The whole object of the northern hemisphere tour by the Wallabies is to get into a winning trot.
This ensures the next Tests, that are played in 2013 first up against the British and Irish Lions, have the side a winning and irresistible momentum.
The gutsy 22 – 19 victory over a well-coached and potentially very good Italian side revives the momentum that came with the hard-fought victory over England.
Now the Wallabies have to knock off Wales, a side that has suffered six Tests losses in a row and went down to the All Blacks on Sunday 33 – 10 their second worst loss at home in over 100 years of Tests.
It was clear from the passionate rendition of the Italian national anthem that Italy and their fans at the Stadio Artemio Franchi at Florence fancied their chances against the Wallabies.
This confidence was based on a splendid (if losing) display against the All Blacks, which the New Zealanders praised as their toughest match of the season. There was also a confidence that the Italian scrum would monster the Wallabies in a similar fashion to the way the French scrum (helped in a way, in my opinion, by some generous refereeing by Welshman Nigel Owens) got on top of Wallabies in the opening match of the tour.
The coaching of Jacques Brunel, the new coach of the Azzurri, has to be praised, too. He has, in a short time, modernised the Italian game by introducing a wider and more expansive ball-in-hand approach to the side’s attacking play.
In the past, Italy has relied virtually entirely on its powerful scrum to try and force wins. The side still has its strong scrum, although it is not as powerful as some northern hemisphere referees believe.
Coach Brunel has selected a terrific back row, a trio that can match that of France and is ahead of any other back row in European rugby. And an excellent halfback combination, with Edoardo Gori being absolutely outstanding.
For the Wallabies to defeat this excellent Italian side, there had to be a strong scrumming effort. And just as importantly, the South African referee Lourens van der Merwe had to judge what happened in front of him, as Romain Poite did in the England – Australia Test. By and large van der Merwe did this. His calling of SET! was far too slow. The first scrum took three minutes to resolve with a short arm penalty given against the Wallabies. Then the Azzurri pack was held when it tried to milk a penalty by holding the ball in the back.
I liked the attitude of the Wallabies forwards as several scrums were packed down by the inexperienced (three Tests only) referee.
After one of the abortive scrums I heard through the ground microphone as laconic Australian voice call out: ‘F…..g great hit, boys.’ And after the final scrum in this first series: ‘Good scrum!’
There was one scrum penalty given against the Wallabies. But to their credit and to the credit of the referee, he did not fall for the Italian pack’s penchant for milking penalties. In my opinion, the scrumming of Martin Castrogiovanni is totally over-rated. As he did against the All Blacks (and was not penalised by a tolerant Alain Rolland), Castrogiovanni came up on most scrums – got away with this illegality!
Brett Sheehan became the second oldest Wallaby to start in a Test, behind Tiann Strauss. He played very strong until he injured himself and was replaced by Nick Phipps.
I chatted to a well-informed official on Friday and we both agreed that one of the positive aspects of the year of injuries for the Wallabies is that about a dozen or so new Wallabies have shown that they are up to Test standard. The advantage of this is that an extremely strong and competitive squad will be put together for the series against the British and Irish Lions.
Perhaps the outstanding success story of the new players is Nick Cummins, who scored the Wallabies’ only try in the Test. Cummins has shown terrific dash and energy in the Wallaby jersey, and also some storming defence. The Italians, with their ball-in-hand game did not subject him or Drew Mitchell the other (and largely innocuous) winger to the perils of the high ball.
But Cummins is definitely now ahead of Mitchell and possibly Ioane as a leading winger.
It was noticeable to me, too, that the Wallabies tried several set play attacking moves. The moves did not come off. Attack was difficult on a soccer field that was 6m too narrow. But the moves did force the Italian backs to stop their drifting and look to making tackles in the middle of the field. This in turn gave the Wallabies a bit of room on the outside when they tried to run back kicks.
Here Berrick Barnes was alternately good under the high ball, with his running and passing and then not so good when he inexplicably kicked away the ball with a running attack looking to be a better approach.
A backline of Kurtley Beale, Ben Tapuai and Adam Ashley-Cooper (so good under the high ball and on the tackle) looked like a promising trio to take into the Lions series. I think that this leaves James O’Connor as the back-up number 10 and full-time winger with a licence to roam over the field.
With Beale, Barnes and O’Connor, the Wallabies can have three play makers on the field. This offer opportunities for ball runners, if they take them.
Here, it has to be said, Sitaleki Timani had a terrible game. He looked to be tired, exhausted and lacked the energy to hold on to passes, or even get to passes directed towards him.
