EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Wallaby warns calls for change 'can ruin a career' as Quade cops criticism
Stephen Hoiles has urged the Wallabies to not overreact to the horror show in Pretoria and make Quade Cooper an unnecessary scapegoat.
Hoiles, the former Wallabies loose forward, also acknowledged that the 43-12 loss to South Africa on Sunday (AEST) raised significant concerns and did not attempt to sugarcoat the performance.
"We've all seen Wallabies teams have bad performances over the years, but this was the first time in a long time that I've seen a team look like they've just been overpowered," Hoiles said on Stan Sport's Between Two Posts.
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Quade Cooper and Carter Gordon during Wallabies training. Getty
"South Africa are big and they're physical and what not but that's probably the first time I've looked up and gone 'well, we just didn't handle it, couldn't handle it'."
The Wallabies are now dusting themselves off in Manly ahead of Saturday's Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Sydney.
There are hopes outside back Andrew Kellaway and prop Angus Bell might be able to bolster Eddie Jones' ranks although trump card Taniela Tupou has been released to get some game time under his belt for Australia A against Tonga.
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Jones has called props Pone Fa'amausili and Blake Schoupp into his squad as cover while Test great Tim Horan has called for Carter Gordon to make his first Wallabies start in place of Quade Cooper.
Randwick coach Hoiles agreed Gordon should come into selection calculations after an eye-catching cameo on debut, but argued it would be folly to make sweeping changes.
"It's a tough place to to have your Test career judged upon in Pretoria," Hoiles said.
NEW PODCAST: Special guest Nick Phipps helps the crew unpack an ugly Wallabies loss in Pretoria and work out how to put things right in Sydney against the Pumas
"That's the thing, when the team doesn't go well and everyone's going 'oh, Quade wasn't the same Quade.' Of course he wasn't.
"His side was going back, and the whole entire game they were going backwards. They couldn't get quick ball on their own ball and they were defending off lightning quick ball. It can ruin a career if you're going to judge someone just on one Test match in Pretoria."
The Wallabies kicked away plenty of ball at Loftus Versfeld but the quality wasn't there and nor was the intensity of the chase.
Former Test halfback Nick Phipps, also speaking on Between Two Posts, predicted Australia would bounce back against Argentina but worried about the amount of time Jones - a Rugby World Cup specialist - had to work his magic.
"He's been very vocal about wanting to play that kicking game and that first try (to Marika Koroibete), that's Eddie Jones turnover ball," Phipps said.
"That's the way he likes to play, and I just worry he's come in - he's got six to seven months to turn the World Cup team around.
"I don't know how much expansive rugby he'll be able to fit in.
"Next World Cup (2027), oh, you'll see them absolutely flying by that stage. But this stage they played a very kick dominant game and our execution around that wasn't good enough."
Jones will pick his team to play the Pumas on Thursday and halfback Nic White agreed that Gordon had underscored his enormous potential against the Springboks.
"I thought he did really well didn't he? That crowd was very big and South African and hostile. For a guy to come out there pulling the strings in his first game - he looked very comfortable," White said.
"That's a testament to him and how calm natured he is in the jersey.
"He's certainly one for the future that's going to be very, very good."
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