‘The one that got away’ was how I described the Wallabies’ 28-10 loss to South Africa in Cape Town, in the Sunday morning post-mortem.
I still think that is the case now, with the squad already in Argentina preparing for their final match of the Rugby Championship.
We heard that Ewen McKenzie was “furious” and “disappointed” about the performance of his bench players in the last ten minutes, according to the various reports – and with good reason.
The two teams were a hell of a lot closer than the 18-point margin suggests, with the major difference being the way the Springboks bench over-ran the Wallabies, as opposed to the way the Wallabies bench seemed to implode with panic and indecision and just plain stupidity.
“I actually felt for the players who set the game up, I thought they did a really good job.
“That’s probably going to get lost in the final score line unfortunately,” McKenzie said post-match, in a moment of classic Australian understatement. There’s nothing surer that as the memories of the match fade over time, the scoreline will stand alone as just another heavy Newlands defeat.
Before I get into the obvious bench disappointment, though, I want to hand out some due credit.
First of all, referee Nigel Owens was excellent. I wondered out loud in the Big Questions last week about SANZAR making a bit of a song and dance about northern hemisphere ref, but the Welshman’s control of the match, and of the breakdown particularly was just magnificent, and allowed the game to flow as it did.
My only real bone of contention about Owen’s performance was his decision that Francois Hougaard’s high tackle on Adam Ashley-Cooper was cancelled out by Ashley-Cooper scoring the try. It was either high, or it wasn’t, Nigel.
I was annoyed that he didn’t go upstairs to what looked like a fair try under the posts for Nick Phipps at the time, but given the TMO was already in his ear about Sekope Kepu holding Handre Pollard back, there’s little chance it would’ve been allowed to stand anyway.
Secondly, credit to the Wallabies forwards, who turned out the sort of performance we’ve hoped to see for years. The much-maligned 4-5-6 combination of Sam Carter, Rob Simmons, and Scott Fardy were very good, with the three of them getting through a mountain of work.
Simmons’ lineout numbers are low, courtesy of only playing the first, but he did a really good job of disrupting the Springboks’ lineout, too. James Horwill picked up where Simmons left off and Horwill finished among the Wallabies leading-tacklers, along with Saia Fainga’a and Carter.
For Horwill to manage that in just 40 minutes gives you an idea of just how busy he was, as well as just how much defending the Wallabies did in the second half.
Fardy, though, was wonderful. I think I’d go as far as saying this was his best game in 2014 in any jersey, and it came at precisely the right time for the Brumbies flanker-cum-lock.
The Wallabies’ pigs worked out early that committing fewer bodies to the breakdown was the best way of stopping the rampaging ‘Bok pack, but they also had a lot of success with the low, scything tackle that Fainga’a has mastered, with good first half support from Simmons in this department too.
The low tackles dropped Duane Vermeulen and co like a stone, often allowing the loosies a clean shot at the ball before the clean out arrived. Fardy pinched three in the first 25 minutes alone, and I think there were two more in the second half as well. Ben McCalman was resourceful in this area too.
A repeat viewing made me reconsider just how much Michael Hooper got through, too, and the stats confirmed what a second Sunday cuppa took in. He had 13 runs, three defenders beaten, and 20 of 25 tackles made. And even if he wasn’t able to pinch much opposition ball, he more often than not did a job of slowing it down. None of my previous concerns about Hooper have been erased, but he certainly got through a mountain of work.
Finally, I’ll give credit to Ewen McKenzie. I actually thought McKenzie activated his bench really well, making the right moves in reaction to Heyneke Meyer unleashing one of the most experienced Test benches in recent memory.
When Schalk Berger went on, so did Scott Higginbotham. Patrick Lambie and Kurtley Beale were injected into the game around the same time, too.
However, and this is where we complete the circle, the Wallabies bench provided nowhere near the impact through South African counterparts did. In fact, the Wallabies bench provided next to no impact at all, and this was where the match was effectively lost.
There’s no question the tackle count of 260 wore the Wallabies down, but among the tired bodies I don’t know that too many fresh bench hands went up to offer assistance. And this is what I think debunks Spiro’s fitness theory from yesterday, too. There was no reason why the bench players would look as lethargic as those who started the match, yet that was appearance.
Kurtley Beale had yet another chance to mount a case for starting, and yet again failed to deliver. Truth be told, none of the bench players were able to provide more than the player they replaced.
