The Wallabies are on the brink, teetering towards a series disaster against the British and Irish Lions after a bruising 27-19 defeat in Brisbane. With Melbourne poised to host the critical second Test, former Wallaby Greg Martin pulls no punches on Australia's current form, describing another potential loss as a catastrophe for Australian rugby.
Martin, voicing his frustrations on the DSPN podcast, lambasted Joe Schmidt's tactical choices and team selection in the opening Test. "We kicked far too often, which played right into the Lions' hands," Martin criticized, pinpointing the decision to start Jake Gordon alongside Tom Lynagh as a significant error. "You can't start a half-back with someone he's never played with before!"
"Consolation tries don’t count in my mind,"
Martin was equally critical of the player roles, especially underutilizing the talents of league convert Joseph Suaalii. "We probably need to see Suaalii at full-back," he suggested, hoping for better use of Suaalii's aerial skills to counter the Lions' kicking game.
The absence of key players like Will Skelton and Rob Valetini in the first Test clearly stung, but their return could bolster the Wallabies' lineup. "Stop the box kicking! Who thinks that’s a good idea against the Lions?" he exclaimed, pushing for a shift in strategy.
"I thought Joe Schmidt was going to be tactically better than that."
With the Lions already dominating provincial games without hitting top gear, Martin expressed a bleak outlook should the Wallabies fail again. "It'll be horrible if it's not one all, mate, because they are doing it easily. They’re only at half pace and still thrashing us," he lamented, underlining the importance of a Wallaby win to keep the series alive and maintain the competitive integrity of future tours.
As the team lineup for the second Test is poised to be announced, all eyes are on Schmidt's selections and whether the Wallabies can adjust their game plan to avoid a series defeat and the ignominy of a dead rubber third Test. Martin’s blunt critique underscores a pivotal moment for Australian rugby, one that could define their standing in international rugby.