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The Wallabies are counting the costs of a brutal away series in South Africa that has put them within reach of their first Rugby Championship title in a decade. The bruising encounters with the Boks have forced some key personnel changes, with an updated squad now named to face Argentina on home soil.
The second Test in Cape Town saw Nic White, Tom Wright and Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i all leave the field inside the opening 40 minutes, on top of an already long injury list. Thankfully, the extended break means reinforcements are back, with Allan Alaalatoa and Tom Lynagh among those returning. But the departure of Will Skelton back to France is a major blow.
Schmidt now must consider how he sets up his squad to go deep into this year’s competition and contend for the Bledisloe. The time to experiment is not in the midst of a Rugby Championships campaign where wholesale changes will disrupt all the cohesion they have built so far. Those changes can wait until the Spring Tour.
Fullback Spot Up for Grabs
Wright’s injury is a hammer blow, leaving the Wallabies without their first-choice fullback and raising questions about long-term depth. Wright has ironed out his errors and emerged as the premier No.15 in Australian rugby. Now Schmidt needs to find a solution, with an eye not just on the Rugby Championship, but the World Cup and beyond.
For the Rugby Championships, Andrew Kellaway seems the most likely solution. He’s a near like-for-like swap who can carve up a backline with his speed and organise a defence. His smart kicking game adds balance, and shifting him to fullback would cause minimal disruption to a backline trying to build consistency and combinations.
However there are calls to trial Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i at the back, a position he played for the Waratahs before being shifted into centre for the Wallabies. JAS has been compared to Israel Folau for obvious reasons, and it is believed Joseph can emulate his fellow league convert attacking prowess in the 15 jersey. Sua’ali’i would add dynamism and game-breaking ability, but doubts remain over his defence and kicking in open play.
There is also a school of thought that they might shift Max Jorgensen to fullback. It seems a risk considering the try-scoring tyro is arguably the best winger in the world right. Whatever Schmidt decides, it needs to balance short-term needs with the long-term development of the backline.
Dynamic Duo?
Wright’s absence throws more spotlight on the midfield. Len Ikitau and Sua’ali’i have started every Test together this season, with mixed results.
Sua’ali’i made waves against England last year, and his intercept try against the Boks showed flashes of brilliance, but he hasn’t stamped himself on big games yet. Arguably the best outside center in the world, Ikitau has been shifted to inside centre to accommodate the Wallabie’s million-dollar man. Len has become the Wallabies’ leading carrier and defended strongly, but he’s still adapting to the organisational demands of the No.12 role.
The question now is whether Schmidt sticks with the experiment. Argentina’s looser style might just give Sua’ali’i the space he needs to showcase his attacking class.
The Wallabies Need Another Enforcer
Will Skelton will depart back to La Rochelle, and his participation in the Rugby Championships and his future in gold is very much up in the air. The loss of Skelton is enormous. His inclusion single-handedly turned the tide in the Lions Series, and his presence forced the Boks to commit at least two players every time he trundled up the ball. Not only that, but his controlled aggression and willingness to go toe-to-toe with the opposition was an inspiration to the Wallabies.
In his place, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto looms as the obvious enforcer. His return to the squad is timely, though Schmidt’s reluctance to use him so far has puzzled many. LSL has the size and aggression to unsettle Argentina, but discipline has been his Achilles’ heel. The Wallabies have yet to concede a yellow card this season, and they won’t want to jeopardise that. Still, to match the Pumas’ physicality, they’ll need someone to bring a bit of mongrel up front.
