Will Genia can kiss his Wallabies starting spot goodbye unless he finds his running game – and fast.

Heading into round four of Super Rugby this weekend, a couple of things are clear in the Australian conference: the Waratahs are unquestionably the side to beat, and, on form, Genia isn’t the best halfback in the country. That honour goes to Luke Burgess (Rebels), with Nick Phipps (Tahs) a short neck behind followed by Nic White (Brumbies).

“Thank God, Alby Mathewson (Western Force) is a Kiwi,” Phipps commented on the quality of the no 9 play by Australian teams. In fact, on current form Genia, the Test no 9, is the worst of the bunch.

We could be witnessing the demise of Genia’s Test career. It certainly looked that way when a frustrated and dejected Reds coach Richard Graham pulled him mid-way through the second-half against the Waratahs last Saturday. Graham confirmed in his post-match interview Genia wasn’t injured. Looking down the barrel of the Reds’ worst loss to the Tahs in Super rugby history (and that’s how it turned out, 32-5), Graham rightly decided Genia – doing very little other than passing from rucks – had posed no serious threat to the opposition with ball in hand. What ever happened to that brilliant, cheeky halfback who spotted a gap and ran 70 metres to score in the 2011 grand final against the Crusaders?

The Genia of 2013/2014 is a shadow of that feared player. The rot started for Genia last year when he stopped running at space and opted for impotent grubber kicks. Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie finally lost patience and dropped him for two Tests. Some said Genia had become complacent and the humbling experience of being dropped for rookie Nic White would spark him back to life. It hasn’t in the slightest. He’s playing exactly the same way that got him dropped from the Wallabies, ie. he’s doing everything bar run with the ball.

Genia’s fix is simple. He just needs to copy what Burgess, Phipps and Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs) are doing: run the ball and ask questions of the defence.

Talking Points

*Brumbies flanker David Pocock’s wretched injury run continues with confirmation late this week he will need another knee reconstruction and won’t play again this year. The Brumbies are putting on a brave face to media but privately they are surely devastated. Pocock is world-class and a born leader to boot. The Brumbies just won’t be the same without him. Indeed, they’ll do well to regroup in time to beat a desperate Hurricanes side in Wellington on Friday. Not to be outdone, New Zealand also gave up its best no 7 to injury with Richie McCaw ruled out for a couple of months with a broken thumb. McCaw carried the injury against the Blues and was made to look second-rate.

*So much has already been said this week about the Waratahs’ superb 32-5 win against archrivals the Reds. Take a bow Tahs for a truly impressive performance, one of the best this columnist has seen from a Tahs side going back many a season. The Reds weren’t terrible at all – the Tahs just outplayed them. The Tahs have a bye before taking on the Brumbies away next week. The Reds, meanwhile, look set to take out their frustrations on the Cheetahs at Suncorp tomorrow night. Keep an eye on Genia to see if he finds his running game.

*Having tipped the Melbourne Rebels as a roughie for the title, this columnist was delighted to see them open their account in style against the Cheetahs. The 34-14 scoreline probably flattered the Cheetahs in the end. It’s early days though, and the Rebels face a potential banana skin game in Perth against a very desperate Western Force side, who are 0-2.

*The Crusaders continued to disappoint with a clueless second-half showing against the Blues. As this column has said previously, there’s something seriously amiss with the Crusaders and it would be a massive surprise to see coach Todd Blackadder keep his job beyond this season. All Black fullback Israel Dagg must surely be looking at other franchises given Blackadder’s history of questionable backline selections. Blackadder could be one of that breed of former player with the aptitude and knowledge for coaching, but no real instinct.

*And finally, here’s my tip for this week’s upset: The Blues ($2.50) to beat the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

Super Rugby rd 3 results: Blues 35 d Crusaders 24; Rebels 35 d Cheetahs 14; Stormers 19 d Hurricanes 18; Chiefs 21 d Highlanders 19; Waratahs 35 d Reds 5; Brumbies 27 d Force 14; Bulls 25 d Lions 17.