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“Say what you want about the Wallabies, but they are definitely becoming more and more consistent each game. They are consistently making basic skills errors and poor tactical decisions.”
That’s how a friend and former teammate of mine summed up Sunday’s game in Cape Town.
As much as I hate giving a fullback credit for anything, besides expert handling of a hairbrush while those up front are doing the hard work, this time he hit the nail on the head.
There has been an increasingly indignant voice in the Australian rugby community and blogosphere of late, vilifying those who have been critical of the 2014 Wallaby campaign to date.
But all the statistics (one loss from eleven games was thrown around a great deal) and the number three ranking mean little in context. It is not the Wallabies’ results, but the way they are arriving at them which matters, bearing in mind the one loss from eleven could have easily been four.
Sunday was a perfect demonstration of why fans and media alike find the current era so painful to watch.
The Wallabies again proved that they have the talent to beat any team in the world, against the Springboks who are looking more dangerous than they have in years. But not only did the Wallabies stumble at the final hurdle, but holding the lead at the 70 minute mark, having done so for an hour, they let their opponent score more points in the final 10 minutes than had been scored by both teams in the entire match to that point (20).
It was the kind of loss that leaves fans with a sick feeling in their stomach, the kind the men in gold almost allowed against Argentina two weeks prior and should have learnt from. Yet nothing changed. Basic skills errors and poor tactical decisions, that pretty much sums it up.
The Wallabies’ attacking kicking game was ill-conceived from the start, particularly on a dry pitch. But what is unforgivable is that having created no opportunities with this tactic in the first stanza, coach Ewen McKenzie persisted into the second half.
Having worn the team down by having them kick away the ball, requiring they defend constantly, McKenzie was entirely outmanoeuvred by his counterpart in the use of the bench. Granted Heyneke Meyer was spoilt for choice, still the impact of the Boks bench was obvious.
In fact, I tip my hat to Mr Meyer across the board, he out-coached McKenzie in every aspect.
The seriousness of Australia’s tactical errors aside, neither the poor kicking strategy nor the misuse use of the bench are nearly as concerning in the bigger picture as the way key players, particularly in the backline, appear to be progressing as the season goes on.
Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley registered their poorest performance since being promoted to the starting side, both rife with errors. Matt Toomua too was notably sub-par and Kurtley Beale was nothing if not ineffective for his 20ish minutes on the field. It appears that with his demotion to the bench Beale’s Super Rugby form has gone out the window, perhaps along with our chances of keeping him in the code.
The only shining light in jerseys 9-15 was Tevita Kuridrani, who is starting to look like a world beater. His effort was absolutely immense and had the result gone the other way I would peg him a certainty for man of the match.
Perhaps the most disappointing thing is that this time around, the forward pack more or less did the job. They performed well in the set-piece and despite allowing a try from a rolling mall, generally they held their own around the park. Scott Fardy and Saia Fainga’a were the standouts, the latter making a strong case to hold his spot until one the first-choice hookers is available.
Nonetheless, the Bledisloe Cup, the Mandela Challenge Plate, and the Rugby Championship Trophy have fallen by the wayside for another year. Like many fans, I’m deeply concerned about the World Cup next year.
If McKenzie is to have any chance of winning back the Australian crowds before then, he will need wins over Argentina and the All Blacks in the coming weeks and a clean-sweep of the Northern Hemisphere.
What’s more he will need to achieve these results in a way that convinces us that he can produce consistency, along with the kind of clinical, ruthless victories that top sides can deliver.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.