‘Pick and stick’: SBW’s tip for Wallabies coach Schmidt
Darren Walton |
Sonny Bill Williams is imploring Joe Schmidt to pick and stick with a flyhalf for the duration of Australia’s three-Test series with the British and Irish Lions, as the choice of a No.10 continues to be the Wallabies coach’s biggest conundrum.
Two-time World Cup-winning legend Tim Horan believes the apparent race in three between Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson is so tight that he’d be inclined to select the best goalkicker of the trio.
Whoever Schmidt opts for, Williams is adamant the playmaker must be given the keys to run the show for the entire series come what may for the Wallabies to win.
“It’s tough, man,” the New Zealand 2011 Rugby World Cup winner told AAP on Monday.
“We just need to pick someone and back them for the whole series and let them get the runs on the board.
“For me, I’d probably go with Noah.”
Williams was also pleased to hear Schmidt say last week that veteran James O’Connor, Australia’s No.10 in the 2013 series, is also under consideration after impressing for the Crusaders this Super Rugby Pacific season.
“It would be good to see him back in the mix, just that old head for players like Noah to lean on for their experience,” Williams said.
“Yeah, that’s what I’d do.”
The Wallabies were ranked No.2 in the world when they lost the 2013 showpiece in Australia to the Lions.
Schmidt’s side is now ranked eighth, but Horan is backing the Wallabies to challenge the best of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales if whichever flyhalf Schmidt entrusts can stand up.
“They’ve got a lot more depth now compared to back in 2013,” Horan told AAP.”
“Australian Super Rugby’s gone to another level this year and, with the reduction of the (Melbourne) Rebels and only having four teams, I just think we’ve got depth in virtually every position.
“Probably the flyhalf position is where we don’t have a stand-out.
“Noah, the last couple of games has been really good, but the flyhalf position at the moment, it’s so tight because everyone’s so even – Donaldson, Lynagh and Noah – that it might come down to who’s the better goalkicker.
“That’s my opinion because, at the moment, I think Donaldson’s kicking at low 80 per cent, Lynagh’s like 85, 86 per cent.
“Goalkicking for that first Test match is going to be really important.”
Like Williams, Horan said he’d lean towards starting with Lolesio.
“He’s the incumbent. He understands the big games, and at the back end of last year in that spring tour he was outstanding,” he said.
“This year he’s been solid with the Brumbies. The last two games he’s taken the ball to the line a lot more, and last year he was kicking at 85 per cent, so it’s there.”
Complicating matters is Lolesio suffering what was initially feared to be a serious spinal injury in the ACT Brumbies’ win over the Western Force on Saturday night.
The Brumbies have ruled out a serious injury, but how long the 25-year-old will be sidelined is anyone’s guess.
“Hopefully this injury doesn’t keep him out for too long,” Horan said.
“The big thing for the Wallabies is you’ve got to win the first Test.
“I don’t mind if you lose every single lead-up game, as long as you win that first Test.”
For Schmidt and the team, everything has to be positioned around the first Test in Brisbane on July 19.
“Don’t even talk about the second and third, just win that first Test,” Horan said.
“One, it’s very hard to come back from one-nil down, but two, the engagement of the fans and the players knowing the series is going to be open for three weeks.”
AAP
