In 2006, a year before the World Cup in France, John Connolly made the “tough” decision to leave George Gregan behind from Australia’s end of season Spring Tour.
Now, 16 years down the track, Connolly is urging Wallabies selectors to make some “brave” decisions and leave behind players like Kurtley Beale behind, insisting Dave Rennie can learn more about his players ahead of next year’s World Cup in France by doing so.
After a couple of false starts, the Wallabies are set to name a squad of around 35 for their five-match tour on Sunday, which commences against Scotland at Murrayfield on October 30.
The tour shapes as a pivotal one, with the Wallabies desperately needing to learn how to string performances together but also discover whether the men being afforded the chances to perform are the best for the job.
Under Rennie, the Wallabies have won back to back Tests once throughout his three-year tenure as coach.
The inability to string performances together has meant Rennie’s win-rate is a dire 37.9 per cent.
While Rennie initially backed the next generation of players, he has increasingly returned to older, more experienced Wallabies in recent times, with the New Zealand coach turning to Quade Cooper first and since his injury Bernard Foley.
At fullback too, Rennie has been forced to continually hand the No.15 jersey to another person, with injuries and form crushing his hopes of finding consistency in the position.
Following Tom Banks injuries over successive years, he has regularly shifted wingers to cover the fullback position with Jordan Petaia, Tom Wright and Andrew Kellaway given opportunities in the No.15 jersey. Utility back Reece Hodge has also popped up on a number of occasions.
While Kurtley Beale, who has returned to the Waratahs after playing in France for the past two seasons, was given an opportunity on last year’s Spring Tour despite playing for Paris-based Racing 92 and is likely to be selected for the forthcoming tour.
Connolly, who took over from Eddie Jones in 2006 and had a 64 per cent winning record, said now was the right time to make a couple of big selection calls and give chances to players like Reds fullback Jock Campbell.
“In 2006, we had a decision to make around the halfbacks,” Connolly told foxsports.com.au.
“We had (Brett) Sheehan, (Sam) Cordingley, who were both playing reasonably for their states, Cordingley had a few injuries, and we had (Matt) Giteau who we wanted to have a look at halfback. In conversation with George, we decided to leave him at home and then we decided to look at our halfbacks strongly. George had a great Super season and went to the World Cup.
“In this situation, this is a lot easier than the George situation, that was a tough call, he had a rest and came back and had a great season.
“These two guys, we don’t know how good Banks and Jock Campbell are. Playing Kurtley who hasn’t played eight months, and struggled to make the team before he left, makes no sense. If he (Beale) has a great Super season, plays the house down, yes he goes.”
Connolly’s Wallabies left for their Northern Hemisphere Spring Tour with the expectation high.
After such a period of success, Connolly’s Wallabies had failed to win back the Bledisloe Cup despite a closely fought series.
Nor did the Spring Tour Tests get off to a strong start, with a draw at Cardiff and loss in Dublin from his opening three Tests.
In the end, Connolly bit the bullet and handed Stephen Moore his starting debut.
The young hooker struggled early, but eased into the match as Stephen Larkham and Chris Latham took charge and helped the Wallabies to a vital victory.
Connolly says the Wallabies repeated the need to be brave ahead of this year’s tour, with just 10 matches left to get it right before the World Cup.
“Stephen Moore went on the tour and his first two lineouts, one hit the hooker in the head and the other one the halfback,” Connolly said.
“I remember the other coaches wanted to get him off but I said we’re playing the right out and giving him every chance to be successful, and in the second half he was more comfortable, played well at the end of the game and the rest is history, he went to the World Cup and has turned out to be one of our best hookers.
“But you’ve got to trust your judgement and we thought he had size, we thought he had the ability, so you’ve got to back your judgement.
“Both those players, Banks and Campbell, have the game to play at Test footy – how much improvement they have in them, I would argue that Campbell has more improvement left in him than Banks.
“Campbell has improved every game like Latham, a country kid who came to the city and improved.
“Playing Kurtley, at his age, who hasn’t played since February, give him an off season. If he plays well for the Waratahs then he goes to the World Cup.
“You’ve got to be brave.”
