Australian rugby has gone through a serious downturn of late. Being knocked out of last year’s World Cup at the quarter-final stage by a surprisingly robust English line-up was one of the darkest hours in ARU history. Not having won a Tri-Nations title in years, and rarely beating either South Africa or New Zealand away, the pundits have been quick to write off this year’s tournament as a two-horse race. But the Wallabies could just surprise everyone.

When you look at their team on paper, there are some very noticeable absentees. The familiar half-back and five-eighth pairing of greats George Gregan and Stephen Larkham is gone. And with injury cutting short Chris Latham’s career, the Wallabies have lost 318 Test matches-worth of experience in one blow. But this raises the question – how much will Australia miss them?

Undoubtedly, Larkham was a huge loss. Commonly regarded as one of the greatest No.10s ever to have strutted their stuff on the international stage, he provided Australia with an experienced head, a reliable kicker and one of the greatest passers the game has ever seen. His injury absence was extremely noticeable at the 2007 World Cup. But at the very same tournament, a youngster by the name of Berrick Barnes showed undeniable promise in his absence. Although not Larkham, Barnes has certainly gone some way to filling the void left by the Canberra-born playmaker. However, it remains to be seen how Barnes will fare against the might and power of the Springboks and All Blacks.

Since the World Cup, Australia have played three Tests. Instead of simply slotting Barnes into the vacant five-eighth position, as had been anticipated, the Australian selectors instead played Western Force and Australian regular Matt Giteau in the No.10 jersey.  Barnes then grabbed the vacant No.12 position. This is a decision that has reaped benefits for Australia, as the Giteau-Barnes partnership seems set to flourish. And, during the Australian domestic season, a noticeable contender has popped up for the first-receiver position. His name is Kurtley Beale, a brilliant young No.10 who currently plies his trade in New South Wales for the Waratahs. At just 19, “the new Mark Ella” still faces a lot of growth before he becomes the finished article, but Wallabies fans are already licking their lips at the prospect of the prodigy in the green and gold.

Latham’s departure from the international scene is certainly sad, but may not be as devastating as first expected. A genuinely world-class player, his Australia career was cut down by a ruptured pectoral muscle playing for his club earlier this year. However, Latham would have left the Wallabies at the end of the current international season, anyway, meaning that the selectors were already blooding replacements.

The enormously promising Adam Ashley-Cooper has been given a run after impressing during last season’s Tri-Nations in the No.13 and 14 jerseys. Speedster Lachlan Turner is being considered, while 24-year-old Cameron Shepherd entertained before breaking his leg. Drew Mitchell (who scored seven tries at the last World Cup) is also a possibility, although has yet to play under new coach Robbie Deans.