Of all the Wallabies’ issues, this may be the most pressing one
Gun coaches Sir Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie both believe the Wallabies need a better ball-player at inside centre to take some pressure off the man in the gold No.10 jersey.
Hansen and McKenzie discussed Australia’s many issues - and potential solutions - following Saturday’s 43-21 Bledisloe Cup loss to the All Blacks in Sydney.
Steve Hansen and Beauden Barrett of the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup. Getty
Hansen, who coached New Zealand to their 2015 Rugby World Cup triumph, spent some time in Wallabies camp at Eddie Jones’ invitation before the 2023 tournament.
He has joined the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles as their football performance director but remains bemused by the Wallabies’ rotating cast of characters at fly-half.
“When was the last 10 you had? I think the other problem is your second five (inside centre) - like you just do not have someone complementing that 10, either at 12 or 15 (fullback) - who can come in and take the pressure off the 10,” Hansen said on David Pembroke’s Rugby Unity podcast.
Declan Meredith was Australia’s No.10 at Accor Stadium with Isaac Henry wearing No.12.
Wallabies coach Les Kiss is hopeful that Carter Gordon (fibula), Ben Donaldson (groin) and Len Ikitau (concussion) will be available for their next Test against England in London on November 9 (AEDT).
McKenzie had a 50 per cent winning record as Wallabies coach, the same strike-rate as Michael Cheika and better than Dave Rennie, Joe Schmidt and Jones in his second term.
McKenzie argued the last genuinely successful Wallabies playmaking pairing was Bernard Foley and Matt To’omua.
“He (To’omua) was a ball-playing 12. We won seven Tests in a row. We beat France 3-0 in Australia (in 2014),” McKenzie said.
“Cheika took him to the World Cup, and they got to the final (in 2015, where Matt Giteau started at No.12).”
In an ideal world, McKenzie would be picking Tom Lynagh at No.12 and Gordon at No.10.
Lynagh, 23, was picked to tour the United States with Australia A this month but withdrew because of a knee injury.
Wallabies star Kurtley Beale with coach Ewen McKenzie. Getty
“For me, the young Lynagh understands the game. His body is not allowing him to play, but he understands the game,” McKenzie said.
“For me, he could be a guy that could stand at 10, control the game and then Carter Gordon at 12. But yeah, you’ve got to be able to physically get through it.
“Neither of those two guys have been able to play week in, week out rugby, which is a problem.”
McKenzie noted that Australia’s forwards were often operating as first receiver in Sydney which vastly limited their attack.
“You’re only getting the backline guys involved every third or fourth phase,” he said.
“Whereas New Zealand had the ability - if (lock, Fabian) Holland was at first receiver, was able to just move the ball on.”
But speaking on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts, ex-inside centre Morgan Turinui defended Henry’s potential as a long-term Test No.12.
Isaac Henry of the Wallabies is tackled. Getty Images
“I’ve liked enough of what I’ve seen from Isaac Henry,” Turinui said,
“And I also know that he’s played a lot of fly-half, he’s played a lot of No.10 coming through as a younger player.
“So while the Wallabies are looking for a guy who can be really penetrative with the ball, be physical, I wouldn’t underestimate his soft skill-set as well.
“I think he’s been told, ‘oh, you have got to play strong, you have got to carry.’ Isaac Henry is a guy I think could be useful and could really blossom in November.”
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