“That’s one small step for a man and one giant leap for mankind”. I am not sure if the late Neil Armstrong ever thought that, 43 years later, those words would be used to describe the present state of Australian rugby.
The victory over the Springboks in Perth on Saturday night was by no means a classic.
However it was potentially a launching pad for Australian rugby.
While some were over the moon with the victory, there was much to dislike about Australia’s performance.
While the game itself may reinforce Australia’s recent domination of South Africa, it also illustrated that the Wallabies are essentially about a 50 to 55 minute team and go missing for about 20 to 25 minutes per game.
It is usually this window that the All Blacks exploit and seal their victories. On Saturday night, that 20-odd minute window was the latter half of the first half.
With Tendai Mtawarira in the ‘sin bin’ for the last eight odd minutes or so of the first half, Australia failed to take serious advantage of the extra man.
Although Berrick Barnes added six points off his boot in that period Australia never really threatened with ball in hand.
South Africa upped the tempo and Australia looked threatened at times. This is an area where Australia must become more ruthless and mentally attuned to if we are to improve.
It was a gift period to which we did not fully exploit. Think what the All Blacks would have done with such a gift?
Australia looked lost in attack for much of that first half.
With the ever present chip-kick, I was seriously considering switching over to the Freemantle-Geelong clash as at least their kicks add value to the overall game.
I persisted and it appears so did Robbie Deans. I think his half time description of ‘silly dribbly kicks’ was an apt description.
It did leave me pondering what the All Blacks may have done to Australia given the same amount of unnecessary turn over ball?
Australia took too many poor options in attack, and against a higher quality opposition the game could have been taken away from us.
The positive was the victory itself, coupled with some magnificent defence. This was best illustrated by Adam Ashley-Coopers dual tackle on Mvovo and De Villiers in the second half.
Although it did appear high, it did show Ashley-Cooper’s commitment in stopping the raid and inspired his team on.
Prior to the game Wallaby legend Tim Horan spoke about how in 1992 at Newlands, Willie Offahenague’s hit on Uli Schmidt changed the nature of the game.
Horan believed Australia would be looking towards a similar inspirational moment and for me that tackle was it. It set a tone that Australia was willing to fight, to go the extra mile to get the job done.
In the second half the Australians took the ball to the line, cleaned out with commitment and reaped the reward.
Liam Gill and Scott Higginbotham were both effective as substitutes after impressive efforts by Sitaleki Timani and Radeke Samo.
Dennis, toiled in tight and did some very good work in the line-out taking six off Australia’s throw.
Nathan Sharpe was inspirational and was supported in patches by Polotau-Nau, Alexander and Slipper.
Benn Robinson to me is still a mystery. I am not sure what value he added to the performance and I am still waiting for Greg Holmes to be called up.
There have been many who thought Dom Shipperly was not up to Test match rugby.
I hope his solid debut on Saturday night dispelled that unwarranted criticism. While Digby Ioane is by far our most potent running back it was Shipperly who came off his wing looking for work while holding up his end of the bargain on the wing.
Australia must find a way to get Ioane more involved in the game. Quade Cooper was competent however his great mate Kurtley Beale again failed to fire.
I would like to see Luke Morahan be given an chance at fullback as Beale was awful in his efforts to take the high ball and offered little to nothing in attack. Morahan should be given more opportunity given his Super Rugby form over the past two seasons.
With Will Genia out for six months the mantle will fall heavy on the shoulders of Nick Phipps.
I think he will step up however with Nic White also unavailable perhaps a Josh Holmes or Brendan McKibbon may find themselves in Wallaby gold in the not too distant future.
A fantastic opportunity for young half backs in this country to have a crack.
While happy for the win that ensured the Wallabies remain ‘The Buzz Aldrins’ of world rugby for now, I think we have a long way to go before we can seriously threaten New Zealand.
However a small step was taken in the right direction in Perth and who knows where it will take Australian rugby?
