Today marks one year till the start of the 2019 Rugby World Cup but former Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock is urging Australian fans not to panic, even if they have every right to.
When asked if under‑fire coach Michael Cheika had the capacity to arrest the Wallabies' alarming decline from 2015 finalists to an all‑time low ranking of seventh in the world following Saturday's sobering loss to Argentina, Mortlock told AAP that they still got time.
He says looking at the last World Cup, Cheika only had the team for less than 12 months, so it can be done.
He says it is more a case of what's happening now and the systemic issues that are creating the poor results of late.
The concern for Mortlock is the Wallabies' troubles are widespread, though not necessarily deep rooted ‑ and certainly not irreversible.
Australia's 2007 World Cup captain nominated the Wallabies' inconsistent defensive displays, ill‑discipline, "robotic" attack and long‑running lineout woes as the four chief issues holding Cheika's side back.
Meanwhile Australia are pooled with Fiji, Uruguay, Wales and Georgia in Pool D for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
[Source: One News]
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