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The off-the-ball incident that showed Noah Lolesio needs to be the Wallabies' 10
The Wallabies no.10 jersey has long been a beacon of the flair, skill, and talent of Australian rugby, making the hype, attention, and scrutiny of the player donning the jersey all the more intense.
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Names like Larkham, Lynagh, and Ella are the names mentioned when people speak of the heights of Australian rugby.
In 2024, Joe Schmidt has selected three playmakers: Noah Lolesio, Ben Donaldson, and Tom Lynagh.
Comparing them with the legends of the game wouldn’t do anyone any good, but nevertheless these are the playmakers who have been charged with steering the Wallabies, and Schmidt says the time to back them is now.
Schmidt has made it abundantly clear with how he sees the lay of the land.
Lolesio has played the most minutes, starting four of the five Tests as well as appearing off the bench in the Georgia Test.
Donaldson has made four appearances, three from the bench, with one start against Georgia.
Lynagh has struggled with fitness, citing a hamstring complaint, but it is seemingly a confidence issue in his body as well as headspace.
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Confidence is a crucial currency in the world of a no.10, this is due to the plethora of decisions they must make throughout the 80-minutes, one good or bad moment can boost or shake that confidence, snowballing one way or the other.
There is definitely an evident, growing confidence in Lolesio’s game and there’s good reason for it.
This is one of Lolesio’s longest consecutive run of matches in Wallaby gold.
He may have 22 Test caps, but almost all of them have come in small batches, an extremely hard way to learn and hone a craft as difficult as being an international no.10.
It’s also important to note the way his minutes have come about, often has either started or not been in the matchday 23 at all.
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The playmaker was truly thrown in the deep end and would’ve benefited hugely for some longer minutes from the bench under the tutelage of the experienced campaigners who were brought in to replace him like Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley, and James O’Connor.
The last time he had a run this long of starting games in a cluster was 2021, where he helped win the French series only to play three consecutive games against the All Blacks, two of which were in New Zealand, he was just 21 years old at the time.
It’s now 2024, and Lolesio is growing in confidence with every game, and it is clearly showing in the way he is attacking the line and taking personal responsibility of the attack.
He is showing skills which he has been executing for the ACT Brumbies all season and that transferability of performance and form from club to Test level is what all players who want to make the next step must achieve.
The holding up of passes, the late change of directions and confidence to chip and chase are all signs he believes in what he is doing and believes in his skillset, this confidence is one of the biggest differences between the playmakers.
“I’ve had a lot of ins and outs within this Wallabies squad at a very young age. I’m 24 now, so I’m still young and I’m still learning as much as I can,” Lolesio said in a Tuesday press conference.
“Joe’s been great, too. He just keeps harping on to keep backing myself in whatever I do on the field.
“He’s been really supportive individually and as a team as well. But we need to be better going forward. And hopefully these next few weeks we can show that improvement.”
Another key difference between the young playmakers is the style Schmidt wants his team to play.
Donaldson’s strength lies in his running game, but Schmidt requires his five-eighths to be conductors as well, the current gameplan requires Donaldson to tweak his game.
It’s a difficult thing to do with limited game time but Donaldson has seemed a little hesitant to throw himself into the contest and command the side as well as implement his strong running game.
This is also where Lolesio’s form is telling, he’s adapting his game, acknowledging he can’t just be a distributor.
“Ben Donaldson, he’s working really hard on his game and we’re trying to help him make sure that some of the things that he’s actually really good at get delivered consistently. He just didn’t get a good start in the Georgia game and then things didn’t flow for him,” Schmidt said in the week before the first Rugby Championship match.
“We just want to make sure that next time he goes in, he’s right up to speed and confident because he’s got a really good skillset.”
Then there’s 21-year-old Lynagh, who has rocketed up the rankings to claim his first couple of Wallabies caps.
Lynagh is a raw talent, who has a big boot and a mature head on his shoulders, who probably has the most well-rounded game of the three playmakers.
Nevertheless, he’s young, and if there is one consensus amongst all the detractors and fans of Lolesio, it’s that he was thrown in too deep, too young.
There is an opportunity now to avoid the same mistake with Lynagh.
