Scotland’s wily Australian coach Scott Johnson has dismissed the Wallabies backline woes by labelling Christian Leali’ifano a better No.12 than Matt Giteau.
Leali’ifano has been languishing on the bench for Australia’s end-of-season European tour, but will be thrust into the weekend’s Test against the Scots due to the loss of their entire three-quarter line.
In-form inside centre Matt Toomua was the latest Wallabies back to be ruled out of the Murrayfield clash when he was sent home late on Wednesday with a hamstring strain.
Midfield partner Tevita Kuridrani is also out due to a five-week ban for his dangerous tip tackle in the 32-15 win over Ireland, while incumbent wingers Nick Cummins and Adam Ashley-Cooper have been stood down for late night drinking in Dublin last week.
To all intents and purposes, the Wallabies’ backline is in disarray.
But not according to Johnson, who is missing three of his best backs – Stuart Hogg, Tim Visser and Matt Scott due to injury – and has delayed naming his backline due to a fitness concern over winger Tommy Seymour.
Johnson, who served as Australia’s attack coach in 2006 and 2007, said he’d love to have a player the quality of Brumbies radar-boot Leali’ifano as a back-up, describing him as the Wallabies most complete inside centre since 80-Test great Tim Horan.
“I kept saying to my son before I came over here that this kid Christian Leali’ifano is going to be a special No.12 for Australia,” he told AAP.
“I haven’t seen the likes of Leali’ifano in Australian rugby since probably Timmy.
“I think he possesses both the physical qualities as well as the skill set – Gits had the skill set but didn’t have the physicality.
“Australia now has someone who can do something special.”
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has lamented the tour-ending injury to skilful all-rounder Toomua, who has been a revelation as a playmaking foil for Quade Cooper since replacing Leali’ifano for the last four Tests.
The loss of Kuridrani, who McKenzie feels was treated harshly with a five-game ban, also means that either Leali’ifano, Mike Harris, Chris Feauai-Sautia or Israel Folau will be forced to play out of position at No.13.
“Whoever they play there will be a skilful rugby player,” Johnson said.
“So the sad story ain’t that sad here.
“I’ll tell you disarray when I tell you the six I can’t pick, that’s disarray.”
Johnson goes back a long way with McKenzie and helped the Wallabies coaching team in the 2001 British and Irish Lions series when McKenzie was forwards coach under Rod Macqueen.
He praised the Wallabies improvement after a 3-8 start to the year but was not about to judge McKenzie’s controversial decision to stand down six players due to their late night out in Dublin last week.
“Everyone’s jobs are a lot easier until you have to do it,” Johnson said. “That’s their issue and I have enough on my plate here.”