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The Wallabies’ 50-23 win over France in Brisbane was their best start to an international season since the respective twin wins over Italy and Fiji in Canberra in 2009 and 2010.
Short of returning to the fortress of the National Capital, Ewen McKenzie’s team needed to fire the opening salvos against France to prove that the end of 2013 wasn’t a dream.
And fire the opening salvos they did.
They mean nothing in June, of course, but the Wallabies were superb from the outset, running in four tries well before halftime, effectively killing France’s hopes before they ever got a chance.
But as I’ve said of the Wallabies many a time previously, they are now not only as good as their last game, but rather only as good as their next game. The wonderful start to the campaign in Brisbane will count for naught if they don’t go on with it in Melbourne on Saturday night.
Here’s what the Wallabies cannot afford to do in the second Test.
Run out thinking they’re 1-0 up
Roar regular Uncle Argyle commented on Tuesday that the Wallabies haven’t won anything yet, and have to go into this second game as if they’re starting from scratch. I’ve got a slightly different take on this.
I certainly don’t disagree that the Wallabies have won nothing yet. However, their mindset for this game needs to be that they have to win to take the series. The difference between a 0-0 and a 1-1 series scoreline then becomes one of attitude.
At 0-0, while winning is important, the underlying thought will always be that even if they drop this game, there’s time to win the series. At 1-1, it’s all the on the line. The players have to run out always remembering – as the great Jimmy Barnes song goes – there ain’t no second prize. It may be hard but, oooh-oooh, it’s the only way.
The French side’s mass changes will be the same as a win; they’ll come into this game knowing they’re significantly better than they were in Brisbane, but that Australia are no different. The Wallabies’ attitude will need to be better again, not just to topple the revamped and much improved Les Bleus, but also to ice the series.
Be passive at the breakdown
Given that the Wallabies largely comprise players from the Waratahs, Brumbies, and Western Force, and all three teams have got where they are on the back of an aggressive presence at the breakdown, I don’t think there’s too much chance of this.
But it absolutely must be a focus.
So much of the good performance in Brisbane was because Nic White was able to get quick ball and keep the team on the front foot. There’s no doubt that will be a high priority again in Melbourne.
If anything, the Wallabies’ work at the breakdown when in attack is going to be even more crucial this weekend, where the obvious improvements in the French pack – and the addition of some quality backs – means that the Wallabies won’t have it all their way.
I’ll be particularly interested to watch James Horwill and Ben McCalman in this area. Both had an impact off the bench last weekend in Brisbane, and McCalman particularly won a start on the back of his high work-rate this season. It will be vitally important both operate at the same level as their teammates from the outset.
Lose shape in defence
One of the interesting stats that came out of the Brisbane Test was the missed tackle numbers. As bad and as turnstile-like Les Bleus appeared in defence, the Wallabies missed a similar number of tackles. France missed 21 of 141 attempted, the Wallabies missed 20 of 146.
But here’s some numbers you might not have seen: according to my stats mates over the ditch at Rucking Good Stats, France had already missed 14 tackles by halftime, to the Wallabies’ 6. So in the second half, as the game got as loose as the Australian cricketers pictured at the ground, the Wallabies missed 14 tackles to France’s 7.
It’s hard to say how much of that was due to the contest being long, but it’s something that can’t be repeated against a French side seeking redemption, and full of returning stars.
The Wallabies have to hold their defensive shape all the way to the final whistle.
Revert to a territory game
I mentioned last week that the back three and outside backs selected dictated that the Wallabies would tuck the ball under the arm unless camped deep in their own territory, and that’s pretty well how the game played out.
The Wallabies kicked 19 times for the game, which is about on par with Super Rugby teams more than happy playing from their own half. Ten-man rugby this most certainly was not.
There’s not much chance of the Wallabies doing a 180 on their gameplan anyway, particularly with Nic White and Matt Toomua the only players equipped with any great length off the boot.
Nevertheless, the Wallabies must maintain the urge to hold the ball as they did last week in Brisbane. There will certainly be times where the French defence keeps their shape, and where ground is difficult to make, but as teams like the Force and Waratahs have regularly shown this season, there are rewards for teams prepared to pick-and-drive from their own half.
There’s one other ‘must not lose’ for the Wallabies this weekend, and that’s the scrum, but that’s kind of obvious. McKenzie has acted swiftly, dropping Paddy Ryan cold, and bringing in Melbourne Rebels no.3 Laurie Weeks for a likely Test debut – the right rein has been pulled here.
I’m really looking forward to Saturday night, maybe even more than I was last week, because not only is international rugby back, but there’s silverware to be won.