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“The Wallabies didn’t quite gel tonight,” was Rod Kafer’s understatement of the year on Fox last night as the men-in-gold wrapped up the three-Test series against France with a forgettable 6-0 win at Etihad Stadium.
After a scoreless first half when nothing happened, the Wallabies overcame a litany of elementary errors to fall over the line.
Let’s make one fact quite clear, Wallaby fans don’t really care how their side wins, so long as they win. But they would prefer to see them having a crack, and scoring tries.
That never happened last night in pristine conditions with the Etihad roof closed, while the Wallabies made one mistake after another.
Gone was the spontaneity of attack, the hallmark of Wallaby rugby under coach Ewen McKenzie, and the Waratahs under Michael Cheika which has the crowds returning to the game.
They tried, but every time they earned their way into French territory they either gave away senseless penalties, turned over possession, or passed poorly to supports in a position to score.
The “no-look” pass has started to creep in, and must be culled before it becomes endemic.
Full marks to the unpredictable French, so savaged in the first Test at Suncorp by 50 points to 23, scoring seven tries to two.
With 10 changes in their side last night, they French were in Wallaby faces for 80 minutes, and the Wallabies had no answer to the added and constant pressure.
That said volumes for the Wallabies’ inability to break free. The All Blacks and the Boks will have taken special notice as how to cut the Wallabies off at the pass.
And it goes without saying both the All Blacks and the Boks will be far more effective at stifling the Wallabies than the French.
McKenzie has Plan B within his squad and it means the Waratah contingent must take over from the Brumby backline for the third Test at Allianz Stadium next Saturday afternoon..
I would be a lot happier if forgotten half Will Genia was in the squad, but he’s not, so McKenzie is stuck with Brumby half Nic White
But White must be told to forget all about his box kick, he’s inept in that department, and a gift to the opposition.
White must get Bernard Foley on the move so he can ignite the Waratah backline with Kurtley Beale at inside centre and Adam Ashley-Cooper at outside replacing Matt Toomua and Tevita Kuridrani.
There’s an added bonus to Beale in the starting line-up with his ability to set Israel Folau free to do his renowned damage as only he can do.
Toomua hasn’t been able to do that in the two Tests against the French, so the Wallabies most attacking weapon has withered on the vine.
With Ashley-Cooper moving inside off the wing, Rob Horne would be his replacement setting up the Waratah backline that has been so successful in Super Rugby to top the Australian Conference and be second on the overall table..
So the Wallaby backline for next Saturday would be White (9) under sufferance, Foley (10), Nick Cummins (11), Beale (12), Ashley-Cooper (13), Horne (14), and Folau (15).
Up front, it will be captain Michael Hooper’s prime job to drive his troops into delivering quicker and more controlled ball, and stop giving away senseless penalties that hurt so much last night.
The pack doesn’t need major changes like the backs, but it does need more urgency to get the job done properly.
Last night was a wake-up call with the All Blacks, Boks, and Pumas, just around the corner in the Rugby Championship.
But more importantly the Bledisloe Cup.
Last night the All Blacks were outplayed by England in the first half to be behind 10-6 at the break.
But the men-in-black got their act together in the second half to score three tries, and sneak home 28-27.
That’s exactly what the Wallabies couldn’t do, and therein lies the difference between the two sides.
When push turned to shove in the two games, the All Blacks shoved and won, while the Wallabies pushed and went nowhere..