In my earlier post for the Roar I engaged in a little crystal ball gazing, perhaps in the hope of guiding some eyes towards what are in my mind positive horizons for this Wallabies team.
So where does this next fixture sit in terms of getting the Wallabies one step closer to that nirvana?
While watching the Rugby Zone on television last night, I couldn’t help but think about how differently this tour may have been had the Wallabies had the same tour fixture list of the All Blacks.
That is, if we had played two relative minnows before our bigger games.
However, you play with the cards you are dealt, and the Wallabies now must play Italy before taking on a Welsh team which will either be one of two things.
They will either be buoyed by an improved showing against the All Blacks or desperate and searching for some way to stem the flow of losses (i.e. looking to bounce back after being humped).
In my view, either of these assignments will be tough for the Wallabies. This last game of the tour presents a significant opportunity to leave a distinct taste in the mouth of fans, players and the public leading into the Lions – hopefully this will not be lost on the players and staff.
But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s consider the challenge posed by the Azzurri.
In their two games so far in the autumn internationals, the Azurri have managed a tight win over Tonga and put up a good show before being blown out by the All Blacks in the later stages of the game (three tries in the last 12 minutes).
While much of the press, as usual, has centred on Australian captain Nathan Sharpe discussing the credibility of the Italian threat, in my view the Italians are a real threat.
In the 2011 Six Nations, the Azzurri recorded their first win over France, and while ranked 11 in the world, their aggressive performance against the ABs presents some worrying signs for a Wallabies team which has been guilty in the past of not fronting up week to week.
In Rugby World Cup 2011, the Italians put in a spirited performance to hold the Wallabies to 6-6 going into the sheds. The Wallabies are not the best starters (it seems like they have been perennially behind at halftime this year) and must not let the Italians get out to a lead and then try and spoil to close out a famous win.
From a preparation perspective the Wallabies back line looks set to remain unchanged, while Higginbotham is set to return in the forwards following a suspension (likely return to six at the expense of the utility forward Dennis). It is still not clear whether Pocock will play – but his breakdown presence will be greatly welcomed in what could be quite an aggressive game at the breakdown.
A couple of notes for this game:
1. The set-piece will need to perform again. As Spiro pointed out in his article for the Sydney Morning Herald last week, so often the fortunes of the Australian team ride on the performance of their set-piece. While there is no doubt that the Wallabies scrum improved last week, we must expect at least the same level of scrummaging. Moore’s inclusion in the starting line-up, should ensure some consistency at line-out time.
2. On average 35 mins are played in the Rugby Championship compared to around 25 mins in other matches. When these two statistics collide you see capitulation in the last quarter from Northern Hemisphere teams due to fatigue. The Wallabies need to stretch and stretch the Italians.
It’s pretty obvious the Wallabies must win this game to show they are taking baby-steps towards more consistency and building a winning culture.
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.
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