The most depressing part of the Wallabies 38-12 loss to the Springboks was the feeling that we are not progressing as a side.
Despite all the promise, all the hype about playing expansive, fast paced rugby, we are still making incredibly basic, schoolboy errors.
Despite making almost 25 more runs with the ball than South Africa, and amassing more than 150 metres run, we still only made a paltry two line breaks, compared to the five made by South Africa.
Playing with one of the most dangerous back lines in the world, this is just an unacceptable figure.
Anyone who watched the game, would of been pulling their hair out at the site of the Wallabies consistently shoveling the ball sideways with no apparent aim, with the end result usually a turnover, or the South Africans winning possession as a Wallaby took the ball into contact one out.
The South Africans, to their credit, played incredibly well, with their rush defence shutting down the Wallabies time and time again, but the lack of a B option once again became our downfall.
As a big fan of Christian Lealiifano, in particular his goal kicking, it pains me to say that he does not appear to work in whatever system it is that McKenzie is trying to implement.
With Quade Cooper’s range of passing, Lealiifano becomes a passenger, as his only option appeared to pass the ball straight to Ashley-Cooper, who despite looking his dangerous self, can’t work in a system where is he receiving the ball in a stand still position.
International rugby has moved on from the second five-eighth option at inside centre, and a look around the better sides you see a big ball runner who creates momentum and a different option. The Wallabies don’t have this, and thus have looked increasingly predictable every time the ball is spread wide.
Why the Wallabies management feels they need three ball players in Genia, Cooper and Lealiifano is utterly confusing
Genia has recently looked completely out of sorts, which is quite amazing after the Lions series he had. It is never easy playing behind a forward pack that is going backwards, but his option taking has been questionable at best.
The South African game highlights one simple reason why he has been struggling: he ran the ball once. For one of the world’s best-attacking halfbacks to only run with it once, especially in the second half coming up against a big and tiring South African pack is absurd.
The Wallabies forward pack was no better than the backs, and the tight five look increasingly as if they are not up to international standard. The only bright spot being Scott Fardy, who appeared to be everywhere, and despite being an elder in the side, showed what 110% commitment looks like.
Both outplayed at the breakdown and set-piece, you have to wonder why Dan Palmer was allowed to leave for France, especially after the Wallabies scrum was destroyed for the umpteenth time in succession, with the brief intermittence in the second Lions game
The worrying thing about this game was that we never looked like scoring a try, and for the third game running we are looking as if we are drifting further away from the All Blacks and the rest of world.
Disappointing just doesn’t cut it and for the sake of Australian rugby, I hope that McKenzie has a plan, because at the moment it appears as if we are taking two steps back and not going forward.
Riccus
Guest
I believe you must take into account the horrendous injury list Deans had to work with during the latter part of his tenure. I firmly believe that the AB's would have struggled with that many first-team players missing. EM is having a similar problem now
johnb747b
Guest
Would a Jones or a McQueen do any better with the current herd of cattle? I've watched my last rugby test. Scrum-setting ritual; pedantic, egocentric referees; overpaid players consistently underperforming. Instead of the Boks test I watched a DVD of 'High Society', much more entertaining. Even the VFL games on ABC TV are an infinitely better spectacle than the Wallabies. Cricket has suffered by downgrading the importance of the Sheffield Shield comp. Rugby has allowed the Shute Shield to languish. The last 30 years have seen sport virtually disappear from many State schools. Soccer has made inroads into even the GPS competition. The signs do not appear auspicious for rugby's future.
Springdale
Guest
Yes right. Big and tiring. I don't think so. They played the big boys, but they lasted and punished the Australians for 80 minutes. The boks started with playing a basic game and got the basics right, then started playing expansive rugby. The Ausies did the opposite, eccept they did not get much rigt. Maybe the game plan was at fault and maybe the fact that the coach didn't adapt was the problem. What for you think?
Rod
Guest
That maybe the case but which Olympic athlete are we talking about, the shooters, the weight lifters, the marathon runners. The 100 m sprinters, the basketballers . As you can see the same logic could and would apply to best of the best in any sport. Just because an Afl player can run all day, would not do them any good, as they would be hammered in either of the rugby codes. Rugby is more explosive ,with athletes trained to be quick over short distances .
