Recently there has been a lot of hype about the Wallabies’ winning streak. They have seven-straight wins and are closing in on the elusive record of ten set by the 2000 side.
The main obstacle they will have to overcome to achieve that goal will be the All Blacks, who are also trying for a record-breaking streak.
A lot has been made of this team. Some are saying they may finally have the measure of the old foe across the ditch. Personally, I don’t think they’re there just yet.
Take a look at the Wallabies’ last seven wins.
Italy (14th)
Ireland (5th)
Scotland (8th)
Wales (6th)
France (7th) x3
While the last six wins have all come at the expense of teams in the top 10 on the IRB world rankings, they have yet to crack a team in the top four.
Their last loss was England at Twickenham at the start of their Northern hemisphere tour.
Not exactly the greatest report card going into their next few games against the World Champions, who have swept away all comers in the last 18 months, including the Wallabies on three separate occasions.
While they’re not at the same level as the All Blacks yet, that’s not to say that they aren’t closing the gap. Ewen Mckenzie has worked wonders in a short amount of time trying to fix the “toxic” culture within the team. I think they are better for it.
All the way down to Super Rugby level you can see the players really standing up for their teammates in defence and believing in themselves in attack.
The June International window didn’t really do much to boost their credibility, but that comes down to the French side being in a downward spiral since the World Cup final.
Only really turning up to one game – and a pretty boring one at that – during the series while getting blown away in the other two.
And while the wins will be great for team confidence, the fact is that they weren’t really pushed hard and haven’t had to dig deep to win when they’re behind the eight ball.
Make no mistake, they will not have such an easy run against the All Blacks. While looking a little rusty in the first Test against England, the All Blacks improved game to game and delivered a complete performance in the last Test and will be high on confidence after delivering a clean sweep to the only team to beat them in the last two and a half years.
The Wallabies are on the right track. They’re playing a better style of rugby that suits the players, getting rid of the trouble makers in the team to form a more unified, cohesive unit and shying away from the cocky outbursts that have left them red faced in the past. This time, they are letting their footy do the talking.
Great teams are not made over night and it will take a while to see if this bunch of Wallabies can go the distance.
If they keep their heads down and go about their business they may just make it, but I think Rod Macqueen’s Wallabies will hold onto their record for a little while longer.
kesmcc
Roar Pro
jake, like i've said to a few others who are saying this article is about how good the wallabies are, please read it again but disregard the headline. it was made by the editor and gives the piece a different message than what i was trying to say. it was about showing that the media is once again talking up the wallabies on the back of a pretty soft run of wins. i clearly said that they're not at the same level as the all blacks. I am and all blacks fan and was in no was saying that they're ready to beat us yet.
Jake
Guest
I've been hearing about this gap supposedly closing for the last 5 or 6yrs yet it's getting wider Australia hasn't even closed the gap on South Africa let alone New Zealand pull you're heads out you're asses and stop talking yourselves up again have use not learnt from the past 12yrs?
corporal punishment
Guest
Harry, as you say, the Wallabies are missing some important players for BC1, whereas the AB's will be at virtual full strength - with the bonus of Kaino rejoining the team. This is bad luck for the Wallabies, and suggests 2014 won't be their year.
Harry
Guest
Pleased to see this article written by a kiwi however it is still attracts the usual "outraged of Whakatane" accusations of Australians talking themselves up. If I may ask the author ... what was the original headline? One fundamental point to make is that the gap has actually significantly widened in the last couple of years. I think it narrowed in 2010 and 2011, but 2012 and 2013 RC Bledisloe games were absolute wallopings, particularly the Bled 1 games in Sydney. The dead rubber 3rd tests were closer (indeed one was a draw), but these were effectively exhibition games. Lets see after the SR final this weekend but I expect, and hope, the gap to have narrowed for the August 16 and 23 games and for Australia to be competitive in both these games (something that hasn't happened in the last 2 years). Unfortunately the absence of Moore in particular and a few others from the squad for various reasons (Genia, Speight, Diggers, JOC, Honey Badger, Quade, Mowem) hampers Australia in an attempt to match the benchmark in global rugby excellence. It is time though ... heh, the NSW Origin side did it this year, and I believe Link has the Walls travelling in the right direction.
