Dwyer says MacQueen should consider dropping Eales
July 2, 2001

As the fall-out continues in the aftermath of the first test in Brisbane, former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer has been speaking on New Zealand radio about possible remedies ahead of the second test in Melbourne.

Speaking on Radio Sport, the current Waratahs coach conceded that Australian rugby was in a state of shock after the hiding dished out by the Lions on Saturday evening. And that there was a way back for the Wallabies, even if it was fraught with difficulties. The ditching of skipper John Eales was one of his suggestions.

Eales is clearly not match fit. His Super 12 season was disrupted by an achilles tendon injury, he missed the Wallabies' warm-up against the Maori and on Saturday he was substituted after an hour. It is hard to believe that this would have happened to a fully fit Wallabies' skipper.

But what sort of signal would Eales' dropping send to the Lions, even if coach Rod MacQueen was considering it ? That the panic button had been hit and the Wallaby camp was in greater trouble than even seemed to be the case during Saturday evening's extraordinary test match.Brumbies' young lock Justin Harrison had an outstanding Super 12 and was in great form when Australia A dealt the Lions their only defeat of this tour so far. But Harrison is not currently in MacQueen's squad.

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