When Ewen McKenzie took over from Robbie Deans as Wallabies coach in August last year, he made it crystal clear from the beginning it was ‘his way, or the highway’.
And that’s the way it should be.
But the Wallabies were slow to pick up on the McKenzie way, winning just two of the coach’s first eight internationals, with both wins coming against the Pumas.
The six losses were more telling – three to the All Blacks, two to the Boks and one to England.
Then the McKenzie way clicked, and the Wallabies are unbeaten in their last eight games with seven wins and that draw in Bledisloe 1 last Saturday night.
So Ewen McKenzie’s win rate over 16 internationals is now 56.3 per cent. And while wins against any national side are important, beating the All Blacks and Boks remains not only the criteria, but the most meaningful.
The Wallabies haven’t beaten the All Blacks since August 12, 2011 when the men-in-gold won the Tri-Nations 25-20 at Suncorp under Robbie Deans.
But there have been two draws – 18-all at Suncorp under Deans on October 20, 2012, and last Saturday. Those are the past facts, now to the current situation.
McKenzie has named the same 23 for Eden Park next Saturday night, where the Wallabies haven’t won since 1986.
McKenzie has blamed a “lack of composure” for not winning Bledisloe 1, with no mention of the sloppy passing that stunted momentum on regular occasions, nor the lack of a drop goal attempt in the last 10 minutes when at least half a dozen very genuine opportunities presented themselves.
McKenzie’s fault, or skipper Michael Hooper’s for letting those three-point chances go begging? Sharing the blame would be fair, but not when it comes to selection, that’s McKenzie’s office.
You would think McKenzie would tread the same path as Waratahs coach Michael Cheika, whose highway was Nick Phipps (9), Bernard Foley (10), Kurtley Beale (12), Adam Ashley-Cooper (13) and Israel Folau (15).
That’s where the good work of the Waratahs forwards throughout the season were turned into points, and more importantly tries, to top the Super Rugby stats and win their first Super title at their 19th attempt.
In their 16 games, the Waratahs won 12, including beating the Hurricanes 39-30 at home, the two-time defending champion Chiefs 33-17 away, the Highlanders 44-10 at home and the seven-times Super champion Crusaders 33-32 in the final at home.
The only loss to a New Zealand franchise all season was to the Blues 21-13 away, and as for the South Africans, beat the Bulls 19-12 at home, Stormers 22-11 away and the Lions 41-13 at home, with the only loss to the Sharks 32-10 away.
Those are bullet-proof stats that Cheika’s backline was better selected than McKenzie’s with the same players available. Unfortunately for Wallabies fans, McKenzie and Cheika aren’t on the same highway.
Next Saturday night will give a clearer indication as to which highway is better for the men-in-gold.
LT18
Guest
Agreed uncle
44bottles
Roar Guru
Not sure if you were saying that against Realist, against Wolfpack or against both. But I think Realist was pointing something similar to that by highlighting isolated less favourable statistics after Wolfpack used isolated favourable statistics.
CHT
Guest
Every time I see that "Expert" title next to David Lord's name, I picture him on the toilet and thankfully it reminds me that he's a mammal and like most mammals is absolutely full of it.
T Bone
Guest
Mate - take your head out of your blue a--. You won a super 15 title - well done but get over it. We are on to test match rugby now.
Firstxv
Guest
Tahs , tahs tahs for Eden Park...I'm into that! In 32 matches the Boks, Lions, wobbilies (x 11) , French etc couldnt do it...but the Tah's certainly could I agree. Bring on the tahs, bring on the Tahs!... We'll even given Cheika his very own room and balsa door and send several real unshaven sly looking cameramen up to the booth just for ol times sake so he feels at home...and we wont play the Blues against them either so they could win this time... tahs tahs tahs!
Nigel Imrie
Guest
Can't help thinking that with Foley at ten and being a more orthodox playmaker it gave us our best chance of beating the AB. However having said that we are a big chance of beating the AB if we play the full eighty and continue to attack, it is my belief that if you take it to the Kiwis that is your best chance for victory. EM has definitely instilled a stronger mental approach to Test matches, you can see it in every Super Rugby player who has had the honour of being part of the Wallaby experience and rubbing shoulders with EM. He has instilled successfully the true meaning of being a Wallaby in our young men and it is reflected in the way they approach their rugby, it is there when they defend and in a number of players they have grown an extra foot, Kepu and Palu to name just a few. It has also instilled in the fans an excitement and a confidence in our Australian way of playing the game, I say we will win the RWC in 2015!!!
Nigel Imrie
Guest
Can't help thinking that with Foley at ten and being a more orthodox playmaker it gave us our best chance of beating the AB. However having said that we are a big chance of beating the AB if we play the full eighty and continue to attack, it is my belief that if you take it to the Kiwis that is your best chance for victory. EM has definitely instilled a stronger mental approach to Test matches, you can see it in every Super Rugby player who has had the honour of being part of the Wallaby experience and rubbing shoulders with EM. He has instilled successfully the true meaning of being a Wallaby in our young men and it is reflected in the way they approach their rugby, it is there when they defend and in a number of players they have grown an extra foot, Kepu and Palu to name just a few. It has also instilled in the fans an excitement and a confidence in our Australian way of playing the game, I say we will win the RWC in 2015!!!
Buk
Guest
Good stuff David. Being more red than blue (other than the deep blue Force), I tend to think your "bullet-proof stats" are anything but bullet proof, which I guess is why you give them; too many variables for my liking to apply those stats to the Wallaby test team, but interesting to read.
Buk
Guest
ditto Uncle
Rox
Guest
We have lies, damned lies and statistics. Stats are no more than facts taken in isolation and unless you are able to look at them in some degree of context and than form an informed opinion, you are potentially clouding the real issue. So there!
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
With apologies to Winnie, never in the field of rugby writing was so much said that means so little.
lockstock
Guest
Thankyou Uncle!
Combesy
Roar Guru
you might want to think about this when considering why your articles of late have not had the 'hits' that some others have had...
Combesy
Roar Guru
You surely know how to flog a dead horse david...
AlanKC
Guest
There was one but Jaco took him out.
Realist
Guest
Care to highlight his defensive stats? Wasn't he the worst defensive 12 in all of Super Rugby? How about kick metres? Toomua played 10 as well.
Realist
Guest
Well said.
DB
Guest
WHY ARE THEIR NO BOMBS FOR FOLAU - IT DRIVES ME NUTS!!!! The bloke is a freak in the air and we don't use him, he would safely out leap Smith and Savea on that right hand side!!
DB
Guest
I literally snorted at work when I read this - BRILLIANT!!
Anthony Hird
Roar Guru
I'm with you there Harry.