- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
It’s a wonder Wallaby coach Michael Cheika’s hair isn’t snow white, or torn out by the roots watching his troops for 80 minutes.
The 34-9 scoreline at Mendoza against the Pumas suggests it was a walk in the park for the Wallabies.
No way. The Pumas were in the hunt until the last 15 minutes with the scoreline 19-9.
But let’s concentrate on the four magic moments at Mendoza that strongly suggest the men in gold are very capable of regaining the Bledisloe for the first time since 2002, taking out the Rugby Championship last won in 2011, and a record third Rugby World Cup last held aloft in 1999.
Big call?
Not on your life, especially if the Wallabies turn up the heat they are so capable of doing, minimise the crap, and consistently land goals.
In order, Israel Folau is the key.
How many international fullbacks would take a high kick, and decide to run – Folau does it just about every time.
He set up Joe Tomane’s 16th minute try by heading left for 50 metres, linking with Bernard Foley who timed his pass to perfection, giving Tomane a clear run to the line,
Magnificent rugby with nothing on until Folau made it happen.
Like many rugby fans who remember only too well what a liability Dean Mumm was to the Waratahs in 2011 and 2012, and couldn’t understand how on earth he made the Wallaby squad on his return from Exeter, Mumm stood up to be counted immediately he came off the bench at Mendoza.
His crushing 30-metre run down the right hand touch ended in a five-pointer at a critical time, even though it was off a forward pass from Michael Hooper.
The last two magnificent moments were courtesy of Kurtley Beale off the bench at the death.
He slipped a pass under pressure to Foley, who overhead passed to Tevita Kuridrani, who crashed over.
Two minutes later, Folau made a typical midfield bust, unloaded to a perfectly-positioned Beale who slipped his pass that sent Adam Ashley-Cooper on his way to the white line.
Four cracking tries that took about three minutes all up to dot down.
It’s the other 77 minutes that could see permanent damage to Michael Cheika’s hairline.
The two biggest problems are senseless penalties given away, especially in the opposition quarter, undoing all the hard work getting there.
Lack of discipline will cost the Wallabies dearly, not only in points with every likely opponent boasting 80% or better kickers, but loss of territory as well.
And the Wallaby goal-kicking is a major problem.
In the two games against the Boks and Pumas, Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley, and Matt Giteau landed nine out of 16 attempts.
Foley’s five out of nine at Mendoza isn’t acceptable. It wasn’t the misses so much as Foley’s ball-striking that was way off centre.
Next up the All Blacks on Saturday week at ANZ to decide the Rugby Championship, and the first leg of the two-game Bledisloe series.
Vital questions only Cheika can answer:
What to do with the continual concussions Matt Toomua is suffering?
Admittedly it’s 13 days between Mendoza and ANZ, but Toomua has become a physical liability to himself as well as his team.
Quade Cooper’s not the answer after his ordinary game taking Toomua’s place in the eighth minute, and even more telling when a head high late tackle on Nicolas Sanchez earned Cooper a yellow card with the Wallabies only leading 19-9 at the 65th minute.
Cooper was lucky it wasn’t red. it was so blatant. Raising his arms above his head virtually saying “it wasn’t me sir” fooled no-one except himself.
Giteau’s injured, but should be in the mix in 13 days time. but it’s Kurtley Beale for mine for the 12 jersey. The Wallabies need the two x-factors on duty together – Beale and Folau.
Will Cheika play David Pocock and Michael Hooper in the ANZ starting lineup?
That’s a must, but where?
Pocock, my man-of-the-match at Mendoza with the No 7 jersey, Hooper No 6, and either Wycliff Palu, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, or Dean Mumm at No 8.
Scott Sio and Sekope Kepu have put their hands up to join skipper Stephen Moore in the Wallaby front row.
James Slipper and Greg Holmes were outplayed at Mendoza, but Sio and Kepu were outstanding when they came off the bench.
Another Cheika problem is halfback with Will Genia injured. If Nick Phipps isn’t barking at the referee, he’s barking at his supports with the ball at his feet, Far less chatter and more concentration on the job at hand will give his supports seconds of extra space.
Nic White is there on sufferance with Genia injured, and Nic Stirzaker not picked.
My potential Wallaby squad for ANZ:
(1) Scott Sio
(2) Stephen Moore (c)
(3) Sekope Kepu
(4) Will Skelton
(5) Rob Simmons
(6) Michael Hooper
(7) David Pocock
(8) Wycliff Palu
(9) Nick Phipps
(10) Matt Giteau
(11) Joe Tomane
(12) Kurtley Beale
(13) Tevita Kuridrani
(14) Adam Ashley-Cooper
(15) Israel Folau
(16) Tatafu Polota-Nau
(17) James Slipper
(18) Greg Holmes
(19) Dean Mumm
(20) Scott Fardy
(21) Nic White
(22) Bernard Foley
(23) Samu Kerevi