Credit has to be given, once again, to Michael Hooper who is now an essential part of the Wallaby pack, in my view. He provides most of the pack’s running and defence. If David Pocock comes back into the side, he should be played as a blindside flanker. This means that Pocock, like Richie McCaw, has to be an occasional lineout jumper. I am sure he is athletic enough to do this job.
I would make a further point about Robbie Deans as the Wallaby coach which is rarely if ever mentioned. And this is his courtesy to his critics. When he was asked about David Campese’s strong criticism that he was ruining Australian rugby, Deans replied that the great winger was welcome to come into the camp, as he has done before in handing out jerseys before a Test, to talk to the players.
He also extended the hand of friendship to Quade Cooper, despite his toxic (and patently wrong) comments and tweeting about his coaching and the Wallaby team environment.
Style has been described by Ernest Hemingway as ‘grace under pressure.’ Deans has shown that to his critics. There has been none of the nastiness of other Wallaby coaches like John Connolly and Eddie Jones (particularly) who have berated officials and journalists when things haven’t gone well with their team.
Deans, too, has steered the Wallabies with a calm skill through a difficult year with too many injuries by Australian players. There is just one game against a besieged Welsh side with a Wallaby victory allowing the team to end their season and go into the Lions series with a wet sail.
Malo
Guest
Spiro is the provocateur for comments or has no idea?But we have shown a grit and some heart on tour, though lacking in panache.
Malo
Guest
True wet sail Spiro spinning more than our PM. I love how our front row is always so called "hard done" by every ref we play. I believe our forwards will dominate this game against Wales though. Deans is top bloke but.....
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Turn it in. Why do 'fans' rely on the media? Can't you judge players on their own merits? People who know rugby know that Joe Marler has never been regarded as a top scrummager in England. His scrummaging has improved but he's no Corbisiero who has proven himself time and time again. That said, he played well against SA in the summer and England dominated on their own ball. Sometimes you have bad days at the office. England weren't exactly getting smashed, they were getting beaten to the hit or engaging early. Any side who goes down to their 3rd choice loosehead and swaps their starting hooker (who is injured) with a rookie centre who is 5'9 and 16 stone and then plays two 5s behind them is not going to dominate scrums, which is probably why no English Roarers said they would before the game. Stop trying to lecture on things that you're not familiar with. You're clearly not a forward so stick to moaning about NZ being cheats. 5 props? You're just talking piffle here.
Ra
Guest
hi soapy, lats has explained it - the scots got humbled by Tonga, the Welsh went under to everyone and are still singing, the Aussies beat a tough Pommie side and kept one tough Italian side out who had given the All Blacks their toughest game of the year just a week earlier. Phil Kearns said that French side would have beaten the All Blacksby the mood they were in against the Aussies - so celebrate your hard earned victories, dont whinge about your wins
Billy Bob
Guest
Yes Wales had a tough game and scored twice. We had a softer game and scored once. Spiro, this game will decide whether the sail is 'wet' or just dragging behind the boat. I hope it's the former, but I fear for this game. You wrote this article one week too early. I just hope no wallabies read it. Because they just might believe it - and you know what happens then.
Billy Bob
Guest
AndyCox, an insightful thought. It is part of Kiwi demeanor to 'keep a lid on things', and not 'lose it' I have wondered If Deans had asserted himself last year when Quade was carrying on like a pork chop with McCaw. I get the feeling that he may not have been assertive. (I have no way of 'knowing') But yes, perhaps if Robbie had a good public stoush with a Campo or a Nucifora, we and his team might actually get to see his character. Argument reveals character. As does a game of rugby.
Colin N
Guest
Fair enough. I don't necessarily agree as I think Australia went out (who wouldn't?) to slow down England ball by any means necessary. I just think it's the nature of the international game, as every little detail is competed more fiercely. For example, the breakdown battle in the Pro12 up north is compted less fiercely than the Heineken Cup where the intensity is ramped up several notches. It's the same with Super Rugby and the international game. Still, if you have the accuracy and intensity of someone like Leinster or the All Blacks you can still get quick ball.
Colin N
Guest
"The british press was trumpeting how weak the aussie scrum was and how england would demolish it." That's because some of the British press are also idiots and don't have a clue on southern hemisphere rugby. It's the same people who think losing two excellent scrummagers in Corbisiero and Hartley wouldn't have an impact, despite their replacements being young and very inexperienced. Peter, regarding depth, England could have played Sheridan, Payne, Wood, (who's just been called up as injury cover) Stankovich etc against Australia and the scrum would have done better, but Lancaster doesn't think they're the future. I'm sure most international teams would love to be able to blood 21 and 22 -year-olds and not get smashed up front. There's a lack of depth at hooker (although there are some decent young players coming through) but not at prop.
