Legends urge Wallabies coach to send SOS to old playmaking heads
Updated . First published at
Some of rugby's biggest names are urging Joe Schmidt to turn to experience to steer the Wallabies ship against the British and Irish Lions.
Wallabies coach Schmidt is in need of a new No.10 after Noah Lolesio underwent surgery for an injury suffered in the 21-18 win over Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday.
Schmidt spoke positively about Ben Donaldson's contribution after he replaced Lolesio in the second half.
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Noah Lolesio of the Wallabies lies injured. Getty
Tom Lynagh was the third five-eighth in the Wallabies squad for the Fiji Test and is recovering from a broken hand suffered in Super Rugby Pacific.
Schmidt also handed Tane Edmed - who is in the AUNZ Invitational XV squad to play the Lions in Adelaide on Saturday - a Test debut against Ireland last year.
But legendary ex-Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan offered a different name as Schmidt prepares to name his revised Lions squad in Brisbane on Friday.
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Lions hero Jeremy Guscott celebrates with coach Ian McGeechan. Getty
The first Lions Test is at Suncorp Stadium on July 19.
"First Test scenario, I'd go with experience and probably (James) O'Connor's the real in form player," McGeechan said on Sky Sports.
"You need to make a good start and you need to get the whole team behind the decision makers. And then the younger players, Donaldson, Lynagh, could come into the picture later.
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"Certainly off the bench and even later in the series, but I think game one, experience."
McGeechan said the impact of losing Lolesio less than two weeks before the first Test would be massive even for a coach of Schmidt's experience.
O'Connor was impressive coming off the bench in a closing role for the Crusaders as they won the Super Rugby title this year.
Macca Springer, Rivez Reihana and James O'Connor of the Crusaders celebrate victory. Getty
The 35-year-old played in the last Lions tour of Australia in 2013.
"It's not easy, which is why you need somebody who's been there and done it coming into that scenario, because then you're accelerating the process," McGeechan said.
"If it's a younger one, you're almost trying to build confidence as well.
"With an experienced player you can use them more as a sounding board."
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham - the 1999 Rugby World Cup-winning No.10 - also plumped for O'Connor.
"The British and Irish Lions comes around every 12 years, and you certainly want to have your best team on the field to win," Larkham told reporters.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham at nib Stadium in Perth. Getty
"I think our guys in Super Rugby have been playing well. You've got Tom Lynagh, you've got Ben Donaldson, you've got Tane Edmed... you've got guys around Australia who have been performing in Super Rugby.
"You've got James O'Connor, who was over with the Crusaders, and he was performing over there – there's options there... part of me would like to see development for the future in that space, but equally, I'd prefer to beat these guys (Lions)."
But Wallabies greats Tim Horan and Michael Hooper would opt for another 35-year-old in Bernard Foley.
The 'Iceman' is in Australia and broke down the Wallabies tactics on Stan Sport's Between Two Posts last week.
"I actually think Bernard Foley would play a similar role to Owen Farrell," Horan said.
"Owen Farrell's just been brought in (for the Lions). Bernard Foley's been playing some great footy in Japan. That's who I'd look at."
Wallabies captain Michael Hooper and Bernard Foley during the 2019 Rugby World Cup jersey launch. Getty
Hooper also recently urged Schmidt to not forget about Foley ahead of the pressure packed series.
Schmidt has kept in touch with both O'Connor and Foley.
"Bernard is playing well up in Japan," Hooper said on Between Two Posts.
"The guy can steer a team around, he went down to Richie Mo'unga's team up in Japan. Yes, he's a friend of mine. I get I'm coming from a place of a little bit of bias.
"I'm trying to put that aside, but consider this for a second. Third Test (against the Lions), 17 or 18 all, who do you want in the driver's seat?
"You want some experience or you want someone who's absolutely killing it at this point in time.
"Now are our 10s - they're going really well - but are they absolutely killing it? We might find out in that Fiji game, or do you lean on a bit of experience, and we know that Joe does like experience."