Managing his minutes and exposure, allowing him to find his way in the elite environment and building his game and body is a responsible and tactical course of action for Schmidt.
Lynagh is a project for 2027, where he will be almost the same age as Donaldson and Lolesio are now.
Finally, on Lolesio, he is showing signs that he is in the right headspace to lead a side at Test level and a prime example of this is the 37th minute against the Springboks.
Lolesio cleans up an overthrown lineout by Matt Faessler in the Springboks’ 22m and beats Siya Kolisi only to be smashed by hooker Malcom Marx.
He wore the shot well, but Carlo Tizzano was penalised for his clean out.
Lolesio can be seen to get up and slap his hands together in frustration, screaming “COME ON,” looking at Tizzano.
His reaction reflected Wallabies fan’s frustration with the mistake riddled start to the game, but it also showed Lolesio is ready to demand more from his teammates.
It showed leadership, trust in the process as well as frustration at the lack of execution.
Like with so many players in Australian rugby, Lolesio is starting to reach the age where is experience, maturity, and mental toughness is starting to show.
Lolesio should be given the reins for the remainder of the Rugby Championship so that he may grow with the team he is trying so hard to steer around the paddock.
lolesio has to be the worst international flyhalf going around. even the portugal guy is more accomplished. just a question of time until joe ejects him. shame about the blondie that went to league..he looked the goods showed no fear.
Nice one john and good to see someone actually look for positives in our 10's games rather than just the negatives. As you say, he is clearly our best option at 10 at the moment based on SR form and previous experience, but also in the fact he is obviously Schmidt's preferred choice. I'm hoping these next two games we see a bit more flow from the attack, which has been very clunky so far for a number of reasons. I think Lynagh might become an option down the road as he plays a similar style at the reds as Schmidt wants the wallabies to play, but I agree I hope he is well managed and not thrown to the wolves like noah and carter have been. I also think donaldson is better at 15 than 10 long term and wonder if he will transition back at some point. Tane edmed also doing well in NPC and not out for the count.
I think Lollies is improving and I don't think the other two blokes are better options just yet. Lynagh is growing with every game but another full season in SR and the Qld Reds touring games or working with the Wallabies squad and some time off the bench will be better for him I think. It may be a very different story in 2027 come the RWC but I think Lololesio's our best option now.
I am not sure his reaction to Tizzano's error would be the benchmark that I would set for showing maturity but I think he has shown greater maturity across the SR season and in places during these first few games. South Africa are going to challenge any of these 10s (and plenty others - let's see how DMac goes this weekend). And any team that performs as badly at the breakdown as our blokes did is going to have even the very best 10 under pressure.
Donaldson will never amount to much. He would be lucky to be the 5th best 10 Australia could choose. He's just there as part of the Tah quota Schmidt has agreed too, to pick up his million dollars a year to take back to his home in NZ.
The bloke who plays for the Western Force is part of the Tah quota? I know he is from NSW orginally but so are 50 - 60% of registered players in the country.
Really? The reason Lolesio should be 10 is because he berated a team mate after a mistake?
He doesnt ever improve.
I take your point with the headline, but what do you make of the rest of my argument?
Have you ever watched Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton or Dan Bigger play a game? They regularly held standards on the field in this way.
The looks Gregan used to give and the sprays players give other players are so common I am unsure why this is a surprise.
I'm not saying it's the best way, nor the only way, merely just one way.
Do you not think he has improved in these five games so far?
Good analysis John of Noah
However "Lolesio can be seen to get up and slap his hands together in frustration" is a concern particularly when others can point at him when a kick is poor. or a tackle missed.
In my opinion the whole team continues to make the stupidest of mistakes that can and should be fixed. ( Did Uru miss selection because of the yellow card)
They are being coached by a kiwi to play like kiwis. Which is to try and get away with cheating every minute of every game.
I think if he copped a spray from a team leader I think he would just wear it and get on with the job. Probably put his hand up and admit his mistake, if this is way to act when others do it.
It's elite sport and emotions soar. As I have written above to Forwad Pass, it's not the only way but it is one way shown by many players across the globe.