WEST
Roar Guru
All Blacks had a tough game against the Italians, Only in the last 20min the tide turned. Wales had a poor start. However they crossed the Black line twice and in the 2nd half they pulled it together. They may have suffered another defeat but they can come out with confidence. Knowing that they can score against the number 1 side in the world but also knowing Australia struggle to cross the line full stop. Expect to see a different side against Australia, They have had far to many wrongs to not get one right.
Colin N
Guest
Corbisiero was available for Australia, but had only played one game this season for London Irish! He needed game time and he wasn't even match fit against South Africa.
Nick
Guest
Your articles are no longer worth reading Spiro
Machiavelli
Guest
And of course you lot would do better. I wonder how many of the coaches here actually walked through the season as if Deans. Lose your top 3-7 players. Parents on your back screaming for better combinations. Weekly confrontations about s%^^&T selections blah blah. School team losing its reputation blah blah. Every move you make to contain the situation and just win brings further criticism from some vested party - on your back all the time with time with the constaint refrain to change the coach. The previous guy did a better job with less talent and so on! It took the recent NZ coaching group (their best) 8 years to win last years RWC. After their first 4 yrs they didn't even consider having a drop kick as contingency. Fancy that! And after a further 5 years (of regular practice I assume) still couldn't pull it off to maintain their string of wins in the match agains the Wbs. After a decade of neglect or a lack of sustained focus and improvement you are witnessing a change in the WBs forward play, it'll probaly take another yr or 2 before it becomes automatic. Of course the hard markers expect this to happen in 5 mins - just snap your findgers and its so! The QC apologists say he needs more time to gain more polish, fix the flaws, yet Beale is just beginning at test level - of course - viola, he should be the perfect 5/8. And so it goes for all other ares of the game.Enormous energy has been spent getting these wins.Take the wins and enjoy that despite one our worst years injury-wise we still are winning. Sure its been a rough journey for fans but there has been improvement. The attack and more consistent performances will come. Excellence takes time!
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Consistency. All I can say.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Spiro, you've reached a David Lord and Danny Weidler level of pumping up your mates. That performance was nothing short of unacceptable, and for you to try and pass it off as a positive, shows exactly why we won't improve by accepting this tripe. Eddie Jones arguably had more injuries than Robbie did this year in 2005 and was quite happily shown the door after achieving more in his time. In additions most of the positives of Deans 'unearthing' new talent have been simply due to injury and no other option, despite calls for opportunities for those players from many. I'll give the bloke credit for Timani, nobody saw him being a servicable player, but that is about it. He unearthed Phipps, but he still isn't servicable.
jonnybok
Guest
Don't forget the boks will welcome back bakkies botha(32), fourie du preez(30), jaque fourie(29) who will all available for selection and are on a break till next season. In addition brussow, burger, spies, beast, habana, goosen, frans steyn, andries bekker, juan smith(31), coenie oosthuizen, bismarck du plessis are all currently injured. U add this experience to the current players of vermeulen, etzebeth, alberts, jannie, lambie, pietersen, taute, hougaard and de jong and I believe we will have a much better side. U combine the boks returning players, the wallabies returning players(provided they aren't ravaged by injuries when they play the lions), and the form of the all blacks and we may see one of the best rugby championships in a long time. On another note nigel owens was pathetic against the wallaby scrum and the boks scrum when he reffed their games. He is shocking allowing northern hemisphere sides to scrum inwards from the loosehead side all game long! Is he blind, the overhead camera(spider) at twickenham showed england scrumming inwards all game long-that is how hookers have serious neck injuries. The irb need to discipline owens on his poor refereeing before someone is badly injured. Rant over...
Rhino
Guest
Great stuff Dave. Just like QC, Spiro is not a rookie and his incentive contract with the ARU fairly represents his value to the code.
Wales15
Guest
The Wallabies 'struggled' against Wales in June because Wales were a decent side back then. They have lost that form (although it wasn't spectacular in June).
Handles
Guest
Not according to the interweb: "It means, to make swift progress to victory, like a ship with sails wetted in order to keep close to the wind. It is most often heard in sporting events, like rugby, cricket, and in Britain, in racing, and means a team, or a horse, stormed home to victory."
Handles
Guest
I think it was Kepu actually. Or maybe there were two! see my comment above about van der Merwe. He stunk.
Dexter William
Roar Guru
After reading all the published articles on this Italy vs Australia Test in the SMH, The Australian and the Telegraph, only Spiro is impressed by our 3 point lucky win. Also the tone of Wayne Smith and Paul Cully is completely the opposite of our Roar Top Dog. Very confounding. Spiro, you may have been watching a very different game (good if we are playing soccer against Italy) to come up with the title of your article: "The Wallabies are coming home with a wet sail"