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After Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie and captain Michael Hooper had finished with their post-match media conference, McKenzie stunned everyone with his resignation, effective immediately.
The resignation certainly came from left field, we are yet to see what the ramifications will be among the Wallabies.
None of the Wallabies were told of McKenzie’s decision before they took on the All Blacks at Suncorp last night.
ARU boss Bill Pulver, and the Board, were told by McKenzie at 10am yesterday.
MORE:
» Ewen McKenzie resigns as Wallabies coach
» Who can coach the Wallabies?
» Pulver slams media after McKenzie exit
After McKenzie and Hooper left the media conference, Pulver took over, with unstinted praise for the outgoing coach, adding that a new coach will be appointed as soon as possible with the Wallabies due to leave on their end of year tour next Friday.
The only option can be Michael Cheika. the successful Waratahs coach, having taken the franchise to their first Super Rugby title in 19 years.
It must not be South African Jake White. or we’ll see the Wallabies kicking the soulcase out of the ball, instead of the McKenzie and Cheika way of running the ball, and encouraging the crowds.
The resignation, on top of the Wallabies losing to the All Blacks 29-28 with a converted try after the hooter, has left a really sour taste.
It was best summed up by ARU president David Crombie presenting Adam Ashley-Cooper with his 100th Wallaby cap post match, adding – “Wonderful century, bugger of a result”.
It certainly was a bugger of a result, the Wallabies were the first to score, and were only momentarily behind 12-10 at the 35 minute mark, but led by 10 with 10 minutes to go.
The Wallabies didn’t deserve to play second fiddle.
After losing to the Boks and Pumas in their last two internationals after leading deep into the second half, and a week of intense and devastating turmoil off the field, the men in gold gave it everything, a welcome return to what rugby fans expect of the jersey – the pride and passion returned, so too the intensity.
If replacement halfback Nic White ever kicks again, rugby fans will throw up.
With 100 seconds to the final hooter, and the Wallabies leading 28-22 in possession, White kicked into touch.
All the Wallabies had to do was go phase after phase, and the game was theirs, against all odds.
The White kick went into touch, All Black lineout feed, and the inevitable happened,
It reminded me of Mat Rogers finding touch in extra time of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. England feed, and the inevitable happened, Jonny Wilkinson landed the match-winning drop goal.
In short, both examples were dumb rugby.
But that’s that, and apart from White, the vast majority of Wallabies last night played out of their skins, none more so than outside centre Tevita Kuridrani, who ran strongly and displayed tough defence, both right out of the top draw.
Michael Hooper, James Slipper, Scott Fardy, and Rob Simmons were powerful up front, as was Matt Hodgson when he came off the bench.
Inside centre Christian Lealiifano enjoyed his return to the lineup, while Israel Folau went in search of the ball, and was very busy.
Ashley-Cooper made a couple of strong runs, but didn’t pass, while the biggest backline news was Will Genia’s powerful performance for Brisbame City against the Vikings in the Test curain-raiser.
It was the Genia of old, and he’ll be on the plane for the northern hemisphere tour, and back in the Wallaby jumper which he deserves to wear.
But nothing else can be said about last night’s game, as the sudden resignation of Ewen McKenzie bites..
The next move is up to the Board, and for once they can’t potter, a new Wallaby coach must be appointed well inside a week.
David Crombie could well have said it’s been a bugger of a week, and he’d be right.