Any fears Australia’s massacre at the Rugby World Cup would derail the rise of several young players were emphatically put to bed by Wallabies hooker Matt Faessler.
“I’d definitely go the other way,” he said defiantly. “I don’t think it’s disheartened anyone.”
Queensland Reds and Wallabies hooker Matt Faessler has emphatically denied he and his young teammates would be broken by the World Cup debacle.
As the Queensland Reds returned to preseason training, Faessler reflected on his maiden experience in the green and gold jumper – a campaign which no doubt began with such excitement but quickly turned into a fiasco.
For the first time in the code’s history, the Wallabies failed to qualify for the finals – the fallout triggering widespread change by Rugby Australia, with coach Eddie Jones leaving less than 12 months into his five-year tenure.
It followed a winless Rugby Championship, with RA chairman Hamish McLennan ousted from his role, Daniel Herbert taking over the role, and Peter Horne appointed as a new director of high-performance as the hunt for Jones’ successor hits overdrive.
The likes of Wallabies legend Michael Lynagh – whose son, Tom, looms as a long-term Reds prospect at flyhalf – expressed concern the young side brought to France, at the expense of veterans such as Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper, would be scarred for the years to come.
But Faessler, who after just 27 Super Rugby appearances garnered five national caps, declared he and his teammates would not be deterred, and last season’s failures would mark the dawning of a new era for the once proud jersey.
“I think it’s lit the fire and invigorated everyone to see what the standard is and what we need to live up to,” Faessler said.
“The results of last year have definitely lit a fire in the belly of myself and a few of the other guys that I’ve spoken to on how we want to drive and sort of take control of that going forward.
Matt Faessler carries the ball on debut.
“I’m really stoked with the exposure and grateful for the opportunity granted to me. A lot of hard lessons were learned and a lot of things that I can bring back to Queensland.
“But my focus is more looking towards this year, what we can build in Queensland.”
Faessler’s optimism for the Wallabies future has made him determined to now prove he has earned his position, regardless of who takes the reins.
The search is expected to be conducted worldwide.
Yet having now experienced the elite environment, Faessler would not be drawn on the traits or characteristics he felt were needed to spearhead the outfit’s revival.
“I’m very much the new kid on the block,” he laughed. “Whatever everyone else says goes, I’ll jump at whatever.”
For Faessler to become a genuine Wallabies regular, the 25-year-old will need to re-earn his Reds’ jumper under new coach Les Kiss.
Having been plucked from Brisbane’s club rugby scene by former mentor Brad Thorn, Faessler – according to Kiss – will have no guarantee of his spot ahead of Richie Asiata, Max Craig and Josh Nasser.
Matt Faessler at Wallabies training.
But Kiss believed the Wallabies rookie possessed a trait unique to many in Super Rugby.
“It’s probably unfair thing to say he’s a late bloomer, but he was, he came through later. But I think he’s gained the benefit of coming through the club system,” Kiss said.
“He didn’t come through the traditional academy systems, so he brings his own form of experience and I think he actually appreciates that and finds gratitude for the fact that he came from that space.”
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