WaltSaffa
Guest
Whilst I agree that the Wallaby stars look more like individuals and are perhaps less defined by the team ethos than your alternatives - Boks and ABs - I'm not sure that stricter handling will do the trick. The Bok and Kiwi coaches can tell practically any player to take a hike, because they have such depth, and the players know it. The Wallaby coach always has a much more fine line to tread, given that he only has a few players of international level in many positions. I don't know enough about Aussie sport to understand how Union has lost out to the other codes, but perhaps part of the answer lies in what Jake White is doing in Canberra, especially bringing over talented South Africa boys and providing them with university education, a chance to play for a S16 side well before they would in SA, and ultimately possibly even playing for the Wallabies and Aussie citizenship? Obviously it's not a short term solution, nor a total one, but its one way to bolster the ranks with some of those big boys.
ZaphodBeeblebrox
Guest
Maybe not! AFL is about as comparable in sporting terms as basketball , and in RSA competition with Soccer is so one sided as to be the ' elephant in the room' very few of the South African player from previously disadvantaged backgrounds come from that at all , they are almost to a man from the better Private Schools. The kids from the townships are playing soccer ! South African selects from a very small, but extremely passionate power base . heaven help the rest if the townships start playing ( it would be fun)
Maori sidestep
Guest
Whats the problem with these wallabies? Have they no balls or pride. They use to be worth watching they've gone from bad to worse over the last few years now they're just a warm up game. They didn't even seem fazed after the BOKS totally destroyed them. Wannabes is apt. Wanna be actors & pin up's. They not Rugby men.
johnb747b
Guest
Dear Max Please don't ascribe 'schoolboy errors' to the Wallabies. I much prefer to ascribe 'Wallaby errors' to schoolboys.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Balance isn't there across the side: Alexander and Kepu aren't Test standard tightheads so IMO Slipper should move to 3 with Robinson returning at 1. Scott Sio looks a long way off being a Test operator too IMO; Simmons works hard but doesn't have a physical presence, and Douglas is pretty much an irrelevance too; back row isn't right, but Higginbotham, Pocock and Palu (eventually) will redress that; Lealiifano and AAC don't work as a pairing; O'Connor has good individual involvement, but he and Folau need more of the ball; Folau isn't a 15 and neither is Mogg - I'd be tempted to bring in Kuridrani and move AAC ro 15.
Ian
Guest
Broadcast TV ratings are just samplings, so I wouldn't take it as gospel.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Men in black.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Chan Wee, I agree about Matt Todd - he has always been there but the powers to be see something in Sam Cane and are putting him through an apprenticeship. He is 21 years only and I think they have been bringing him on slowly with RWC 2015 in mind. He played OK against France but was not outstanding like Luatua has been since his introduction, forced by injury. Steven Luatua is 22 I think he will be rotated when Missam is back 100% That said the NZRU Coaches are very patient. Look at Ardie Savea, big, strong and fast as an openside. Played in U20 World Cup for NZ and was given a start with Hurricanes which went OK....... but he is 19 only... I believe that he is being allowed to mature before he is put to the sword...
jason8
Guest
yup you aussies should stop playing with yourselves.... everybody knows its bad for you.
Johnno
Guest
You said it. I think that will happen Rest of 2013 season Argies in Perth- win Boks at Newlands-Lose Argies in Rosario-lose NZ at Dunedin-Lose England at Twickenham-lose Wales at cardiff-lose Ireland at Dublin-lose Scotland at Murrayfield-win Italy at Turin -lose So 2 out of 12. Win 2 lose 7. To mean Link's total record will read 2 from 12. Sack Link lol
Skills & Techniques
Guest
So Link's win percentage will be (at best) 25% after 12 matches Johnno?
jason8
Guest
True, Flip does do hard graft.... but he is an idiot 1st class - good for at least 6 points a game.
jason8
Guest
Have to agree on Pienaar and Flip..... Pienaar did have some classy moments last night but commits the biggest sin of a scrummie and gets caught in possession too often. I will however eat crow on Kirchner - he did have a good game and was solid under the high ball as usual but is he ever going to be the line breaker or the creator that other full backs are ? i hesitate what will happen when le Roux gets injured because it has been his magic that has breathed new life into the backline.... cant wait till we have all the players back in Fdup, J Fourie, and JP.
Mike
Guest
It starts with the forwards but it doesn't end with them.
jason8
Guest
I thought he was gonna swallow that walkie talkie.... hilarious stuff.
KT
Guest
The problem is that they keep pushing the ball sideways instead of attacking right up the middle which falls down to the forwards. They were abysmal last night. It really made me ashamed and disgusted. It was rough night especially being surrounded by a hundred loud and passionate Bokk fans.