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Well, the Super Rugby semi-finals are done and dusted with the two best teams heading to the final next week in Wellington.
Both the Hurricanes and Highlanders really did embarrass their Australian counterparts, and this makes me very concerned for the Rugby World Cup.
The Brumbies can play an expansive game and did so last week against the Stormers. on Saturday night against the Hurricanes I am sure the coach organised pre-game to grind out a win. The problem being that no one has ground out a win against the Hurricanes all year.
With 15 minutes to go Jesse Mogg was still kicking possession away, a la the Stormers last week. Self destruction ensued.
Coached by one of the most attacking players the Wallabies have ever seen, it is clear that Stephen Larkham’s apprenticeship under Jake White has left some psychological damage.
He had one plan, it didn’t work, resulting in a big time loss.
Then came the all mighty, beefy Waratahs.
Three things are very clear from that shocker of a display (yes, the referee could have been better but even if God was officiating the result wouldn’t have been different).
Firstly, Tatafu Polota-Nau should hang up his boots, he is passed his best and it ain’t worth the head risk.
Secondly, too many Waratahs forwards are living on last year’s results. Wycliff Palu started strongly but faded fast after half-time and Jacques Potgieter was a liability; no power, no running, no impact.
Thirdly, Kurtley Beale may be a liability in defence but Bernard Foley desperately needed his support in attack. Matthew Carraro offered no invention, leaving Foley isolated. The Highlanders knew that if they shut down Foley they would shut down the entire back line.
Foley had a shocker but mainly because he had no support.
Similar to Adam-Ashley Cooper, if Australia plan to play either Foley or Cooper at 10 then they will need a ball playing No. 12 (Folau cannot help at 15). Matt Toomua is a clear favourite, or Matt Giteau if you think he can handle the pace.
The biggest worry is the way the Tahs folded in the second half, and to a lesser extent the Brumbies.
Against the Stormers the Brumbies played confidently and kept control. Against the New Zealand semi-final teams, both the Brumbies and Waratahs looked overawed and strangely comfortable with the loss.
When power tackling or the maul failed to work there was no reset.
Michael Cheika seems to think throwing Will Skelton at every breakdown is a winning plan that shows he is a fantastic coach. I guarantee the All Blacks would use him sparingly, sending him out to sit on the wings for a period of time, to cause some real damage.
What happened to the smart rugby the Queensland Reds were playing in 2011? Changing game plans dependent on the team you faced.
Replay the matches and look at the faces of some of the players. You can see how frustrated they were with either the game plan or the lack of commitment from the others in their team.
David Pocock, Dave Dennis, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Michael Hooper, you could see it in their eyes.
Benn Robinson (tried hard but left on far too long) was completely lost 65 minutes in. Many of the rest had no idea what to do in the face of well drilled opposition.
Pre-match, I expected to see the Tahs make another final, but I went to bed feeling gutted again. It was like watching the Wallabies for the past ten years.
I hope I am completely wrong but recent history has me worried.
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.