Wallabies won’t be taking the knee

The Wallabies have decided unanimously not to make any political statements in support of the BLM movement.

Marika Koroibete with the First Nations jersey the Wallabies will wear next weekend against the All Blacks Picture: Getty Images

The Wallabies have decided unanimously not to make any political statements by taking the knee during the national anthem in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign but they do want to see Australia’s First Nations people represented in their regular Test jersey.

The Australian team was wedged on the BLM campaign when fullback Dane Haylett-Petty was repeatedly asked by an ABC journalist whether the Wallabies would take the knee during the anthem next Saturday for the third Test in the Bledisloe Cup series against the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium. In the end, he acknowledged the Wallabies should discuss the issue and gave a personal opinion that it might not be a bad idea.

Since then the leaders have discussed the idea with Wallabies coach Dave Rennie and others in team management and then gone back to the 44-man squad. Unanimously, they agreed not to kneel.

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“No, we won’t,” Rennie said on Friday. “The key thing is that it’s about honouring our Indigenous people and we want the focus to be on that. I guess people have got their own opinions around the other situation but we want the focus to be reflecting on our history and our past.

“We have certainly talked about the Indigenous jersey and as a group we would like to see that represented every week in our Test jersey, not just as a one-off. I think this is a first step in regard to embracing that part of our history.

“Our focus is around the First Nations people and the Indigenous jersey. We are not looking to make a political statement.”

Their stand was endorsed by Rugby Australia with chief executive Rob Clarke insisting that the First Nations jersey the Wallabies will be wearing next Saturday – and in the final match of the Tri Nations against Argentina on December 5 – was a powerful statement on its own.

“I’m really pleased the players and management have come together to speak about this, as they would with other important social issues,” Clarke said. “It was measured, appropriate and mature and I congratulate the team as they explore more opportunities to recognise issues facing First Nations people and all Australians.”

Former Indigenous Wallaby and patron of the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team, Gary Ella, also backed the response.

“The Wallabies First Nations jersey is a proud celebration of Aboriginal culture; the longest surviving culture on earth,” Ella said.

Rennie revealed the Wallabies had based their selection plans around playing eight Tests in nine weeks, which would have happened had South Africa followed through on its promise to play in The Rugby Championships. Following the Springboks’ withdrawal to ensure player welfare wasn’t jeopardised, the number of matches has been reduced but not the thrust of his selection strategy.

“We’re disappointed that there are a couple of games against the South Africans that we are not going to play now,” Rennie said. “We still are very keen to blood some good young men who have been training well and preparing well so you could well see some changes for the next Test in Sydney.”

The changes Rennie most wants to see in the Australian side are less around the playing personnel and more to do with adhering to the game plan. Like, for example, kicking the ball on their own terms – which is code for not giving it straight to All Blacks wrecking ball Caleb Clarke.

“That was part of the plan last time,” he said. “He was impressive and he’s a beast of a man. We gave him too much time on the ball. So if we are going to kick to him, it needs to be in behind him or it needs to be on top of him. That was the plan going in and we didn’t do that very well.”

Inside centre Matt Toomua underwent additional scans on his injured groin on Friday, with Rennie wanting the results before determining whether to bring in extra players from outside the squad.

He had intended to play Brumbies midfielder Irae Simone in a trial against the Pumas today only for the match to be postponed. He insisted however that Simone’s chances of playing in the Test would not be affected by the postponement.

“We’ve worked everyone really hard even though we have had 40-odd at training,” he said.

“That’s a lot of moving parts but we have got a lot of work into all these guys and we are pretty confident we can pick anyone from that group and they’ll be ready to go.”