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Christian Lealiifano has been the only consistent Wallaby in the last two tests, his 30 points has accounted for 67% of the team’s 45.
But the overall picture is far more gloomy, with the Lions romping in 41-16, and the All Blacks 47-29 – all up 88 points to 45, crossing for 10 tries to just three. One-way traffic.
But in both cases, the Wallabies were in with a decent sniff. The Lions led only 22-16 after 58 minutes, and the All Blacks 25-22 after 52.
Then all hell broke loose twice, which was as inexplicable as it was unforgivable.
We are talking about the Wallabies, the creme de la creme of Australian rugby, who have been selected because they can consistently pass, handle, and make first-up regulation tackles, or they wouldn’t be there.
Wrong.
It’s been the lack of those basic fundamentals that have produced the overall 88-45 scorelines.
The less said about the Lions debacle the better. But there were promising signs against the All Blacks with the Wallabies running the ball from all parts of the field, instead of mindlessly booting away possession.
But since the thumping to the All Blacks, there have been two mystifying quotes.
The first from new coach Ewen McKenzie who said he spent most of the 12 days before the game concentrating on re-organising the Wallaby attack structure, and not enough on defence. McKenzie said he would work on defence this week for the return bout in Wellington next Saturday.
Excuse me coach, but the simple art of first-time tacking should be embedded in the side as a matter of course.
Vice-captain Will Genia was another with a gem of wisdom: “We were quite happy with 29 points, that would win us most games”.
True, but not when Lealiifano has scored 19 of them, and the other side has scored 47, with six tries to two.
As I wrote yesterday, I’m sick and tired of both national skippers, rugby’s James Horwill, and cricket’s Michael Clarke, both being regularly quoted as having to work on the fundamentals to overcome poor performances.
It’s as though both leaders pushed a button on their chest, and a pre-recording went to air.
After covering rugby for 50 years, I can’t come to grips with a Wallaby lineup that can’t consistently pass well, handle well, and make first-time tackles.
Or forwards swanning out wide in the backline, and wrecking decent service to the wingers. Michael Hooper is an exception, he’s as fast as most backs.
Or left-footers (Mogg), kicking penalties for touch on the left-hand side of the field, and right-footers (Toomua) like-wise on the right. Plain common sense demands the reverse.
Having said all that, I still reckon Ewen McKenzie will get more out of this side than Robbie Deans did. And I was a solid Deans supporter throughout his watch.
All Wallaby fans want is an 80-minute game from the Wallabies, with the basics right.
Nobody would give a toss if the Wallabies beat the All Blacks 30-29 with Lealiifano kicking 10 penalties to the All Blacks’ five tries, and a couple of conversions.
It mightn’t be palatable, but a “W” sure beats the hell out of any alternative.
There is absolutely no reason why the Wallabies can’t compete with the mighty All Blacks if the basic fundamentals are taken care of.
Ewen McKenzie has never shirked a question in my experience. But this week it may be prudent to zip it until after the final whistle in Wellington.
Being flogged is no fun. That alone should snap the Wallabies into righting the wrongs.
And if they can’t do it, McKenzie will be forced to find replacements who can.
It’s as simple as that.
[roar_cat_gal]