Rugby: Ex-coaches pan Wallabies
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FORMER Australia coach Bob Dwyer has panned the Wallabies as "woeful" and claims they should have been thrashed by 25 points in Saturday's shambles against South Africa.
On the same day another ex-Wallaby boss Eddie Jones called for Test team changes and said alternatives were needed for ageing halves George Gregan and Stephen Larkham, Dwyer unloaded on the Australians.
"How on earth they managed to win despite having no platform whatever from which to build anything was extraordinary," Dwyer said of the 20-18 victory.
"(It was) an alarming indictment on the poverty of the South Africans' game. Any decent side would have put 25 points or more on the woeful Australians. But the Springboks hit absolute rock bottom with this performance."
Speaking to a South Africa newspaper, Dwyer said: "The whole thing was terrible. South Africa had no comprehension of what they were doing and Australia weren't any better.
"If this was third against fourth in the world, then world rugby has a serious problem. At the best it was very, very disappointing. Australia kicked the ball 31 times in the first 30 minutes alone. There was no shape or structure to the match. It was terrible stuff."
Jones told a Sydney radio station yesterday that senior Wallabies were showing a "lack of energy" and also called for Matt Giteau to be given his chance at halfback.
"Whether replacing some of the senior players, or making changes to other people, there definitely needs to be changes in the team," Jones said on 2KY.
"If changes are going to be made to senior players, they really need to happen now."
Jones said while Gregan should continue to get opportunities, other halfback options needed to be found.
"Sam (Cordingley) is an option. Josh Holmes is certainly an option and I think the other one they should definitely look at is Matt Giteau," said Jones.
"He is an outstanding halfback."
Australia selectors will consider using the million-dollar man as a back-up to George Gregan for Saturday week's Test against the All Blacks with an injury cloud over his current deputy Sam Cordingley and another contender in Josh Valentine.
But Australia selector Scott Johnson said that Giteau would be a last resort option only.
"At the heart of it is the best interests of this team," said Johnson.
"Matt is one of the best No. 12s in the world and we don't want to discourage him from playing there."
But he admitted: "We certainly have to look further afield than just George."
Daily Telegraph
