TALL ORDER BUT GIANTS MUST LIFT WALLABIES
THE misfiring Wallabies must reunite twin towers Rory Arnold and Adam Coleman to start fixing their engine against Italy in Saturday’s Test in Brisbane.
Accountability for Australia’s 24-19 tumble to Scotland at the weekend should and will be swift with pack tweaks to stir more intensity.
Coleman’s 10-run zeal, heavy tackles like thumping Scottish winger Rory Hughes into touch in the opening minute, and general workrate just wasn’t replicated elsewhere in the tight five.
The towering Arnold clearly outperformed lukewarm starting lock Sam Carter when introduced just after halftime and that swap should be instant.
A fit-again Scott Sio may also trump Tom Robertson for a prop spot while the month cannot go by without captain Stephen Moore starting at least one Test.
With the Wallabies in an experimental mood, rookie Richard Hardwick may also get a chance to excel in his favourite position at No.8 instead of Scott Higginbotham.
In the backs, Eto Nabuli’s inability to get involved off
his wing was always a big question mark and, in a stuttering, losing side, it was unsurprising.
Wallabies boss Michael Cheika yesterday wouldn’t bite on any mooted changes when he landed in Brisbane beyond restating there would be some.
He did note that centre Karmichael Hunt (head knock) had shown a promising early recovery in the first 24 hours to be in the frame for Saturday.
Cheika’s snarling barb that the Wallabies lacked intensity is the No.1 gripe he will take out on the players this week.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong with our footy (style) but there’s definitely a lot of improvement needed,” Cheika said.
“Look at that Test in detail and lacking urgency was probably the telling factor we didn’t win by two or three scores.”
Cheika did single out the positive back-to-back Tests of new flanker Ned Hanigan.
“We have to learn to work at a higher level ... look at (Ned) Hanigan’s excellent workrate and attitude to it (as a rookie) and that’s what should be the target of the whole pack,” Cheika said.
The Italians should be on alert for a high-flying Israel Folau because his freakish kick-catch to score will likely be repeated.
“You’d be mad not sending more kicks like that his way because he’s always going to catch more than not but it’s getting the balance with keeping ball in hand,” Cheika said.