The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Wobbly Wallabies cause for concern?

18th July, 2011
Advertisement
Roar Pro
18th July, 2011
8
1203 Reads

What should have been a regulation win to get a Rugby World Cup year underway turned into a humiliating lesson for a second-string Wallabies side devoid of inspiration and urgency.

While Samoa thoroughly deserved its historic victory, it was 80 minutes of lacklustre rugby that will furrow brows across the nation and place unwanted pressure upon Robbie Deans and his troops ahead of September.

Although Sunday’s XV is unlikely to look anything like the side that will get Australia’s World Cup campaign underway against Italy at North Harbour on September 11, it’s far from an ideal preparation.

Perhaps even more alarming than the result itself was that none of these Wallaby ‘maybes’ put their hand up to stake a claim for a gold jersey for when it really matters.

With only 30 of the 40-man squad to receive boarding passes for New Zealand, it’s games like this that can launch a fringe player right into the selection mix.

Australia’s lack of respect for Samoa was also evident from the get-go. While nobody from inside Camp Wallaby is likely to confirm this on the record, the proof was on the field.

On four separate occasions inside the first 20 minutes, captain Rocky Elsom declined easy kicks at goal to try and apply pressure to the Samoan line – even after the islanders had taken a 10-0 lead.

Point-scoring opportunities would seldom be passed up in a ‘serious’ game and it should be of great concern that Australia is perhaps not treating Tests like this with enough respect.

Advertisement

Also of concern is the way that the Samoan forwards had their way at the breakdown. The Wallabies were monstered in rucks and mauls, unable to generate efficient use of the ball despite having the lion’s share of possession.

Given the lingering question marks over the Australian pack throughout the past 12 months, this is something that Deans must address if the Wallabies are to be any chance of hoisting the William Webb Ellis Cup aloft at Eden Park on October 23.

With less than eight weeks until the World Cup and only a handful of opportunities to get their systems and personnel in place, Sunday’s stinker was a lost opportunity. While it’s far from a mortal wound to Australia’s campaign, it’s also a long way from the momentum-charged start that Deans and his players would have wanted.

Take nothing away from Samoa – they were deserving of their brilliant win – but Australia’s inability to change tack and readjust when Plan A misfired could point to some big, big problems.

close