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Two ex-Wallabies are backing Eddie Jones’ seemingly radical decision to experiment with players out of position and name three ‘utilities’ in his Rugby Championship squad.
Dylan Pietsch, Josh Kemeny and Ben Donaldson were the trio given that tag by Jones, who wants to have all bases covered when injuries and cards strike.
Pietsch and Kemeny spoke to media on Monday and admitted they were initially as confused as the public as to what the utility label meant.
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Pietsch is a winger who will be asked to provide emergency backrow cover while Kemeny is the other way around.
“But the winger, Dylan Pietsch, has been an excellent backrower in a past life,” Morgan Turinui said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.
“This is how good I am about knowing footy. I said to him, ‘mate, you’re never going to make it as a winger. You need to stick to backrow. You won’t make Randwick’s first grade side as a winger.’ Stick to backrow – he’s in the Wallabies squad!”
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As a former ball playing Wallabies backrower, Stephen Hoiles is well placed to pass judgement on the method to Jones’ madness.
“It’s a fair point that Eddie makes, that you’ve got to have players that can be able to play different positions,” Hoiles said.
“I played every game in the (2007) World Cup… I played in the backs in every pool game.
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“If there’s yellow cards and certain injuries, I found myself in that position quite often…
“I would be happy to see Dylan Pietsch off the back of a scrum with his power off No.8, the new laws and the nine not putting pressure on. It’s definitely something you’ve got to have because one of the big concerns going into this World Cup is you’ve only got 33 players over in Europe.”
Turinui said Donaldson – who will cover five-eighth and fullback – was a “great kid” who was “very lucky” to make the Wallabies squad.
“He’s had a Super season where he hasn’t been very happy with what he’s done. His team (Waratahs), a little bit underwhelmed with what they’ve done,” Turinui said.
“He gets the support of the guy whose support he needs the most, the Wallaby coach. He’s got to pay back that loyalty very quickly.”
The Wallabies open their Rugby Championship campaign against world champions South Africa in Pretoria on July 9 (AEST).
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Friday’s trial game at Coogee Oval notably featured a lot of tactical kicking.
“Eddie is the guy over the course of the years, he’s changed his style of footy based on trends,” Hoiles said.
“No-one’s more aware and in tune with the world rugby trends and what’s going to work and what do you play at the right end of the field? That sort of stuff.
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“That’s where his genius comes into it… I think they’re going to play a kicking style of game. People hear that and they think ‘oh that’s going to be boring.’
“But no, it can be beautiful if you do it right. Chiefs and Crusaders are two of the highest kicking teams (in Super Rugby Pacific). I think it’s going to be tactically probably one of the clearer game plans the Wallabies have had out in many years. It’s whether or not we’re good enough to execute that.
“The wingers are going to have to work exceptionally hard. It’s going to be a lot of kick chase and a lot of work done on the ground on kick catch and stuff like that.”
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