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Dave Rennie's 'clear message': Wallabies will be selected on 2020 form
By Online Editors
Australia's Super Rugby opener between the Brumbies and Queensland will double as the first Wallabies trial of a new era, according to Allan Alaalatoa.
Brumbies skipper Alaalatoa said new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie visited the club this week and delivered a "clear message" that national jerseys would be earned on domestic form.
A number of rookies across the country are making their Super Rugby debuts this weekend as a fresh World Cup cycle begins.
Brumbies debutant flyhalf Noah Lolesio will square off against Reds rising star Isaac Lucas at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.
Lolesio represents one of six Brumbies set for a club or Super Rugby debut, while Queensland also have six players pulling on the maroon jersey for the first time.
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"It was a clear message (from Rennie)," Alaalatoa said.
"It's an even playing field, it's pretty much starting again and (the Wallabies) is going to be picked on Super Rugby form.
"If you're a rookie or someone that's established, you know if you put in the work here in Super Rugby, you're more than a chance to be picked for the Wallabies.
"It's great for boys that have been around for a while, to have that motivation to be better and also for our young guys to actually to see their dream."
Rennie repeated the same message visiting Australian clubs this week and emphasised: "If you're good enough, you're old enough".
The Reds admit they'll target Lolesio on debut and backed their own 20-year-old, Lucas, to flourish with the playmaking reins.
"It's (Lolesio's) first Super Rugby game; he's going to be looking to do everything you can but sometimes it's a bit easier to get in and rattle guys," Queensland captain Liam Wright said.
"He's played a lot of NRC and had a good few trials; I'm sure he's feeling confident but we're going to put every pressure on their No.9 and 10.
"It's an area we'll target and come at them all day, but we've got some debutants too so it'll work both ways.
"We're confident in (Lucas) and how he's been going at 10, but James (O'Connor) and Bryce (Hegarty) are also there at 12 and 15 to steady the ship.
"We're happy with how our backline is shaping up and looking like a really good attacking threat."
- AAP
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar is confident heading into the first round of Super Rugby for 2020:
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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