Ben Mowen may be Test skipper but he certainly doesn’t feel settled in a Wallabies side outfit battling to transform itself from a fading force into 2015 world champions.
Australia take on Italy in Turin early Sunday morning (AEDT) aiming to put their dreadful year back on track by avoiding a record-breaking ninth defeat.
The Wallabies’ worst year in the professional era was in 2005 when Eddie Jones was sacked after overseeing a 5-8 record, including seven losses from the last eight Tests.
A maiden defeat to the Azzurri at Stadio Olympico would be disastrous for Ewen McKenzie’s team and a cash-strapped Australian Rugby Union aiming to reinvigorate the struggling code.
A loss could also see Australia slump to as low as No.7 on the IRB rankings.
But Mowen and coach McKenzie believe that through the pain will come the reward.
With the 2015 World Cup on the horizon, the Brumbies No.8 is adamant the right steps are being taken towards a 180-degree turnaround.
“We have to be sitting here in two years holding the World Cup up, that’s just exactly where we have to be,” Mowen said.
“As hard as it is to see at this point, I see a lot of really good building blocks from where we are.
“I know that’s a hard thing for some people to see at this stage, but they’re definitely there.
“Once you get those things in place, and a little bit of belief comes with results, the rest happens really quickly.”
Mowen can speak from experience in his two seasons at the Brumbies where the ACT franchise finished third last in 2011 before Jake White took them to the Super Rugby final this year.
McKenzie orchestrated an even better reversal of fortunes in his first two years at Queensland by guiding the Reds to the 2011 crown.
The new Wallabies coach, who has enjoyed just two wins from his first nine Tests in charge, is making drastic changes to get results.
He’s dumped James Horwill as captain, Will Genia as vice-captain, benched both Genia and Quade Cooper at different times and now made Mowen and five-eighth Cooper his leaders.
“You never feel settled, and that’s good because it’s keeping everyone on their toes,” Mowen said.
“He’s obviously at the start of his tenure, and I’m sure he’s got a big end-goal in mind.
“I’ve got no doubt he’s testing a few guys’ character, which is important for the group and development of the side.
“He needs to be proactive and start shaking the tree and see what comes of it.
“I’ve got no dramas there. We’re all here for the same reason, we want a result for Australia.
“If he believes creating that competition for every spot, including the captaincy, brings the best out of us, until we start getting the results I totally agree.”
