Noah Lolesio gives Wallabies a fighting chance against All Blacks

As someone who made his Test debut against the All Blacks at a young age, I can empathise with Noah Lolesio.

Rookie Wallabies five-eighth Noah Lolesio is an instinctive No 10 Picture: Getty Images

As someone who made his Test debut against the All Blacks at a young age, I can certainly empathise with rookie Wallabies five-eighth Noah Lolesio.

I had just turned 21 years old when I faced the might of New Zealand in the first Bledisloe Cup Test at the SCG in 1980.

Can you imagine a tougher start to a Test career?

Rugby did not have world champions in those days but we knew who the unofficial champs were.

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I was lucky that I had my two Australian Schoolboys teammates – Michael Hawker and Michael O’Connor alongside me in the midfield.

We assembled for the Test at a little hotel on Maroubra Bay Road with the backs and forwards split up for meetings.

Our coach Bob Templeton told the backs: “You guys work out how you want to play.”

Hawker, O’Connor and I looked at each other. There was only one way we knew how to play and that was to have a go.

The Wallabies beat the All Blacks 13-9 in Sydney and we went on to win the series 2-1 to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

From what I have seen of Lolesio at the Brumbies he has a similar attacking mind-set and a willingness to chance his arm.

So I am more than happy to see Lolesio in the gold number 10 jersey, although I know he only got there by default with injuries to James O’Connor and Matt Toomua.

There is always debate about when to introduce a young player to the Test arena but the time is right for Lolesio.

I was surprised he did not get a run off the bench in the first Test against the All Blacks in Wellington and disappointed he was left out of the 23- man squad for Auckland.

Unlike O’Connor and Toomua, Lolesio is a natural five-eighth. Everything he does is instinctive. No second guessing.

Lolesio is smart, even a bit cocky, with intuitive game awareness.

Of course, he will make mistakes but one of the things I like most about him is when he does make an error he puts it behind him and gets on with it.

He will have the benefit of having his Brumbies teammates halfback Nic White and inside-centre Irae Simone alongside him, which will help with combinations and also have a calming influence.

Importantly, Lolesio’s kicking in general play is pretty accurate, which will potentially deny the All Blacks’ lethal back three of Caleb Clarke and the Barrett brothers counterattacking opportunities.

The Wallabies could halve the All Blacks’ scoring chances just by kicking precisely.

There is no doubt the All Blacks will target Lolesio, who is physically slight and the only playmaker in the Wallabies team.

The Wallabies forwards have to protect Lolesio. I always felt I could look after myself but it was comforting to know tough buggers like Tony Shaw, Simon Poidevin and Duncan Hall were in the backrow to provide protection if required.

I am confident Lolesio will make a memorable Test debut and go on to become a long-term five-eighth for the Wallabies.

But I am not sure the Wallabies would beat the All Blacks on Saturday night even if they could bring back Stephen Larkham or Michael Lynagh at five-eighth.

On paper, the All Blacks have got the Wallabies covered well and truly. Most of the Kiwis’ reserves are superior to the Wallabies’ starters.

The Wallabies squandered a splendid opportunity when they drew 16-all with the All Blacks in Wellington and then suffered retribution in Auckland, losing 27-7.

If the All Blacks make a good start at ANZ Stadium, they could run up a big score against a Wallabies side whose confidence was dented in Auckland.

That is another good reason for starting Lolesio. He will be nervous, which is natural, but he will have no fear.

The Wallabies must match the All Blacks’ physicality or the game will be over before it even gets started. The Australians cannot afford to lose the ball in contact and give the Kiwis the turnover ball they salivate over.

Winning the collisions is key for the Wallabies, who have the attacking structures to grind down the All Blacks if they can control possession and territory.

The only way to beat the All Blacks is to keep the score low and frustrate them but no one does it without scoring tries.

When the opportunity arises Lolesio must be ready to unleash centre Jordan Petaia and wingers Marika Koroibete and Filipo Daugunu.

In his brief career so far Lolesio has always risen to the occasion, most recently steering the Brumbies to victory over the Reds in the Super Rugby AU final.

If Lolesio can step up to the ultimate challenge and is supported by his teammates, the Wallabies might just have an outside chance to do what we did in 1980.