for players who can compete against the Lions would be an understatement. There’s one man they must call to conjure a miracle.
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As a player, Stephen Larkham was always one step ahead of everyone else.
A generational genius, he could – and would – do anything that his team needed from him.
Starting his international career as a fullback, Larkham successfully transformed himself into the best attacking five-eighth on the planet, helping the Wallabies win every major trophy in the game.
Despite being a reluctant and inconsistent kicker of the football, his single most famous act in the gold jersey came from his right boot when he nailed an outrageous drop goal from halfway in the Wallabies’ extra-time win over South Africa in the semi-finals of the 1999 World Cup.
It was the first field goal he kicked during his 102 Test career for Australia but serves as an everlasting reminder of his ability to adapt to any situation and do what’s required when the moment calls for it.
Larkham’s coaching career has followed a similar trajectory, but with one major difference.
Despite his success and versatility, the 50-year-old remains on the outer as one of the most underrated and underused assets in Australian rugby.
He could well have been chosen as the Wallabies coach so it’s bordering on a travesty that he’s not involved with the Test side at all given the importance of what’s coming up, because his track record speaks for itself.
In 2015, he helped guide the Wallabies through to the World Cup final when he was appointed as Michael Cheika’s assistant, taking responsibility for organising the attack.
In his seven seasons in charge of the ACT Brumbies, initially from 2014-2017 then from 2023-25, Larkham has taken his team to the finals every time, and has noticeably matured in the role.
On the weekend, he reminded everyone that the best way to beat New Zealand sides is by sticking to the basics and grinding away because the Kiwis improvise better than anyone else.
It wasn’t flash but it wasn’t intended to be. Like his drop goal in 1999, Larkham has always understood the value of winning ugly.
Long-suffering supporters can only hope Joe Schmidt was paying attention as he prepares the Wallabies for their forthcoming series against the British and Irish Lions.
For all the hype about NRL convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, the blunt reality of international rugby is that Australia’s reserve props will probably end up having a bigger say in deciding the series than any of the outside backs.
A conservative selector and tactician, Schmidt knows all that and has already shown his hand but the poor form of Australia’s Super Rugby teams, the Brumbies excluded, remains a real cause for concern.
Worryingly, the Reds did not fire a shot in their quarter-final loss to the Crusaders on Friday under Les Kiss, who has already been anointed as Schmidt’s successor to take the Wallabies through to the 2027 World Cup.
The Reds are the second best team in Australia after the Waratahs and the Force both failed to even make the playoffs. It’s an understatement to say the quality is spread thin for players who can compete against the Lions.
That’s why the Wallabies need all the help they can get and they should involve reaching out to Larkham.
He threw his hat in the ring when Eddie Jones quit the Test team in 2023 but was overlooked for Schmidt then he withdrew from the race to succeed him once it became apparent Kiss was a shoo-in for the job.
The concern for long-time followers of the code is that succession plans rarely go the way everyone wants and some flexibility is needed.
Getting the best-performed coach in Australian Super Rugby on board should be the easiest decision to make. Even the Kiwis would agree with that.
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Originally published as Australia’s worrying Super Rugby results point to a Lions domination – Stephen Larkham is the coach they need to call
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