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Wallaby coach Joe Schmidt clearly has a plan – it’s just that no one else in Australia seems to know what that is.
The continued left-field selections befuddle fans and devalue the Wallaby jersey.
The Wallabies failing to fire a shot across two tests against the South Africans and scoring one try is an indictment on his selections.
It was once you were selected after showing excellence at the provincial level, but that no longer seems the case.
Super Rugby form does not seem to be considered. So why the hell are we even bothering with it?
Take Max Jorgenson’s debut at the weekend. Everyone agrees that Jorgenson has the potential to be a great Wallaby.
It’s just that he hasn’t really shown that he deserves to be there yet.
One exciting season last year and then another on the sideline. Particularly, when the likes of Corey Toole and Dylan Pietsch have been consistently excellent.
What message does that send? Why is Toole consistently ignored, despite having serious pace and the rest of the backline seems ponderous?
Has anyone ever considered making Pietsch an inside centre? He runs great lines, tackles well and is industrious at the breakdown.
In a scrum that is being smashed, Alex Hodgman gets one run and then dropped despite a great season with the Reds.
But he persists with Isaac Kailea.
Ryan Smith is ignored for Angus Blyth.
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Carlo Tizzano gets in front of Charlie Gamble despite Gamble’s clear superiority on both sides of the ball over many years at the Super Rugby level.
Which brings me to the spluttering five-eighth position. Please refrain from picking Noah Lolesio and Ben Donaldson for the time being.
They are not Test-level pivots yet. They may never be.
They are poor in defence. Poor with the ball in hand and make too many mistakes that have serious effects on the team.
Corey Toole of the Brumbies. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
What’s more, they didn’t have great Super Rugby seasons.
The Wallabies have persisted with these two for a while with no noticeable improvement. Doesn’t this mean that someone else deserves a go?
Clearly, that someone else was going to be Carter Gordon, but he’s gone. So doesn’t that mean Tom Lynagh or Tane Edmed should assume the seat? If not, Max Burey or Jack Debreczeni.
Poor old Debreczeni must sit there and shake his head. He’s clearly the best five-eighth at the Brumbies, quite possibly Australia, but is not even within cooee of the Wallaby squad.
Joe, just pick the best players from Super Rugby.
Stop trying to manufacture something that is not quite there yet.
The rugby public in Australia are not mugs and Australia does have good players – if you would actually pick them.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.