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Wallabies must build depth in the No 10 jersey

Noah Lolesio. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)

With two ageing playmakers on board for next year’s Rugby World Cup, the Wallabies will look to fast-track some youngsters after Dave Rennie admitted five-eighth was a position of concern.

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James O’Connor will start at No 10 in the second Rugby Championship Test against Argentina on Sunday morning with fellow veteran Quade Cooper undergoing surgery on his ruptured Achilles.

Cooper, aged 34, faces a nine-month rehabilitation while O’Connor, two years younger, has also battled numerous soft-tissue injuries this year.

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Noah Lolesio started at five-eighth in all three England Tests but the 22-year-old has been unable to fully cement himself in the role, with Rennie deciding they need to accelerate the development of other play-making options.

He felt they had built good depth at fullback and in the second row but competition at 10 was “the skinniest”.

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Waratah playmakers Tane Edmed and Ben Donaldson are in Rennie’s sights.

“That’s something that we’re talking about, and we’ve got a few plans around that,” Rennie said from Argentina on Friday.

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“We’ve some good young kids coming through but not ready for this level yet.

“It’s certainly an area of focus, we need to accelerate the development of young 10s.”

There were reports 70-Test veteran Bernard Foley, who is 32, would return to the Wallabies fold but Rennie said no call had yet been made.

“We haven’t made a plan around that, clearly at the moment we’ve still got three guys with Hodgey (Reece Hodge) covering and we’ll reassess when we get home.”

Rennie predicted Lolesio, who has missed selection for both Argentina Tests, would in time become a world-class five-eighth.

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“He was disappointed in his third (England) Test but he’s a good kid and I reckon he’s going to be an excellent international 10, so he’s definitely working hard on growing his game,” Rennie said.

“We talked about connection, it’s actually a strength of his at the Brumbies, but it wasn’t as sharp.

“He got deeper and deeper as the game went on and had to buy himself some time.

“He’s the type of player who doesn’t have the leg speed of a Beauden Barrett so needs to be able to play flat but still get himself in a position where he can run, kick pass.

“He’s played maybe a dozen Tests now, all against top teams, so he’s played big games and will be better for it.”

– Melissa Woods

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Hellhound 25 minutes ago
Scotland's Gregor Townsend confirms Tom Jordan Glasgow exit

NZ lost a great player there. Played brilliantly for Glasgow and against SA was the best player on the pitch. Caused the Boks some headaches. Slot him into the current AB's team, and they would be very dangerous, especially broken play.


However, the Scots isn't stupid and their recruiting from the SH countries is starting to pay off. They don't have the player pool the SH countries have, nor that of their neighbours even.


I applaud them for being so open-minded as giving those players who have loyally played their rugby in Scotland for years a chance. SA for one have such a vast pool of players that's so talented and could be world class given the smallest chance, but will never get a look in because there is just so many stars in the country.


I don't mind that Saffas play for other countries to further their own careers. Besides, it makes Scotland better and makes for one more team to step up to the big stage and make rugby more exciting than just the top 4 that usually wins.


Scotland may have lost by 17 against a rusty Bok "B" team, but that score is not a true indication of that match. The Scottish biggest mistakes was kicking at goal the entire time, instead of going for the jugular. If they tried to go for tries, they may have been stopped and the score might have been bigger, but the game was on such a knife edge, that if they did go for it, they might have scored a couple of tries or more and we very well might have seen a Scottish upset.


It was by no means a bad effort at all. Tom Jordan is one of their best new talents coming through. He should've stayed with Glasgow. What a loss for the URC Champs. Going to Loftus and getting one over the Bulls is something that not even the so called best team in club rugby could do. Leinster keeps losing at Loftus. For Glasgow to do that in a Final was phenomenal and Tom Jordan was no small part of that feat.


Rugby is truely becoming a global sport now, where the eligibility rules is making rugby a much smaller world, but a much bigger global game. The Scots is most likely the team with the most aliens in their team. They welcome players with open arms. I applaud that. They are a sleeping giant, and if they continue playing like they did against the Boks, despite the results, they will become a real threat for 2027.


I admired how they played. They impressed everyone. I say good on them. Results will come if they continue on their upward trajectory. I wish them and Tom Jordan all the luck they deserve.

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