The wallabies combinations fired in brisbane tonight. They produced an outstanding performance and a test match for the ages.
The scrum worked, the Reds’ backs work rate overwhelmed the Welsh and the ball runners made metres.
The Waratahs scrum performance was so good that the scrums came and went unnoticed by dint of their proficient performance.
The line out worked similarly well. Pocock was able to terrorize the Welsh at the breakdown. It was as though the Welsh were playing against Pocock for the first time.
The forwards performance gave Genia space and time in attack. He ran five times for 97 metres and didn’t he use the space for his teammates brilliantly. His sniping down the shortside was Vintage Genia.
As a result, Barnes was not under the same pressure. Palu was back to something closer to his best. He made nine runs for 50 metres.
Higginbotham also made nine runs. McCabe, as I predicted, was everywhere in attack and defence.
But, it was Ioane who showed that he is the best pound for pound winger in the game when it comes to workrate and metres. 13 runs for 107 metres says it all.
Horne was competent but not involved anything like enough if he is to keep Anthony Faingaa out of the 13 jersey for long. Three runs for 33 metres is just not enough, even if he was off the field getting his head stitched.
The Wallabies converted the statistics, runs and possession in the first 50 minutes into points. This has rarely been the case in past seasons.
The defence was good for most of the evening, particularly when the Welsh were camped on the wallabies try line. Three tries to one says it in the defence comparisons.
It was not all good.
When the possession evened up in the third quarter, and Wales came storming back to within two points, the Wallabies seemed dazed and confused. The Welsh did this by simply repeating the tactics of kicking into the Wallabies half and exerting pressure in the air and with ball in hand. It worked for almost too long.
Eventually, the Wallabies steadied, rediscovered their rhythm after a 10 minute period of conservative play, got hold of the ball again in good field position and the uber brave and clever McCabe hit the hole on the angle to effectively go through the Welsh defensive line untouched to effectively regain control of proceedings and ice the game.
This sort of play is built around the rugby fundamentals that retired players know still works but that current players and coaches don’t believe in or use enough.
Robbie Deans and his new coaching team must be licking their lips in anticipation of improving on this performance and welcoming back the infant terriblés, Beale, O’Connor and Cooper.
However, the Deans’ Wallabies have flattered to deceive many times before. I, for one, won’t be counting the chickens just yet, but performances such as last night’s will build public support and fill the ARU coffers.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Superb first half from Australia, but there was only one combination on show, and this was certainly not a Test match for the ages.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Cheers Moaman, Sadly I will always be a jealous brother! I go out of my way to watch the ABs, get goose-bumps sometimes when I see them in attack it's like a Viking assault on a nunnery, at least the last thing before the final curtain will be the best seeing-to those maidens ever had.
I think perhaps the point is that beggars can't be choosers.
Moaman
Guest
;-) You sound like a convert, sixo_clock! Welcome to the Dark Brotherhood mate!
Moaman
Guest
where?
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Not a dominant performance, in fact some of the harder heads like myself saw plenty for our major opponents to exploit. One swallow does not make a summer stuff. As Nick points out the Welsh did not play smart, did not adapt, asked very few questions and we only did marginally better. Still a win but not worth waxing lyrical about, so, hubris.
Sircoolalot
Guest
Wales were completely out played for the majority of the game don't try and dress it up. Their pack needs to step up it up a notch because they were very laborious and their backs need to stop running into players. Most balanced Welsh fans thought that they were very lucky to be so close, you're obviously not one of those
Blues
Guest
Some of you talk as though you have won the series! lol, the Welsh are going to come back as a different animal next week. Maybe a penguin?? You won't be able to play on their rust, or lack of match fitness. I expect Wales to take the two remaining matches. I find it quite funny that some of you think this was a great performance. Had Wales got those final passes on breaks, it would have been different. Australia played their best and Wales played their worst and yet they came within a whisker of a win.
Jack
Guest
cept Pat McCabbe. Didn't he score try? Surely that counts as a clean break?
Jack
Guest
Hooper's leg drive over the advantage line in the last 15 minutes made all the difference. It was crucial to Pat McCabe's try.m
mikeylives
Guest
Yes..... That is what he is saying. Stupid selection.