In actual fact, I don’t think Matt Toomua was quite as bad as is being made out. It certainly wasn’t his best game, don’t get me wrong, but I thought he was pretty good in attack, straightening at the right times, and providing the vision to send the ball through the hands for one of Tevita Kuridrani’s many breaks and Ashley-Cooper’s try.
Just on Kuridrani, as good as Fardy was, he still trailed the big outside centre as the Wallabies’ best. A superb game from the number 13.
Toomua’s kicking was off, no question, but I wonder if it wasn’t part of a plan to exploit the depth with which Springboks’ fullback Willie le Roux defends. One or two dud grubbers I can put down to the individual trying something, but another three or four after that makes me think it was planned.
Regardless, what was apparent when Beale came on was that Toomua had been providing all the defensive shape in midfield. Without Toomua, suddenly backline tackles were being missed left, right, and centre and all semblance of order had disappeared.
So the concern now is if Toomua can’t get up for the Argentina match in Mendoza. Beale has done nothing to warrant a promotion, yet that appears to be the expectation and even more puzzling, that it would be deserved. I can’t subscribe to either theory and, frankly, I think I’d rather Rob Horne plug the gap.
It would have been very easy to sink the boot into the Wallabies for this loss, and while I understand the sentiment of those who have, I think it is a touch unfair when even those doing the criticising concede that the Wallabies competed very well for large chunks of the game, if, indeed, they weren’t the better side.
And saying that is not accepting mediocrity, just providing a reasonable observation. The fact that the Wallabies were the better team for much of the game actually makes this loss harder to reconcile, for me at least. It’s really tough to accept that perhaps the Wallabies best performance of the year will be remembered as an 18-point loss.
Just a quick one to finish, how great was it to see jumpers being swapped on the field for a change, instead of in the change rooms post-match? In these days of over-corporatisation – which pays the bills, of course – it was just a reminder of the little things we love about rugby.
That you battled so hard to defeat your direct opponent, but respect him enough to want a memento of the clash, regardless of the fact that his jumper has an unrelated sponsor emblazoned. It was a classy end to an intense encounter.
Y Mochyn Hedfan
Guest
That is still the case. But usually for an act of foul play such as a late tackle on the try scorer after he scores. It is simply a question of intent. If a penalty occurs because of poor timing rather than malicious intent then surely it is a question of playing advantage & if a try is scored then advantage has been had? If not then just how far back do you wish to go? Some wish to try to make the game a case of black and white, e.g. Play a man in the air is an automatic yellow card or any high tackle should be a yellow. The problem with this is that there is no allowance for human error which is inevitable when guys are moving at top speed. Many referees hide behind the phrase "a duty of care" to justify carding players for just about every offence. IMO, this is a poor approach as the key factor is the intent of the player.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Hard to disagree with that HJ.
Phil
Guest
Great comment. Many in the Australian rugby community have an obsession with league. Many value players based on skills that work in league but don't make you a complete rugby player. Outside backs are the best example of this. We go for players that are strong runners and good front on defenders, but are often weak at positional play, cover defence, kicking. I wish we would judge players like the All Blacks do based on their skills, rugby brain, timing, play in relation to their other team members and their ability to beat a man by going around him rather than through him. What's also crept in lately are other league tactics like the way the Wallabies have been chasing kicks - very slowly and all in one line. This releases all the pressure on the team receiving the kick. And wingers have been coming in off their man in defence instead of trusting the cover defence to take the inside players. The Wallabies have been caught out numerous times this year doing this. Leaving an overlap for opposing wingers to stroll through and score. Folau at the moment is the best example. Journalists and commentators are blind to his poor play at fullback because they can't see past his finishing skill and power. What impact did Folau make as a last line of defence when the Springboks scored those tries at the end? When did he put his body on the line like a rugby fullback should? Did he position himself to cover the breaks made by the opposition or did he just stand on one side and hope for the best? He is unwilling to put his reputation on the line. When did he last make a covering tackle to stop a try like Phipps has done?
Photon
Guest
Good day Brett, Biltongbek and Spiro I would appreciate it if you could give your thoughts on the new Springbok flyhalf. I think he is going to be great if he doesn't get injured or overplayed, but i played prop and lock and know very little about what makes a good flyhalf
Nabley
Guest
In the old days, a penalty could be given for an offence by the defending team while the try was being scored. The try stood, a conversion attempt allowed and the penalty was awarded on halfway to the scoring team get the game started again. Wonder what happened to it?
