Wallabies coach Dave Rennie needs to unravel the harm curse that has marred the European tour and earlier than it begins to make a much bigger affect on their run to subsequent yr’s World Cup.
Ahead of a fifth Test in 5 weeks in opposition to Wales, and with strain constructing on the Kiwi, Rennie additionally needs to speak to Rugby Australia about additional loosening the Wallabies abroad eligibility choice coverage and rising the three gamers allowed to be chosen for nationwide duties.
While nonetheless eager to “develop guys at home”, Rennie mentioned the spate of accidents, with eight gamers despatched residence all through the tour, confirmed the necessity for “some insurance” and the capability to select match gamers exterior the home scene.
“We’ve got to sit down with the board and have a chat around their views on it,” Rennie mentioned forward of the conflict in Cardiff.
“We’ll sell a case as to what we think is best for the team and best for the country, and we’ll settle on something in the new year.
“We’ve made a real effort to pick from home, so we haven’t had massive overseas influence this year.
“We were allowed three in this tour; we’ve only had two. We had less than that in the Rugby Championship when Quade got injured.
“We’ve really pushed to try and develop guys at home. But to have a little bit of insurance around if we have injuries and get put under pressure in certain positions, we don’t necessarily want it to hamstring us in other spots.”
Rennie mentioned there wanted to be a “decent review” across the accidents, with eight gamers flown residence from Europe simply this week, forcing him to make eight modifications to his beginning aspect to face the Welsh at residence.
There was additionally an extended record of great points to gamers who weren’t even out there for the tour.
“With the amount of injuries we have, we’ll have a good look into what’s caused some of those, and some of them are bad luck and others, if it’s something we’re doing in our program then we need to adjust,” he mentioned.
Desperate instances name for determined measures and Rennie has opted to make historical past by naming Waratahs playmaker Ben Donaldson at five-eighth forward of Noah Lolesio.
It’s the primary time the Wallabies have picked 5 totally different gamers to put on the No.10 jersey in the identical calendar yr for the reason that sport entered the skilled period.
A loss would additionally give Rennie’s staff the worst calendar yr Test file for an Australian staff since 1958, however he was adamant the three loss and one win tour up to now was higher than it appeared.
“You’ve got to find a way to win,” Rennie mentioned as his staff appears to bounce again from a heartbreaking three-point loss to world No.1 Ireland final week.
“If you look at wins and losses, it’d be a poor season. We’ve had a lot of tight games and games we should have won. We’ve got to look at that and be able to turn pressure into points at key moments. This tour has been a classic example of that.
“I definitely think we’re a better side. We’ve got a lot of firepower to come back in. There will be genuine competition for places. I have no doubt we can put together a really strong side and build on what we’ve done.
“We can certainly take belief out of the last few weeks. The performance in Dublin, the performance in Paris against really strong sides … we win a couple of key moments, we win a couple of Tests at tough venues. We’ll take confidence out of that but knowing we need to be better.”
WALLABIES SPRING TOUR RESULTS
Wallabies 16 defeated Scotland 15,
Wallabies 29 defeated by France 30,
Wallabies 27 defeated by Italy 28,
Wallabies 10 defeated by Ireland 13
WALLABIES TEAM TO FACE WALES
1. James Slipper (c), 2. Folau Fainga’a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Jed Holloway, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Langi Gleeson, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Ben Donaldson, 11. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 12. Reece Hodge, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Jordan Petaia, 15. Tom Wright. Replacements: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Tom Robertson, 18. Sam Talakai, 19. Ned Hanigan, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Noah Lolesio.