Blue Blood
Guest
I stand by my comment. And please note that I purposely said YET. I think he has great potential and I've enjoyed watching him play this year. But it is the first year I have noticed him so he is still inexperienced. I do still think that Hodgson on form this year deserved to be in the Wallabies. I'm a firm believer in selecting any player who earns their spot. Not on reputation. I think form selection alone pushes all players to be their best and ensures the cream rises to the top. Hodgson has that form and a stand out super combination that has not been given a chance. I don't think this opinion is too out there. I'm hardly singing all of the Force player's praise. I cannot believe that Ma'afu and McCalman were even named in the squad for instance. Their form did not warrant selection. Hodgson deserved it. He has deserved more opportunities than the scraps he was given by Deans. So I'll stand by my statement without any embarrassment thanks mate
sph45
Guest
These back row combinations are a welcome headache for the Wallabies. There is also Liam Gill. That is at least four outstanding options in this position - Pocock, Hooper, Gill, and Hodgson. And it was only last year that many were calling for Beau Robinson to be in the squad as well. (As an aside, in the context of this sort of depth in open side flankers, the lack of a specialist backup to Pocock at last year's World Cup is now extra disappointing. A low running Hooper or a snaffler like Gill might have made a difference against Ireland). Anyway, no solution in this position is going to satisfy everyone but it is great to see that all contenders are genuinely putting their hand up. Given other positions are much more problematic in terms of talent and depth, we hardly need to argue too hard about all the excellent options at openside. Two interesting articles related to this dilemma and backed up by good stats are: http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/wallaby-contenders-by-the-numbers-openside/ (Unfortunately, Hodgson is not included in the open side mix.)
wallaby fan
Guest
yes until it rains
wallaby fan
Guest
hmmmm......Yes deans is an idiot for selecting Vuna as his 4th or 5th choice winger......
El Gamba
Roar Guru
Hooper was good but the point is valid. Hodgson hasn't been given a fair chance in gold despite being one of the best back-rowers in the super competition for the last 3 years. It's strange because he does play well with Pocock. One flaw may be that he doesn't seem to adapt to the refs as well as Pocock when treading the fine line of the jackal.
wallaby fan
Guest
in that case i apologise
Deez
Guest
Maybe I was watching a different game... In the forwards: - i thought the set piece was all over the place (at least two scrum penalties and at least three line outs lost from what I can remember). - worked very well in the loose though - tackled well and won good ruck ball most of the game. In the backs: - genia had a great game (as stated by others above) but still puts a number of his passes way too high for his runners, causing them to have to stop and jump up to catch the ball slowing momentum. Loved his sniping running though - do more of it! - Barnes was better than I expected. He still kicks more than I would like, but it does keep the opposition guessing I suppose. - i thought Digby attacked well, but was shown up a couple of times under the high ball (needs to work on this and keeping control of the ball in the tackle). - I thought McCabe had a great game. Tackled well and ran good lines, especially the try. - Horne was ordinary. That try he bombed was a shocker - just lucky they scored a few phases later. - Vuna had a game to forget, although fortunately his defensive misses weren't too costly. He missed a number of tackles and consistently was out of position. His attack was good, but he's still a liability in defense. Still happy we got the win though.
Daz
Guest
Still a win is a win and as a long suffering supporter I'll take it, whatever it looks like. Thanks Craig for letting it flow a bit and be an entertaining game of rugby. I'm sure the purists will be able to nitpick but as an average punter I enjoyed it as the ref wasn't stealing centre stage. Rugby will only advance as the referees advance. They are the gatekeepers of the game.
sheek
Guest
This is the kind of performance we would like to see from the Wallabies every time they take the field. Regrettably, from previous experience over the years, last night's performance will be tossed into the "exception" bin rather than the "expected" bin, until such time as the Wallabies can string together half-a-dozen performances in a row like this one. The question now is if the Wallabies can reproduce this performance in the remaining tests against Wales & continue it into the Rugby Championship (4N). Amazing what a difference a game of rugby makes when both teams play at pace & with a generally positive attitude. Despite its flaws, last night's test is what I would refer to as "compelling" rugby.