To be honest I don't now what Meyer's intentions are with Goosen and Lambie, he is getting them ready, but is it for the November tests or for the home leg? I think he is aiming to get the injured players like Coenie, JP Pietersen, Bismarck etc back and will play them all in the November tests. But your guess is as good as mine.
The Battered Slav
Guest
Not a bad side Biltong. Very entertaining halves axis, with Pretorius and Goosen having Lambie on the outside. I'd be very concerned facing that XV anywhere, let alone in tyhe Republic. Also, if Jordaan is not performing, you could always shift Coenie into the centres.....man that nuggest can run!! Also, loved what I saw from Serfontein in the u20's. that guy has a big big future. Although, with the current crop and having Meyer at the helm, would you back them to do the business against a fairly fragile Wallabies side in RSA in a few weeks? Toss of a coin for me at the moment....
jameswm
Guest
Worth a shot BS. We do need an 8 who can jump though, which rules Palu out a bit. Higgers can do it.
jameswm
Guest
Nah still true. He's the best scrummaging loose head prop we have. He used to be a menace round the field too, I can only assume he isn't fit yet.
Sadly I doubt Meyer has the guts to go with Goosen and Lambie. Considering the backline that played on the weekend, I suspect over time it will look very different. I'd would love to see something like this. 9. Sarel Pretorius 10. Goosen 11. Francois hougaard 12. Lambie 13. Paul Jordaan 14. JP Pietersen 15. Frans Steyn Bench. Willie le Roux Jan Serfontein Jaco Taute. They can cover any position if an injury occurs. Add to that. 1. Beast Mtawarira 2. Bismarck du Plessis 3. Coenie Oosthuizen 4. Etzebeth 5. Kruger 6. Heinrich brussow 7. Marcell Coetzee 8. Schalk Burger. Bench. Jannie du Plessis Kitshoff Bekker Deon Fourie Then give them freedom to play with expression.
sph45
Guest
I'm glad Sharpe is in the team, he is in good form, he works hard, and should do a good job of captain. However, he was ill disciplined on Saturday night and gave away cheap penalties which became cheap points. Would be best if he could remove this unnecessary silliness - almost petulance - from his game.
The Battered Slav
Guest
Agreed UA, from what I saw when Goosen and Lambie were both on, the Bokke had much more attacking thrust and looked more threatening. It's almost as if the creativity is completely coached out of these guys, and it's only the young upstarts like Goosen and Lambie who show any ingenuity....until such time as it is coached out of them as well I guess.
Argyle
Roar Guru
I did say it was a small step - however if harnessed correctly it could lead onto much better things. That is the giant leap - the opportunity the win itself brings. I agree it was an average performance by both sides. If I were a South African I would like to see Johan Goosen get a start with Pat Lambie at 15. Furthermore Vermulen was not that great. Not sure What other 8's you have fit at the moment.
The Battered Slav
Guest
I disagree Biltong. The first half from Australia was dire, but the second half performance showed some marked improvementsa on the first half and the previous weeks. Don't get me wrong, they are not all of a sudden world beaters, and you're right, in perspective it is one of the poorer bok teams we have faced, but a 14 point turnaround after the shite we served up in the first half is definitely something to take out of the win. Also, we can take out of that win that Timani is coming long nicely, Hooper is well rounded and will challenge Pocock soon, and that the Wallabies scrum is looking ever more solid after regressing a few years recently. So for me, plenty to take out of the game. I feel for you and your boys though. Just as you thought you were over the P Divvy era, here comes the equally incompetent Meyer, stuck in the dark ages. If only the Boks were well coached, we'd be in some serious trouble.....
I'm sure mate. Enjoy it.
Halleys Comet
Guest
BB couldn't agree more, still nice to get a wallawin!
