Eddie Jones’ plea to Australian sides to start beating the Kiwis is yet to be answered.
The scoreboard so far in Super Rugby Pacific is 8-1 in favour of New Zealand, and it will blow out to 10-1 this weekend unless the Reds and Western Force spring upsets.
In fact, if you buy the line that the mere appointment of a Wallabies coach can impact the wider playing group, you would be left with the conclusion that Jones’ arrival has been net neutral at best, and arguably net negative.
That’s not the way it was supposed to work out, but some players don’t like upheaval or uncertainty. At least two Wallabies who were favourites of Dave Rennie, and who played in their last Test against Wales in late November, have gone so far off the boil that you couldn’t include them in the Wallabies squad that will be announced on Sunday.
With firm evidence in Super Rugby hard to come by, Jones will therefore be forced to back his instincts and vast experience.
If you are being brutally honest, it’s hard to find 33-35 blokes currently performing up to Test standards.
New Wallabies coach Eddie Jones appears to have his work cut out for him.Credit:Getty
There should be some newcomers, however. Rory Scott, Carter Gordon, Trevor Hosea, Alex Mafi and Corey Toole have done enough to suggest they are worth a closer look.
Tom Lynagh and Max Jorgensen are too young. The fact that Jorgensen is 18 years old and already has a shoulder issue should be ringing alarm bells at Rugby Australia, but is there anyone big enough to tell Jones that the Waratah is in fact too young for a Rugby World Cup?
Scott, Gordon, Hosea and Mafi are good adverts for the slower approach. The trio have all been around for a few seasons or more now and are getting to grips with what’s required.
There seems to be a school of thought that this Rugby World Cup will come too soon for Gordon. But why? He’s big and robust, kicks the ball like a mule and would be a shock to Test defences who are not accustomed to having a Wallabies No.10 challenge them on the gainline.
Wallabies hopefuls Alex Mafi, Rory Scott, Carter Gordon, Corey Toole and Trevor Hosea.Credit:Getty
If Quade Cooper is fit, and Gordon maintains this form, it would be lunacy not to take those two with Bernard Foley. Noah Lolesio and James O’Connor fighting for the third spot.
Scott stands out because he fronted against the Blues and the Crusaders. He’s tough and resilient and probably just tall enough to give you a lineout option if you wanted to consider him as the back-row bench option. Brad Wilkin would not be in my squad simply because of the prior investment in Fraser McReight — it’s that close between those two.
Hosea gets in because he accelerates into contact. The Rebels’ big man is a good athlete and got into the Hurricanes’ faces during Super Round.
Mafi? Consistent game time has been his friend. And as for Toole it’s just his raw pace. If there has ever been a quicker Super Rugby player it’s hard to remember them.
Once in camp, Jones can determine whether his lack of physicality is going to be an issue. Toole and Andy Muirhead struggled a bit against size in Christchurch last weekend, although the Crusaders do possess the frightening Leicester Fainga’anuku.
There are some notable exclusions in my squad. However, they shouldn’t be too disheartened because there are about half-a-dozen inclusions who bring to mind the famous exchange between Jones and James Haskell when he took on the England job.
“‘Hask, what’s your grip strength like’?” Haskell wrote in his book about Jones’ line of questioning.
“I replied, Erm, it’s all right, I think. Why do you ask? And he shot back with, ‘Because you’re f—ing hanging on for dear life, mate’.”
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