Rugby Australia’s Wallabies fix outlined in 2019 review

The review of the Wallabies season featured common cliches and raised the same issues that have plagued rugby for years.

Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle. Picture: AAP

More access to sports psychologists for Wallabies and better relationships between players and Rugby Australia administrators are two key recommendations of a review into the disastrous 2019 season.

And that’s just the recommendations that have been made public — most of the review’s proposals will be kept secret.

The review — conducted by administrator Pat Howard, four-time Olympian Bo Hanson and 116-Test former Wallabies captain Nathan Sharpe — features many common cliches and raises the same issues that have plagued Australian rugby for years.

Lack of coaching development, alignment between the national team and Super Rugby sides, and poor skill development in players have been cited repeatedly in recent years as major issues. Those same concerns were raised by the panel, who interviewed the 2019 Wallabies squad members and coaching staff to hand down their bullet point findings.

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The review calls for “greater alignment between the Wallabies team and Rugby Australia administration so that each can be more aware of team and organisational priorities and goals”.

Another recommendation is to “provide greater access to professional sports psychology services for Wallabies players”.

And highlighting dissatisfaction about the 2019 Wallabies leadership group — after the team bombed out in the World Cup quarter-finals — the review made clear a new system is needed under incoming coach Dave Rennie, who has replaced Michael Cheika.

“Ensure there is a clearly defined Wallabies leadership group, to be selected using a formal process,” the review recommends.

While the review made more than 40 recommendations, RA chief executive Raelene Castle defended the decision not to publicly release most of them.

“While it is important that the rugby public understands the outcomes of the review, we must also respect the confidentiality and integrity of the process which presents a blueprint for future Wallabies success,” Castle said.

“The report shows there are clearly areas needing development and improvement. Some of these can be addressed quickly and easily, while others will take time and a collective desire among our professional teams to implement and create real change.

“The report clearly shows that our work to develop an aligned and integrated National High Performance Plan needs continued focus and development, and additionally there are a number of areas where Rugby Australia can realign its focus.

“This supports the structural changes that were made to our High Performance environment in late 2018, and the appointment of the Director of Rugby to oversee the delivery of this holistic plan. ’’