The Smallabies: How Australia lost size – and can get some back

The last time the Wallabies played the Springboks in Perth, the venue was smaller but the back line was bigger – by some distance.

In 2017, the Wallabies played out a 23-23 draw with South Africa at HBF Park, and the starting XV was as follows: Israel Folau, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Kurtley Beale, Reece Hodge, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper, Ned Hanigan, Adam Coleman, Rory Arnold, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Scott Sio, while the bench was Jordan Uelese, Tom Robertson, Allan Ala’alatoa, Rob Simmons, Jack Dempsey, Nick Phipps, Samu Kerevi and Curtis Rona.

In the seven years since that fixture, the Wallabies have become a noticeably smaller team, and that impediment played out painfully against the Springboks last weekend as they were monstered in the collision areas to such an extent than any post-Test discussions about tactics or strategy were rendered academic.

Size and power are among the top indicators of success in Test rugby. If they weren’t, Japan and Portugal would both be ranked in the top five in the world.

Nor is this even a new thing. For the past 20 years, I can guarantee you if you think about a Wallabies team that got you excited it would have some size in the back line.

The last side to win the Bledisloe? Latham, Tune, Burke, Herbert, Mortlock in jumpers 15-11. Not a small bloke among them, and in the case of Dan Herbert, the Rugby Australia chairman, younger readers might not realise what a tank he was in his playing days – 100 kilograms of direct, hard running in the No.12 jersey.

Rugby Australia chairman Dan Herbert was a tank in his playing days.Credit: Craig Golding

The 2003 World Cup finalists were a variation on the theme, with Big Dell (Wendell Sailor) and Big Lote (Tuqiri) on the edges, and Stirling Mortlock at No.13.

Fast-forward to their next appearance in a World Cup final, and it was Kuridrani in his prime who dragged the Wallabies back into the contest against the All Blacks at Twickenham.

As for the tight five, isn’t the sight of Polota-Nau on the team sheet in 2017 a reminder that Wallabies fans probably didn’t know how good they had it when the former Waratahs bruiser was contesting the Wallabies jersey with Stephen Moore, another big ’un, on a weekly basis.

Size is also the simple reason why this week’s Test against the Springboks will be significantly closer. South Africa have given up significant heft to include Ruan Nortje in the second row and Johan Grobbelaar at hooker, changes that should lessen the power of their scrum.

Joseph Suaalii has the size to have an impact in rugby.Credit: Getty

But the Wallabies still have to find their own size beyond this Test. Where can they get it? It won’t be rugby league. In the Kangaroos’ most recent Test, a 30-0 loss to the Kiwis in November, the biggest back was Kotoni Staggs, and he is listed at 95kg. The NRL has become a smaller man’s game.

Of course, there is one exception: Joseph Suaalii. At 196cm, he is listed at 98kg, but even if that is accurate, you can guarantee he’ll be well over 100kg by the time he plays for the Waratahs next year.

He’s got a big frame, and despite the justifiable unease about the size of his contract and the failed switch of Suliasi Vunivalu, Suaalii clearly has some of the raw ingredients that are desperately lacking in Australian rugby at present.

Frankly, there is next to no chance the Wallabies will have the requisite punch to match the top-tier Test sides without some bigger bodies in the side, particularly in that back line.

The Springboks get away with Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wings in part due to their freakish power-to-size ratios, but mainly because they have an outstanding carrier in Damian de Allende at No.12. Watch how he is missed this week even though Lukhanyo Am is a classy player in his own right.

Schmidt’s use of Suaalii after the Rugby Championship will be a fascinating subplot to the final Tests of the year. There is a grand slam tour at the end of the year and an Australia A fixture against their English counterparts.

Opportunities to fast-track his development therefore exist, and it’s hard to believe the size issue isn’t already in the back of Schmidt’s mind.

Will Skelton and Brandon Paenga-Amosa, who has returned to Australian rugby via the Western Force, offer possible solutions up front, but it’s the back line that really could benefit from some size and height.

Watch all the action from The Rugby Championship with every match streaming ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport. Round 2 kicks off Saturday, August 17 with All Blacks v Argentina (4pm AEST) and Wallabies v South Africa (7:00pm AEST).