Too much about Tuesday night was similar to Australia’s last match against Scotland. At least in Murrayfield in 2009, the Wallabies managed to get over the try line.
But what was the biggest disappointment about last night? Not the result, but what the game became: a non-event. It should be embarrassing for the second placed Wallabies to lose against the twelfth place Scots, but it is more annoying that nothing could be learnt from it.
Edinburgh moved to the NSW north coast on Tuesday night and brought with it some horrible highland weather. No doubt the conditions suited the Scottish side, but the current Tri-nations champions should be able to win in any conditions.
Australia can’t blame the conditions for the result but they can blame it for something infinitely more infuriating: Deans and his coaching staff are one match down and are none the wiser about their Test team. This would have been the case even if the score line was reversed.
Of course any Wallabies game should be one which they win, but this was also designed to see whether debutants or ageing stars should be in the squad. The loss to Samoa last year was a tough pill to swallow but it showed the Giteau, along with a couple of others, weren’t up to scratch.
Unfortunately, unlike the Samoa loss, this match did not rule out any player and aside from Dan Palmer, it didn’t give any player a chance to claim a Test spot.
The cyclonic conditions in Newcastle meant that no players, particularly in the backs had a chance to shine. This meant that the game, which was a trial for several fringe players, effectively became pointless for Deans before the whistle was blown.
Players like Harris, Monahan and Tomane did not see enough of the ball to warrant inclusion or exclusion. This means that fringe players will need to be picked again during the Wales tests to see if the are up to international standard.
For Deans, this is not a case of back to the drawing board because this game meant he could never leave the drawing board in the first place.
Bakkies
Guest
The pitch conditions are horrendous apparently Wales drilled NZ at the breakdown in the second half.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Surely one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament. Stunning result.
Robbie Young
Guest
Well deserved win as well , all blacks tactics not good ! Reminded me of France v nz in 2007 world cup semi ! Wales defence awesome and were not physically dominated like they usually are against southern hemisphere nations at this level, sea change?
Robbie Young
Guest
Switzerland? ;-)
bluerose
Guest
it was a great game.
Bakkies
Guest
Wales beat NZ great tournament so far.
Bakkies
Guest
is that sarcasm ?
Johnno
Guest
Europe is getting better and better bakkies . With more and more money in and the big europe population europe wll just get stronger. As will nations like Russia, Ukraine, spian and portugal, and germany and Belguim, and switzerland.
Bakkies
Guest
get used to it. Ireland are really starting to benefit now from the boom in Rugby in Ireland. It started about 6 years ago when the numbers went up in terms of players and support. Now these kids are coming through the system (Ulster are really starting to produce batches of juniors). Apart from last year's under 20s RWC they are solid at that level. Strong GAA areas like Kerry will produce more players (Hanrahan the flyhalf is from Kerry) due to the take up of the game and all round sporting skills. Argentina set up their elite performance program a few years ago and the quality is coming through now which is good timing as they have had to rebuild from the 2007 line up which took them to 3rd place in the RWC. Most of those players were at the end of their careers. Italy have started to set up a proper academy progam so hopefully we will seem them get better down the line.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Wow. So Ireland have beaten SA and Argentina have beaten Australia. Jeepers.
Bakkies
Guest
The Under 20s have just lost to Argentina in the mud. A systemic problem that starts at the bottom (just like Italy and their back play).
Bakkies
Guest
Argentina was Macqueen's first games as coach. He beat the All Blacks 3-0 in a series sweep which doesn't seem to be mentioned much these days.
nick
Guest
Its incredible that you, KPM, have such a anemic view of a squad that has in it some players who last year were being talked of as being far better than the ABs in their positions. Its absolute revisionist history to suggest otherwise. When the Wallabies came to eden park for the try nations match there was huge debate as to whether Cooper was the best 10 in the world, Pocock was going to usurp McCaw, Beale and O'Conner were going to run thru the back line and Genia was so much better it was a given he'd rule the contest. How can you suggest the wallabies have no talent to match the AB's? Its ridiculous and downright pathetic to suggest that. Genia Pocock Ioane AAC Beale JOC Robinson Moore Sharp Elsom Palu both Fainga’as Tatafu Polota-Nau are all players that can foot it with the ABs and other international sides. How well do you reckon Jake White, Henry or Woodward would've gone with that side?
Nick
Guest
Hahaha that's hilarious KPM. I have zero ill will towards Deans. I was always a believer in Henry keeping his job and I'm a crusaders fan. Henry out coached him plenty. His tactics as highlighted by rod kafer on your rugby club show last year with flat kick offs that we hard pushed to the side for read to intercept along with his attacking play were masterstrokes that helped the abs no end. He used his bench far better than deans throughout his tenure at that again was highlighted by pundits at the time as being a major factor in his victories.
AndyS
Guest
I would have said the most obvious lesson was that you can't generate any effective forward play if you constantly take the ball flat-footed. That, and you should consider mitts if you can't catch or throw a wet ball. Also, not so much a lesson as something to consider - perhaps picking all the best available players doesn't necessarily translate into the best team, particularly if they have had no time to train together. Picking established combinations and patterns might have been brighter for a short turnaround game.
the other Steve - and AB fan
Guest
We re-learnt that the current Wallabies don't handle bad wather very well (Scotland 09, Ireland 2011, Munster).
Kane
Roar Guru
'm unsure but did Deans organise training camps like the All Blacks had?
Jerry
Guest
You don't think a 44 point turnaround in the space of a week in 2008 counts as 'outcoaching'? Your refusal to acknowledge Henry's obvious coaching and selection ability makes you appear ludicrous.
mania
Guest
kpm - deans isnt considered a traitor by kiwi's. well there might be a couple of kiwi's who do but comsensus is that he's doing what he had to. and quit comparing deans to henry. henry is just as good as deans if not better.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Henry just had to put any of the top 45 players in New Zealand on the field to win such was the superiority of his cattle: he never outcoached Deans for a single second. He simply had nuclear weapons to Deans' spears and swords. Your refusal to take into account the effects of the scheduling just shows you are a New Zealander out to bash Australia and the coach who betrayed New Zealand by taking the reins of the enemy.