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Former Wallabies playmaker backs Noah Lolesio to retain 10 jersey
By AAP
Dual international Mat Rogers doesn't believe Sunday's Rugby Championship test against South Africa is the moment to axe Wallabies rookie Noah Lolesio.
Whether Lolesio retains his starting role against the world champion Springboks on the Gold Coast is one of several selection issues for coach Dave Rennie after last weekend's loss to the All Blacks in Perth.
The 21-year-old is yet to impose himself at test level and Rennie could be tempted to move utility Reece Hodge into the No.10 jersey this weekend.
Veteran James O'Connor is back training but may not be rushed back from the groin injury that has sidelined him since mid-May.
Rogers, who himself had to withstand criticism of his influence as a playmaker during his Wallabies career, believes persisting with Lolesio is worth it if Rennie truly feels he's Australia's long-term option in that role.
"Chopping and changing I don't think is the answer," Rogers told AAP at a promotional event for Australia's 2027 Rugby World Cup bid.
"If you think you've got the right guy there, then you've got to persist with him through the good and the bad and the bad can sometimes be real bad.
"You take someone out and how long does it take when you bring them back to get their confidence back? I'd be persistent."
Despite a 3-0 Bledisloe Cup series loss to the All Blacks this year, Rogers feels there were signs Australia has the potential for much better results in the future.
He singled out Jordan Petaia as a standout performer and said dropping Lolesio could have a knock-on effect across the backline.
"We've shown we can compete ... we've got some great players," Rogers said.
"Jordan Petaia, he just looks like an out-and-out star.
"It's just getting the ball in these guys hands in the right moments and, like I said, if the people inside him - a guy like Jordan - are chopping and changing all the time, the combinations change.
"There's a lot of combinations within the team - teams within the team - and the stronger you can develop those the better your team's going to function as a whole."
- Ed Jackson
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Even with absences we still had the cattle to make the playoffs. As it was, we nearly stumbled our way into the top 8. Which shows just how easy it was to get there. And still we failed. As for Razor, there are many instances of him patching up the Crusaders roster. Numerous. Several players I'd never heard of. Also, using AB legend John Afoa was a classic.
But, some of the games we were losing were from schoolboy errors, or downright confusion. Either the players were really dumb (they weren’t) or they were poorly coached. Given the repetitive nature of errors, brain fades, poor decision making, & loose structures, this all lands with the coaching group.
With only six playoff spots now in SR, & Aussie franchises now consolidated to four, 2025 looks like a tight one. I'm picking we'll have to tough it out under Penney & hope for the best.
Go to commentsAgree we need a 10, 12, 13 refresh. ASAP. Well, next season now lol. Reiko should be put back on the wing. He'll be an absolute menace there. Imagine 11 Reiko 14 Clarke 15 Jordan as the backfield unit.
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