The Wallabies have problems, but they are of the good variety. In the return Test against Japan in Townsville on Saturday, they produced their most promising performance in 12 months, and not a moment too soon. The 56-17 victory included a professional, five-tries-to-none second half and a number of standout performances that will have the new coach, Les Kiss, wondering just how to craft this side into the best version of itself.
Centre Isaac Henry made an impression on his first start in gold, roaring through the Japan line to win the field position that set up the first try. Hard to tackle throughout and hungry for metres, the 27-year-old looks like he has timed his run into the team well, with the World Cup in October next year. His problem, however, is opportunity, and whether he will get another.
This was a rare chance for Henry and the solid Hunter Paisami to start in the absence of regular midfield pairing of Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii and Len Ikitau. The former is the Wallabies’ golden recruit, while the latter is perhaps the side’s most consistent player and last year’s recipient of the John Eales Medal. Time for experimentation is running out, with eight matches this year before the sprint to the World Cup.
Could Kiss deploy Aukuso-Suaalii at full-back or on a wing to accommodate the apparent centre depth? Henry’s was the kind of performance – even if it was against an opponent not yet in Australia’s class – that gets a fan’s mind whirring about selection what-ifs. Flanker Carlo Tizzano was impressive against Japan, with three takeaways, serving as a reminder of the depth at openside.
In his desire to get the most of out Tizzano, Kiss is already showing derring-do. The coach brought on Australia’s regular No 7, Fraser McReight, to play alongside Tizzano in the second half, creating a mobile pack that at its best promises a turnover avalanche. The rested Rob Valetini – Australia’s best player – is usually deployed at blindside flanker or No 8, where the captain, Harry Wilson, has become comfortable.
Working out how these players could contribute together is clearly on Kiss’s mind. For the last 15 minutes, the 25-year-old moved into No 8, shifting Wilson into lock. It was a bold statement from the coach, a sign the transition from Joe Schmidt may be less smooth than some players might have expected.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