I am not conviniced Australia has made any forward steps here to be honest, a week ago there was doom and gloom and now with a win over one of the worst performing SA teams whilst Australia themsleves played poorly, it was more a case of momentum shift when Beast was sent of the field. Poor defence let a try in that was not really created from much. Once again poor decision making and execution gave Australia a win whereby they kicked aimlessly in a kicking contest they we failing miserably. Sorry to be the barer of bad news, but there isn't much you can take out of that win. Australia's tactics were poor and they won not because they were better, but rather less poor than the Springboks
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Uncle, as you well know with the Wallabies anything can happen so not sure what to expect against the Argies. We have to really muscle up this weekend.
WQ
Guest
Hooper looks like the real deal to me and I don't say this often but I would have preferred he had been born in Aotearoa. He is not only hard on the ball, but can carry the ball and has an excellent shoulder in defence, He is certainly not a one trick pony. I live in QLD so have a soft spot for Samo, thought he was outstanding against the Boks, but do agree he has a tendancy to go missing every now and then. I quite like Timani and I think once he gets himself Test fit will be an excellent replacement for Vickerman. Needs work in a few areas, but he is big, tough and has a bit of mongrel, just whats needed in the powerhouse of the scrum!
Argyle
Roar Guru
OJ, The few times I've seen the All Blacks bothered is when they are up against a back row that can run. I will go as far back as 2009 in Dunedin when a young french bloke by the name of Louis Picomoles came on as a reserve 8 and just ran at the All Blacks. It had a big impact on the game which the French ended up winning. Although loosing I thin 14-9 the next week in Wellington it was hardly a convincing All Black win. The French back row again in the 2011 World Cup Final were superb with ball in hand in a game they came very close to winning. In 2011 in Brisbane a running Radeke Samo reaped the reward for actually running good lines at the All Blacks defence. I was not shocked to see Lobbe also had a good running game against the All Blacks. Its clear when up against a good pilferer like Pocock the All Blacks team him out of the game. However As the evidence suggests when up against a good running back row the All Blacks can be rattled. I guess the morale of the story is get a back row running game going.
Sage
Guest
and Mr Gonsky, Jerry
Sage
Guest
I agree MOC
mania
Guest
tru WQ- i however wasnt going that fundamental. of course its always about the forwards in rugby starting with the front row but i thought they were that much better served with qc as pivot as opposed to bb. do agree tho that Hooper/Timani/Samo and even higgers provided more. hooper i'm impressed with his attitude that no matter whats happening around him he still plays his game. imo the prefect team player. samo i'm not a fan of usually, as he's old and tends to dispear for large chunks. however he was all business in this game and had a high workload with good accuracy timani - i'll reserve judgement. saw a couple times he was caught out of position and put the wb's under pressure. he did do some good things tho but needs to work on his accuracy
WQ
Guest
I don't disagree with you mania and in fact support your comments about Cooper being on the line and forcing the Boks to have to make varying decisions about how they defended against him. I also support your point about the lack of questions that Barnes asked in the same position because he was so deep. I suppose I was more coming from the direction that unless his Forwards created the positive momentum and genuine meters over the gain line, all of that would have meant nothing as he would have constantly been getting back foot ball.
mania
Guest
wq - qc was still more of a threat than barnes was. even without moving quade presented better options where he stood than barnes. qc was on the line enticing the boks defenders to chase him down. with barnes all they had to do was send one defender up and the rest could hang back and wait for the kick. in fact they were all hanging back but barnes still tried to grubber it in behind them. someone needs to tell barnes that putting the ball behind the line only works when the defence is rushing you. yeah qc was no where near as influential as others that played that day but its refreshing seeing the aus 1st5 sit on the line the way he did, its a challenge to the defenders to 'come get me'. when they did attack him he deftly offloaded the ball changing the point of attack. this gives much more options on attack...tho wb's didnt make the most of it there is still hope for the future. dont get me wrong i am so NOT a qc fan but i thought he brought something positive by where he stood.