Nabley
Guest
It is more than the final Ten. Spiro was right, the rot started at about the 60 min mark, although there were moments the first three quarters of the match when they needed luck rather than skill to be on their side and got it. The Boks are tough and they showed us how to close out matches. The Wallabies have been shown before, but no one seems interested in learning the lesson. The consistency of this fade, I put down to what I call the League influence. They are trained liked League players, who do not have to endure continuous play. Eventually something gives in the staying. It is like a horse that is a champion at a mile and a half but can't last two miles where the big money is. But we see more than that. League is largely an individuals game within a team environment. Rugby is the quintessential team game played by individuals. The difference is subtle but significant. The Wallabies have as good players as any country in the world, but the culture is wrong to use them in the modern game. The last time I saw the Wallabies put aside their personal ambitions and do the team thing, was when Nathan Sharpe captained them in Argentina several years ago. They fought back at the end for a win. It was great to see, but them they reverted to type. They are number 3 in the world, so they still win plenty of games. They need to do more and that more is overcome a cultural restraint inherited from League.
Y Mochyn Hedfan
Guest
Hougaard was not yellow carded for the same reason that ACC was not yellow carded for playing Habana in the air - see my previous comment.
BopChop
Guest
Um, because of the ludicrous arding of habana in perth, no penalty for the hit on JdV, and the outcry from not just SA but Aus, NZ and in the NH. Trying to keep the game at 15 men. And lest we not forget that when an aussie player was carded in the SR earlier this year for a similar thing, and the tackled player scored, there was howling from Aus that SA refs were "double dipping" because the try had been scored by the Lions player. Can't have both.
BopChop
Guest
Rumors re stormers, but then also two varsity teams. If that's the result then oh how the mighty have fallen. Apparently the players and staff wanted him gone.
30mm tags
Guest
Trent ,you are so right., as is Diehard. The calibre of Matt Hodgson or Liam Gill would have stopped that rout if Fardy had been moved to second row and a bench player such as those two were availble. The half a second difference in getting to the breakdown could have kept the momentum with the Wallabies.
apelu
Guest
I agree Owen was good in allowing the game to flow. My one question is why he did not yellow card the Boks 9 for the dangerous tackle on Ashely-Cooper for the simple fact AAC scored a try. To me the two are separate issue. If he judged the tackle deserved a yellow card, then he should have sent the player to the bin, regardless of whether a try was scored or not. Otherwise, change the rule so that is a player is sinned bin, he/she could return once the opposition scores a try.
Marc
Guest
Hooper is a finesse ball running 7 and we have enough ball runners. We need a mongrel ball turn over 7. Smith or pocock. Wouldn't need fitness if they turn over the ball
Trent
Guest
Agree. Hooper as an impact player once Hodgson has done the hard grind at the breakdown for 60 minutes
Trent
Guest
Hodgson has 1 for 1 for his lineout wins from his 20 minutes. So far so good. He is also able to call lineouts which is a skill too few of the current Wallabies have.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
The All Blacks substituted McCaw for Cane for the last 20 last week. I assume Read took over.
Trent
Guest
That is what vice captains are for. AAC could have closed out the game as captain capably. Hooper did very little in the last 15 to 20 minutes. He was dead on his feet and stopped tackling and certainly wasn't interested in the breakdown. It would have been a perfect time to bring on a fresh tackling and breakdown machine like Hodgson. Dropping Hodgson all together for this game of all games was a poor decision. A game with that many tackles is a standard Force game. Hodgson would have been in his element. What a pity.
Mac
Guest
Folau does a lot of the 12's work now in straightening the attack when Toomua or Beale moves sideways. It was very evident in the head-on shots for one of Kuridrani's breaks at the weekend.
Redsback
Guest
I wasn't 100% and haven't seen a replay. Looked like Horne to me. If he was the one that made the pilfer, then I take it back.
bennalong
Guest
I like it Harry! You're a guru!
Mac
Guest
O'Connor, Beale, Toomua and Horne are all around 90kg. Hunt is presently at 91. He was 92 when he was at the Broncos. He was bigger at Biarritz, but I'm not sure that's going to be his bread and butter. Of the listed alternative, they are all around the same size. Of course, Kuridrani could manage it. But that would require moving him from where he is absolutely killing it.