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A flawless goal-kicking display by fly-half Bernard Foley set up the Wallabies 33-28 win over Wales at Millennium Stadium overnight.
The man of the match slotted three conversion from three, three penalties from three, and a timely drop goal, but let’s stop right there.
Let’s have no more talk about the Rugby World Cup and the “kiss of death” group of the Wallabies, England, and Wales until next year, and let’s have no more talk about the 10-match winning streak over the Welsh.
Instead, let’s adopt Wallaby coach Michael Cheika’s philosophy of what he wants, a winning streak of one – the next one.
And that’s France next weekend.
By then Cheika will be in his third week as head coach, and another seven days to work on the scrum, which wasn’t too bad against Wales, nor was the lineout, but the defensive patterns need a lot of work, and for heaven’s sake, no more “no look” passes.
In the aftermath to last night, only props James Slipper and Sekope Kepu are assured of selection for Stade de France, along with skipper-openside flanker Michael Hooper, and No 8 Ben McCalman.
In the backs, Foley will be on the selection sheet, so too inside-centre Christian Lealiifano, outside-centre Tevita Kuridrani, winger Adam Ashley-Cooper providing he looks for support and doesn’t constantly die with the ball, and fullback Israel Folau who hadn’t scored a try for five Tests, but grabbed a double against Wales.
Let’s have a lot more of that.
Under pressure up-front will be hooker Saia Fainga’a from James Hanson, locks Rob Simmons and Sam Carter from Will Skelton and James Horwill, and blindside flanker Sean McMahon from Matt Hodgson.
Half Nick Phipps must be replaced by Will Genia, and winger Joe Tomane by Rob Horne with Henry Speight hovering.
Cheika can feel well pleased with such depth, but there’s a lot of tinkering that has to be done.
Mindset is one.
Whatever possessed Foley to kick away possession when there were just 30 seconds left on the clock, gifting Wales a sniff of victory, no matter how small?
Dumb rugby, especially in the light of tossing away wins against the Boks, Pumas, and All Blacks in their last three internationals in the final quarter.
Late in the second half last night, the Wallabies had patiently gone through 20 phases before Foley landed his telling drop goal to regain the lead 30-28.
Why didn’t the Wallabies adopt the same procedure at the death to totally lock Wales out of the picture?
That’s just basic common sense.
And that’s what will needed against England, which will be by far the biggest hurdle on this spring campaign.
Last night the All Blacks beat the men-in-white 24-21 at Twickenham in a scoreline that made the clash look closer than it really was.
England converted a penalty try in the shadow of full-time, but they were very competitive and are ready for the Wallabies.
But by then, November 29, the Wallabies will be a whole lot better prepared for the litmus test of the tour.