Kes mccrindle
Guest
Firstxv please read the article again and ignore the headline. The editor changed it. While I did say that the wallabies are closing the gap in one small sentence. The point of the piece was to show that the wallabies are in fact a long way behind the all blacks. Their winning streak is based on teams outside the top 4. Having not beaten a top team in around 18 months. I wanted to show how much the media talks them up but it seems to have backfired on me haha. My original headline was "record breakers or broken records".
Jesus
Guest
Did you watch the Crusaders hammer the Brumbies bennalong? Australia has two decent teams to choose from (War & Brum). NZ has four, if not five teams. I will be watching this Saturday. The Crusaders will put the Warratahs back in their box.
Firstxv
Guest
really? and when did that last happen...man this article is clutching at straws. Win first, talk later at least please. We get it from everyone - the boks say they are closing the gap last year...honk....wrong...the English came to close the gap...honk...wrong...now its the W's... just get on with it and do it then and stop blabbering about it. Call it arrogance or 'not showing humility' or even throw in the 'well we may as well not turn up then' rubbish we always get but which is worse...really, just get on with it.
ozinsa
Guest
95-36 over three tests. I think that's a win rather than a draw.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
The Wallabies will only start "closing the gap" when they get some wins over the ABs behind their belt. Then maybe they will "close the gap". Until that happens we can all write as much as we want but it's bollocks. The same applies the Springboks. However in the SB's case they have opened up a gap over all the others and are zoning in on the AB's. But that gap only closes when they actually beat them. I'm hoping it's this year!! And I reckon they can.
bennalong
Guest
Of course there's relevance! Every time a Wallaby is in a team that whips an All Black, the supposed invincibility is exposed.
bennalong
Guest
Did you watch the Tahs hammer the Highlanders and the Chiefs? Did you watch the Brums hammer the Chiefs? Watch this Saturday Jesus.
bennalong
Guest
Peter, it's easy really! Look at the cock up last season when we changed coaches just before two Bleds and Link cobbled together a squad full of newbies. We're way better than that incarnation and if you add the form of the Brums on top of the Tahs as minor premiers, and our upcoming win (please Mary) against the Saders, then you have a definite acceleration in quality. We win in Sydney, and I've already got tickets for Suncorp.......the decider!
Harry Jones
Guest
Agree that Todd has looked better than Cane.
corporal punishment
Guest
The AB's continue to evolve with the addition of new talent as you say. They are, however, a thin at 9 (Aaron smith then daylight), hooker and prop. Left wing is also thin, if the gameplay requires a fast power winger like Savea (we really missed him in the 1st game against the English). I am least concerned about props as there are a number of capable understudies. The other positions require some attention.
corporal punishment
Guest
oh, got you! I didn't read carefully enough. I thought the AB's were relatively vulnerable early on in the RC, with Carter out, Richie very rusty, and no Kaino. The game against the Boks at Eden Park was particularly worrying with Cane deputising for McCaw. This year, we could well start with virtually our strongest 15 fully fit INCLUDING Kaino back in beastly good form ( touch wood of course, as 5 key all blacks are playing in the super final). This team is stronger than any team we fielded last year. This is great luck for the All Blacks but bad luck for the Wallabies who are missing a few key players to compound the challenge.
Winston
Guest
Each year it closes by 50%
Billy Bob
Guest
Some don't need facts. Prejudice does just fine.
Mark
Guest
Which is what I said when he was appointed And again at the start of this year And I got slaughtered by some know nothing's for it It's extremely depressing watching the Crusaders once again challenging for a title yet the Blues, with the largest player and commercial bases in NZ again failing...spectacularly...not even looking like being a contender... How long does this incompetence have to go on? How many years before the board are replaced with people who have a clue...and a coach is hired based on what he has won rather than who he knows? The Blues are the worst run sporting organisation of all time!
Buzzard
Guest
11 years of gap closing. Maybe a record?
The V Man
Guest
Interesting how the gap is closing before they have even played! If I had a dollar for every time I hear this every year.............