Editor’s Note: We at LWOS are always looking to add passionate sports fans to our writing team. We are very excited to introduce Kyle Willoughby, born and raised in New Zealand, to cover international rugby. Kyle has a particular passion for rugby, particularly the All Blacks. Welcome to the #LastWordArmy!
Wallabies great John Eales has come out swinging. In what many Kiwi’s would see as either sacrilegious, or just flat out misguided, Eales has stated that the Wallabies, under new coach Ewen McKenzie, can beat the All Blacks. Here’s the thing though…I can’t say he’s wrong.
When the All Blacks face off against the Wallabies in the first Bledisloe Cup game on August 17, the outcome is far from a forgone conclusion. Yes, the All Blacks have the depth, and they do have players coming up through the ranks. Aaron Cruden is rapidly shaping up to be the natural successor to the great Dan Carter. Yes, the All Blacks have successfully repelled the Aussies for the last 11 seasons. Yet, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned. What’s more, it’s with good reason.
The Wallabies have languished under the reign of (Kiwi) coach Robbie Deans. The final nail in Deans’ coffin was the shocking display the Wallabies put on against a rampant Lions team from the United Kingdom. Deans struggled to find form throughout his tenure as the Wallabies, many questioning his coaching selections, and suggesting personality played more of a role in his choices than actual skill. Which may explain why Quade Cooper spent so long out in Super Rugby, away from the main stage.
McKenzie has said he is looking to rebuild the Wallabies, and rebuild their reputation. To this end, he has recalled Cooper, and a few other keys players from his old coaching grounds of the Queensland Reds. Now, I’m not a Quade Cooper fan, by any stretch of the imagination, but even I have to admit he’s got game. Having Quade Cooper on the field has the potential to be a game changer.
What’s even scarier for me is the inclusion of Israel Folau on the wing. Folau brings a wealth of experience to the field. Firstly from his time in the Australian National Rugby League series with the Melbourne Storm. While there Folau was a crucial part of a premiership winning team. in the Australian Football League Folau struggled to find the same recognition he did in the NRL, but his abilities were not diminished. In just a short space of time with the New South Wales Warratahs Rugby team Folau has once more shown himself to be a dominant force in his newly chosen code. Folau is big, he’s fast, he’s smart and he is amazingly versatile. On the wing it would be a very foolish person who underestimated the ability of a guy like Folau to bust a play wide open, and seriously threaten not just the All Blacks, but ANYONE facing the Wallabies.
The Wallabies have developed a whole bunch of new weapons, and the All Blacks to a certain degree have not. Israel Dagg (Yes, we have Israel’s on both sides of the ditch it seems) is quick. Conrad Smith is smart. If McCaw is match fit he has the leadership ability of a seasoned general. The question is, are the All Blacks going in with a stale play book using outmoded parts? The All Blacks have earned their reputation of being fierce competitors, and they play with heart every time they take the field. However, the trouble with being on the top for so long is you’re always going to be a target. The other issue the All Blacks face is rugby as a whole is changing and developing. Argentina, Samoa, Italy, even Fiji are becoming forces of their own to be reckoned with. The All Blacks need to develop as well to keep pace with the younger, hungrier nations coming up through the ranks. Otherwise, in a very short space of time, the unbeatable is going to be beaten.
A lot.
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