Ahead of Ewen McKenzie’s Wallabies squad announcement we list 12 reasons for Australian rugby optimism
AFTER years of doom and gloom, it’s time for Australian rugby fans to feel good. We list 12 reasons for Australian rugby optimism.
Wallabies
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WHISPER it, Wallabies fans. This just might be the year.
Ewen McKenzie will on Wednesday unveil his squad for next month’s two Bledisloe Cup clashes — and the 32 men he calls upon could just be the ones to finally bring the trophy back.
After some lean years Australian rugby is well and truly on the mend, with two sides well in the hunt for the Super Rugby title, the emergence of some superstar talent and McKenzie having had a year in the Test coaching chair.
We’re not saying by any means that the Wallabies are locks to break their Bledisloe drought, but unlike in previous years there’s plenty to like about their chances.
We’ve come up with 12 reasons — one for every painful year since we last held the trophy aloft — to be optimistic about our hopes of winning back the Bledisloe Cup, and about Australian rugby in general.
TWO TEAMS IN SUPER RUGBY’S SEMIS
Unfortunately they’ll face off this weekend but for the Waratahs and Brumbies to both still be alive on the penultimate weekend of Super Rugby is a major boost for Australian rugby. This is the first time two Australian teams have made the final four in the four years of Super Rugby’s conference system and further to that achievement — they’re both playing attacking rugby. And let’s not forget Western Force, the Perth-based franchise finished a credible eighth.
MCKENZIE BETTER FOR BAPTISM OF FIRE
It’s got to be one of the toughest initiations in world sport. You take the reins of a Test rugby side and your first assignment is … the All Blacks. Last year’s back-to-back Bledisloes gave Ewen McKenzie an almighty introduction to Test rugby but the Wallabies coach will be better for the experience. In fact there was a major improvement by the time last year’s third Bledisloe rolled around, even though the Wallabies were beaten 41-33. The man known as “Link” would have learned a thing or two from last year’s 3-0 defeat, readying him for battle in 2014.
ON A ROLL WITH SEVEN-MATCH WIN STREAK
The Wallabies have form heading into this year’s Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship. That’s right, winning form. Last year they were coming off the back of a British and Irish Lions belting — a 41-16 defeat in the third Test that cost them the series. This time round it’s been a confidence and momentum-building seven-straight victories, including a nice little tune-up in the form of June’s 3-0 series triumph over France. Of course there’s the small matter of the All Blacks’ also being in fairly handy form, racking up 17 straight Test wins on the trot and shooting for a record-breaking 18th at ANZ Stadium.
PALU POWERING BACK TO TOP FORM
The return of Wycliff Palu can’t be underestimated. The rampaging No. 8 missed the Bledisloe Cup, The Rugby Championship and Spring Tour last year — and the Wallabies missed his powerful play up front. Palu returned to action with a hot start to the Super Rugby season and has only improved as the year rolled on, starring in the three-Test triumph over France and backing it up with a huge game against the Brumbies last month. His 120kg frame, ability to shed tackles and abrasive play will be a welcome boost for the Wallabies as they lock horns with the All Blacks and Springboks packs.
TWO HOME GAMES A BLEDISLOE ADVANTAGE
As far as the Bledisloe Cup is concerned, this has to be a big factor in the Wallabies’ favour. They weren’t too far away in Wellington or Dunedin last year and with two games in Australia this time around the time has come for the Wallabies to stand up and deliver. The first and third matches will be played in Sydney and Brisbane respectably, giving Australian rugby fans two opportunities to get behind the Wallabies and cheer the boys home. Check out “The Call of the Wallaby” on Tuesday night on Fox Sports 1 — the movement has started and it’s called The Gold Brigade. All aboard!
TOOMUA’S THE MAN TO NAIL NONU
He seems to wake from a six-month slumber when the Bledisloe Cup rolls around and Ma’a Nonu will surely be a major threat for the All Blacks yet again this year. But in Matt Toomua the Wallabies look to have an inside centre that can defend the key midfield channel stoutly and also serve as what the Kiwis refer to as a “second five-eighth”. Toomua has earned a reputation as a “hitman” in defence. It’d be nice to see him lay one on Nonu — he’s tormented the Wallabies for long enough.
BEALE’S BACK AND IN FORM OF HIS LIFE
Another Test regular who missed all bar the Lions series last year is Beale. The one-time wayward Wallaby has been a revelation since returning home to Sydney from Melbourne to reunite with the Waratahs. Beale has been in electric touch for the Tahs in their surge to the Super Rugby minor premiership, running the ball, setting up tries and generally bringing extra X-factor to a star-studded backline. Beale has continued that form in his comeback to Test rugby, adding plenty of attacking verve off the bench against France.
YOUNG BRIGADE BOOSTS OUR STOCKS
Will Skelton, Sam Carter, Luke Jones, Nathan Charles — they were all virtual unknowns at this time last year. But McKenzie has added to the Wallabies’ depth — and especially the worryingly thin lock stocks — by blooding the young brigade at Test level, along with the likes of rising winger Chris Feauai-Sautia. Skelton, the silky-skilled, 140kg, 2.03m giant, and fellow second-rower Sam Carter made particularly big impressions in their Test debuts and look to have big futures ahead of them.
FOLAU BEST FULLBACK IN THE WORLD
Cast your memory back to last year’s first two Bledisloe Cup Tests, and to the No. 14 jersey. Yes, that’s Israel Folau you see standing out on the wing. At that stage the Wallabies still hadn’t cottoned on to the fact that Folau was best suited at fullback. Luckily McKenzie saw the sense in switching Folau to the back, and the code-hopping superstar has since gone on to become arguably the best No. 15 in world rugby. With a full year of rugby at fullback behind him, Folau is a much better player heading into his second Bledisloe series and Rugby Championship.
MORE DEPTH ON WAY FOR WALLABIES
You can never have enough world-class players, that’s just a fact, and two more top-level talents are soon to increase the Wallabies’ stocks. Brumbies flyer Henry Speight finally becomes eligible for Australia on September 11, and on the strength of his phenomenal performances this season — see his game against the Chiefs last weekend — will be rushed straight into the side. Likewise the imminent return of James O’Connor to Australia next year will give the Wallabies another Test quality attacking weapon. Add the potential arrival of code-hopper Karmichael Hunt and Australia’s backline depth could be looking very healthy.
THIRD TIER TO HELP GROW THE GAME
The National Rugby Championship kicks off next month and it can’t come soon enough. Finally Australia has a third-tier competition again, providing a platform for fringe Super Rugby players and the like to further develop their skills. As former Wallaby Andrew Slack writes, the NRC might not unearth the next Israel Folau, but it will help club players improve into ones who can perform at Super Rugby and Wallaby level. It will also provide a fantastic feast of rugby on Thursday nights, with Fox Sports to broadcast a New Zealand ITM Cup match, Australian NRC clash and Rugby HQ back-to-back-to-back. Bring it on.
IT’S JUST THE VIBE, YOU KNOW?
To borrow a line from one of Australia’s finest ever films, it’s just the vibe of Australian rugby this year. The great Dennis Denuto said it when he was standing up for the Kerrigans in “The Castle” and while that defence argument didn’t exactly work out for Melbourne’s favourite greyhound racing family, we think there’s a little more in it for the Wallabies. The doom and gloom is disappearing — the Wallabies’ time is now.
Originally published as Ahead of Ewen McKenzie’s Wallabies squad announcement we list 12 reasons for Australian rugby optimism