Former Australia head coach John Connolly has urged the Wallabies selectors to be brave and leave veteran utility back Kurtley Beale out of their squad for their upcoming tour to the northern hemisphere.
Connolly, who coached the Wallabies in 2006 and 2007, made the difficult decision of leaving experienced Test scrum-half George Gregan behind when Australia went on their end-of-year tour in his first season in charge of the two-time world champions.
The 71-year-old said that move paid dividends as Gregan came back stronger and had a good season in 2007. And now he wants current Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie to follow his example and do the same with players like Beale, saying Rennie can learn more about his players ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France.
New Zealander Rennie is set to name a squad of around 35 players for his five-Test tour – against Scotland, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales – on Sunday.
Important tour
It’s an important tour for Rennie whose win rate is at just 38 per cent from 29 Tests since he took over the coaching reins in 2020.
Rennie initially backed young players but has turned to more experienced campaigners of late with Beale, who is currently back at the Waratahs, returning to the Test fold for last year’s year-end Tests. He has also recalled veteran fly-halves Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley during this year’s Rugby Championship campaign.
The coach has also chopped and changed players at full-back due to injuries and form with Beale, Tom Banks, utility back Reece Hodge, as well as wings Jordan Petaia, Tom Wright and Andrew Kellaway, all wearing the Wallabies number 15 jersey since last year.
But Connolly believes giving Banks or uncapped Reds full-back Jock Campbell a chance on the Wallabies’ European tour would be a “brave” decision which would suit Rennie better in the long run.
“In 2006, we had a decision to make around the half-backs,” he told Fox Sports.
“We had (Brett) Sheehan, (Sam) Cordingley, who were both playing reasonably for their states, Cordingley had a few injuries, and we had (Matt) Giteau who we wanted to have a look at halfback. In conversation with George, we decided to leave him at home and then we decided to look at our halfbacks strongly. George had a great Super season and went to the World Cup.
“In this situation, this is a lot easier than the George situation, that was a tough call, he had a rest and came back and had a great season.
“These two guys, we don’t know how good Banks and Jock Campbell are. Playing Kurtley who hasn’t played eight months, and struggled to make the team before he left, makes no sense. If he (Beale) has a great Super season, plays the house down, yes he goes.”
Australia’s 2006 European tour did not go according to plan as they drew their first Test with Wales before sealing a narrow win over Italy but they then lost to Ireland.
Connolly duly decided to take a gamble by handing Stephen Moore his first Test start at hooker in their final Test of the tour against Scotland and, despite him struggling during the early stages of that encounter, players like Stephen Larkham and Chris Latham soon took control of proceedings and guided the Wallabies to a memorable win.
With with just 10 matches left before the World Cup, Connolly feels the Wallabies should be brave and take similar risks for this year’s European Tests.
“I remember the other coaches wanted to get him off but I said we’re playing the right out and giving him every chance to be successful, and in the second half he was more comfortable, played well at the end of the game and the rest is history, he went to the World Cup and has turned out to be one of our best hookers,” he said.
Trust your judgement
“But you’ve got to trust your judgement and we thought he had size, we thought he had the ability, so you’ve got to back your judgement.
“Both those players, Banks and Campbell, have the game to play at Test footy – how much improvement they have in them, I would argue that Campbell has more improvement left in him than Banks.
“Campbell has improved every game like Latham, a country kid who came to the city and improved.
“Playing Kurtley, at his age, who hasn’t played since February, give him an off season. If he plays well for the Waratahs then he goes to the World Cup.
“You’ve got to be brave.”
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