Bob Dwyer sees light in Wallabies’ performances against England

Bob Dwyer is disappointed, but not disheartened, by the Wallabies’ performances against England.

Bob Dwyer thinks Rebels lock Lopeti Timani should get a chance in the Wallabies second row. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Bob Dwyer is disappointed, but not disheartened, by the Wallabies’ performance in their whitewash series defeat by England.

While the Wallabies were outplayed by England in all three Tests, Dwyer believes they were not far away and will be strengthened by senior players returning from Europe for August and the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup matches.

“I don’t think all is lost,” said Dwyer, who guided the Wallabies to victory in the 1991 World Cup. “We have to shake ourselves up and say we weren’t good enough. They beat us, we are not too far off the pace.

“We know we have to lift up one level to be at the level of ­England and we have to lift up another level to be good enough in the Rugby Championship.

“I’m not disheartened by this. I’m really disappointed for the team and the coaching staff and the administration.

“It was a pretty good series. There were some pretty good ­moments. We proved we can score tries.

“We’ll get stuck in and we’ll see how good we are in the Rugby Championship. I don’t think we won’t be out there really competing in every match.”

Dwyer said the Wallabies would need to be at their peak to beat the All Blacks in the opening Test of the Rugby Championship in Sydney on August 20.

“We know it’s a tough job, but it’s a job we want to successfully complete,” he said.

“At the moment some of our players aren’t up to that level, but new guys rarely are up to that level in their first few Tests.

“The question is whether the selectors see something in them that gives them the indication that they can reach that level pretty quickly. I see some more real talent coming through.

“If we are going to beat New Zealand, we would have to be playing at the absolute peak of our ability.

“If you are not at the peak of your ability, you don’t have a show.”

Dwyer urged Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to give Melbourne Rebels second-rower ­Lopeti Timani an opportunity, saying he had the potential to become a world-class lock.

“Second row is a worry because the ones we’ve got coming through are quite inexperienced, especially (Rory) Arnold and (Adam) Coleman,” Dwyer said.

“But I do think we have a number of locks coming through that are pretty good.

“I’d like to see Lopeti Timani get some sort of a shot at it. He is one of those guys that has got the ability to be world class. Whether he’s got the temperament and the commitment and all those things to be world class I’m not sure, because we haven’t put him to the test, but often what is needed for those guys is somebody else believes in them.

“If he can translate his natural talent into a committed performance at the highest level, then I think he can be a world-class player.

“He can offer size, pace and ­aggression, which are important qualities.”

Wallabies halfback Nick Phipps has come under fire for his performance against England, but Dwyer said it was up to the coaching staff to ensure his play was of an acceptable standard.

“Nick’s personal qualities are beyond question. He has miles of courage. Miles of commitment. Miles of fitness,” he said.

“But for me his scrumhalf play was way below what’s acceptable. Quite honestly, it’s up to the coaching staff to make sure that his scrumhalf play is acceptable.

“That’s well within the reach of the coaching staff to affect.”