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Dave Rennie will have a hard time separating potential candidates for Wallabies roles

(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Who’d be a first-time international rugby coach under the cloud of the coronavirus?

Naming his maiden Wallabies team has turned into a devilish task for Dave Rennie, who quite likely will have to base his selection off just seven rounds of Super Rugby evidence.

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In the latest episode of The Academy, Brisbane Boys’ pre-season comes to a punishing conclusion:

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The chances of a Super Rugby resumption and even of home Tests against Ireland and Fiji in July going ahead are looking increasingly bleak, while the game’s financial foundations have a sickly appearance.

It’s to that backdrop that Glasgow-based Rennie must bunker down and contemplate the form of the four Australian teams and assess the merits of a promising batch of rookie players if and when the 2020 Test season commences.

Rennie’s choices at five-eighth and loose forward will determine whether he’s leaning towards new blood or wanting to open his tenure with proven performers.

At playmaker, veterans Matt To’omua and James O’Connor had warmed to their task at No.10 for the Melbourne Rebels and Queensland Reds respectively.

Both 52-Test utilities have rarely played five-eighth for their country but could be seen as more reliable candidates than Will Harrison (Waratahs) and Noah Lolesio (Brumbies) who have shown encouraging levels of composure in their maiden campaigns.

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The two youngsters are among a clutch of last year’s impressive Junior Wallabies alumni who will have turned Rennie’s head.

At the front of that group is Queensland Reds No.8 Harry Wilson, who has barged the door down with his attacking skills and work rate.

Unfortunately for the 20-year-old, Rebels back-rower Isi Naisarani has taken his 2019 form to another level while Pete Samu has been a weapon at the base of the Brumbies scrum, unleashing his frustration at missing World Cup selection last year.

Rob Valetini has been a Brumbies powerhouse while fellow-youngster Liam Wright has shone as Reds skipper on the openside flank, applying some serious heat to the selection of Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper, whose cause wasn’t helped by the Waratahs’ abysmal start to the season.

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Rennie has forward depth in some positions – Allan Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou are two of the world’s foremost tighthead props – but not in others.

Replacing departed lock Rory Arnold could be a challenge although Matt Philip (Rebels) and Cadeyrn Neville have put their hands up, the latter a physical presence for the Australian Conference-leading Brumbies.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-OLqhJAJG3/

Other Brumbies to mount their case in the backline are fullback Tom Banks and uncapped inside centre Irae Simone, while established Test star Kurtley Beale has failed to really impose himself for the Waratahs.

Jordan Petaia’s season-ending injury was a major blow given a lack of depth out wide, although the Rebels have a clutch of outside backs in decent form.

That includes speedy winger Andrew Kellaway, whose seven tries in six games may leave him standing as the leading try-scorer in the shortest Super Rugby season on record.

POSSIBLE WALLABIES XV: Tom Banks, Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, James O’Connor, Marika Koroibete, Matt To’omua, Nic White, Harry Wilson, Michael Hooper, Isi Naisarani, Izack Rodda, Cadeyrn Neville, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper.

– AAP

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J
JW 19 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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