Matt Toomua and James O’Connor keeping young No 10 guns at bay

Australia’s young wannabes at five-eighth could have time to grow into their roles before the Wallabies come calling.

Melbourne five-eighth Matt Toomua spins the ball out during the Rebels’ win over the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday night. Picture: Getty Images

There may not be a need to throw any of the young Australian five-eighths into the cauldron of Test football, Waratahs coach Rob Penney believes, because of the excellent form being shown in Super Rugby by Wallabies veterans Matt Toomua and James O’Connor.

Before the start of the season, it seemed likely that new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie would be forced to throw one of the young lions — Noah Lolesio of the Brumbies, Will Harrison of the Tahs or the Reds’ Isaac Lucas — into the playmaking role, with even 52-Test veteran Toomua not quite securing the No 10 jersey despite having four runs there during the World Cup, including a starting role against Uruguay.

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But despite taking a head knock and missing the second half against the Brumbies and sitting out the Sharks match entirely, Toomua has strung together some impressive performances at 10. He was one of the Melbourne Rebels’ best against the Waratahs and on Friday against the Highlanders in Dunedin he provided real leadership as the Rebels clinched a thrilling 28-22 victory.

O’Connor, who curiously has also played 52 Tests, was not even in the frame as a 10 at the start of the season. He had played there only four times in his international career, once against Wales in 2011 and then the entire three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions in 2013, and though he had neatly won two and lost two, it seemed he would not be required at five-eighth ever again.

Queensland initially used him at inside centre in their opening match against the Brumbies with Lucas at 10, but following that three-point loss, Reds coach Brad Thorn immediately moved O’Connor to five-eighth where he has grown in confidence. He was in fine form again on Saturday night against the Sharks, but was forced off with an ankle injury — nothing serious according to Thorn — and though Lucas substituted well, the Reds looked to be missing O’Connor’s leadership.

The issue now appears to one of sorting out the numbers. Toomua and O’Connor both are playing well enough to command starting spots in the Wallabies. But which one will wear 10, and which 12?

Lolesio handled his debut for the Brumbies comfortably and has since blossomed in confidence, steering his side to a convincing victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton, where he showed no signs of being in awe of either All Black general Aaron Cruden or Damian McKenzie.

But perhaps the most enthralling story has been that of Harrison, who started well but quietly against the Crusaders, but fell into a hole against the Rebels in Melbourne. He could easily have been left out of the side to play the Lions at Bankwest Stadium on Friday but Penney continued to show faith in him and he repaid his coach with his best performance in Super Rugby so far as the Waratahs won 29-17.

“If you believe in someone then it’s great when they reward you,” Penney told The Australian on Sunday. “And it’s not just me, it’s the whole coaching staff. We knew what we were getting into with a young 10. Will is not the finished product yet by any means but he has made a move in the right direction, as one or two young 10s in Australian rugby are.

“It’s a big job and they are doing great things for Australian rugby. Hopefully some of them will put their hands up over the next couple of years at the next level.”

Would any of them be ready to play Test football this season, he was asked?

“Potentially they could, given the 10 position in Australia at the moment in Toomua and O’Connor (playing so well), so they don’t need to be rushed.”

Penney is in the unfamiliar situation of coming off a victory so it is unlikely he will be making many changes to his side. “We have to build a bit of consistency. We’ve only had one win,” he said.

Still, indications are that captain Rob Simmons’s ankle injury may keep him out of Friday’s double-header against the Chiefs in Wollongong. Because of the coronavirus, the Sunwolves’ game against the Brumbies — which was to have been played in Osaka — will now be played at 2.45pm at Wollongong to allow time for the Crusaders-Reds match in Christchurch before WIN Stadium again becomes the main focus for the Waratahs game.

Indications are that Brumbies coach Dan McKellar will again draw on his depth to play winger Toni Pulu this week, though it is unclear whose place he will take in the starting side.