ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar sees potential Wallabies heroes on the rise

Super Rugby's indefinite hiatus has already kicked off sweeping changes - first came Zoom calls, something McKellar didn't know existed until about three weeks ago but is now an expert in.

Now come discussions about a revamped competition format with Super Rugby as we know it a tournament McKellar doesn't think will look the same moving forward.

The Brumbies mentor is certainly far more optimistic about a return to action this season than he was a fortnight ago - and with it comes the biggest chance for change.

It is a simple move McKellar believes can restore the Wallabies jersey to its former glory and turn modern day players into household names like those of yesteryear.

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"We start talking about the positives within the game. At the moment there is that much negativity from people within the game that are involved in rugby union, just get on with it," McKellar said on Big Sports Breakfast.

"I don't hear a lot of talking about our start to the year, you know what I mean? It's all about 'the Australian teams can't compete with the Kiwis' and that sort of thing. It's absolute rubbish.

"We've got to get on and talk about what is positive within the game. There is a lot of great young talent coming through.

"If we start thinking about who are the players that are going to be those potential heroes, instead of worrying and whinging about what's happening in the background, then the perception around rugby will change.

"I'm pretty passionate about it, and it starts to wear you down a little bit I suppose. You just want to get back and have rugby at the level it should be.

"It's a global game, a great game for all involved, and we need to make some change around our thinking."

Whether the Wallabies feature in international Tests this year remains to be seen with the borders being closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

But McKellar has remained in close contact with Wallabies coach Dave Rennie about his troops following the Brumbies' stellar start to the Super Rugby campaign.

"We've had hook-ups with my assistant coaches as well as Dave and his assistant coaches, just looking at the players they're looking at from a Wallabies perspective," McKellar said.

"It's only early days, but the comms from Dave, Scotty Wisemantel [backs] and Matty Taylor [defence] have been outstanding. They're a good coaching group.

"Once we get back to playing footy and get through this crisis, you'd like to think there will be a little bit more positive chat around rugby union in Australia."

For now McKellar will revert to Zoom calls to make sure his players - who are already going "stir-crazy" - remain ready to return.