Get Giteau into Gregan's jersey: Jones
This I don't agree with, I think George has played quite well in the past half dozen games...
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Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones believes a "lack of energy" in the current Test team means fresh blood is needed, with captain George Gregan head of the list to be rotated out.
The Queensland coach was believed to have been planning to replace Gregan this season before a charge at next year's World Cup, if he had retained the national job, a move he believes his successor John Connolly should be considering.
"One of the things that probably stood out watching [Saturday's match] was the lack of energy in the side," Jones told 2KY. "Whether replacing some of the senior players, or making changes to other people, there definitely needs to be changes in the team. If changes are going to be made to senior players, they really need ... to happen now."
Jones stopped short of saying Gregan's Test career should be brought to an immediate end, but did suggest both the 125-Test veteran and his halves partner, Stephen Larkham, needed time out of the side. "I would not rule George out straight away, but there has to be another option," Jones said. "What you have got to do out of that No.9 and No.10 position now is get a good, vibrant 80 minutes out of it and that has got to be the key to selection.
"[Larkham] is an older player now. Stevie is still our best No.10, but I think he needs to be nursed through the preparation to get the most out of him Stevie can start the game, but you need someone to finish the game for him. You keep on getting the good games here and there from the older players ... but at the end of the day, those good games get less and less."
Which is why the suggestion of Matt Giteau at No.9 is one that Jones has previously considered and one that he believes should be revived as a possibility, alongside other contenders such as current back-up Sam Cordingley and Australian under-21s halfback Josh Holmes. "I think certainly they have to keep giving George opportunities ... [but] I think the other one they should definitely look at is Matt Giteau," Jones said. "He is an outstanding halfback."
One possible successor to Larkham is the 17-year-old Australian schoolboys five-eighth Kurtley Beale, who has already enjoyed a trip to training at the Wallabies' Coffs Harbour camp before even graduating from school.
The St Joseph's College student was yesterday officially snapped up by Northern Suburbs in a coup for the Sydney premiership club, as the pivot is tipped for big things and is already on the Waratahs' books for next year.
Beale will play his last game for Joeys against Kings at Hunters Hill on Saturday as the GPS competition ends, and will join the Shoremen next year alongside players such as Sam Norton-Knight.
If Beale turns out in the colts teams next year, he will join other young recruits and former teammates such as Daniel Roach, the 2005 Australian Schoolboys prop and son of former rugby league international Steve Roach.
And in Super 14 news the Southern Spears have won their court case for inclusion in next year's tournament at the expense of the lowest-placed South African side, the Cats.
The SARU may yet appeal the decision, handed down in the high court after the Spears contested a change in direction by the governing body that saw an original deal for inclusion overturned. The inclusion of the Spears has been attacked by Sharks backline coach David Campese, who believes the side will "get a hiding every game".
