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The message is loud and clear: never leave James O’Connor out of the Wallabies’ starting lineup ever again. From the moment O’Connor left the bench in the 47th minute, he ignited the men-in-gold.
He was paying an extra penalty after his one-match suspension for sleeping in following a big night out, missing the announcement of the Cup squad and photo shoot.
Inexcusable.
Coach Robbie Deans wanted to retain the side that beat the All Blacks to regain the Tri-Nations, ending a decade long drought – so he benched O’Connor.
Noble to those who secured the win, but a mistake.
And that’s what the Wallabies did yesterday in the first half against Italy with mistake after mistake. But with the score locked a 6-all, O’Connor strutted his stuff as only he can.
In the space of 16 minutes the Wallabies scored four superb tries by Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, O’Connor, and Digby Ioane.
O’Connor converted three of them and the Wallabies romped home 32-6.
That was by far the best performance of the Rugby World Cup “Big Five” – All Blacks, Wallabies, Boks, France, and England.
But it begs the question if the Wallabies can pile on 26 points in just 16 minutes, what happened to the other 64?
The answer to that question will be the difference between winning and losing the Holy Grail.
One thing for certain, the Wallabies boast the best backline in the tournament. Utilise them with good clean ball, and often.
The other four nations have early tournament kinks in their armour.
The All Blacks beat Tonga 41-10, but were far from convincing. In four previous meetings, the men-in-black averaged 11 tries a game against the Islanders.
This was hard work, and if it hadn’t been for Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui, Israel Dagg, and Jerome Kaino, the win would have been even harder.
Forget the scoreline, that flattered the All Blacks. Next up is Japan on Friday, but it’s the following crunch game against France on September 24 at Eden Park where All Black coach Graham Henry will have a selection headache with three centres and two spots.
SBW had a blinder against Tonga, so did Ma’a Nonu, leaving the normally automatic first choice selection Conrad Smith vulnerable. He’s had a quiet season so far by his lofty standards – a problem Henry has to solve.
The defending champion Boks were “beaten”, although the scoreline reads 17-16 in their favour against Wales.
In the 20th minute, with the Boks leading 10-3, Welsh full-back James Hook’s penalty shot sailed high above the right-hand upright, and inside, but flagged away by the touchies.
I’ve replayed it 20 times, and convinced the kick was a goal. But for Wales it was a kick in the guts.
That was magnified in the 69th minute when fly-half Rhys Priestland made a woeful attempt at a field goal from right in front, so close he could have thrown it over. He dragged it well left. The youngster will have nightmares about that for many a moon.
Playing at breakneck speed Wales deserved to win right across the park. It wasn’t to be and the Boks survived, given a mighty wake-up call.
France began at breakneck speed as well, putting on 14 points in the first 12 minutes against Japan.
But early in the second half it was 25-21, thanks to Japan playing some sensational rugby, and France taking the pedal off the metal.
In the end France won 47-21, but it was Japan being saluted, especially by French skipper Thierry Dusautoir.
“They played beautiful rugby, dynamic rugby. The spectators loved it, they gave us a hard time.
“We can only congratulate them”.
Canada will be next up for France at Napier on Sunday.
England was another of the “Big Five” to dodge a bullet in their 13-9 win over Argentina.
The 2003 World Cup champions, wearing their controversial all-black strip, scored the only try late in a boring penalty shootout game.
It was almost an all-black day for England when champion goal-kicker Jonny Wilkinson landed just two from eight. It didn’t matter, Puma counterpart Martin Rodriguez replied with two from seven.
Next for England will be Georgia at Carisbrook on Sunday, where they can iron out the kinks.
There’s a long way to go, but as it sits the Wallabies are sitting pretty with fewer kinks than their main opposition.