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The crack combination of David Pocock and Michael Hooper launched the Wallabies to a gripping 27-19 win over the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium last night to capture the Rugby Championship for the first time.
Next Saturday comes the Bledisloe Cup decider at Eden Park where the Wallabies haven’t won since 1986, and haven’t held the Bledisloe aloft since 2002.
What the heck, Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has made a habit of making his troops believe in themselves. Eden Park will be just another major hurdle to conquer.
Then the Rugby World Cup, just 40 days away.
Make no mistake, today’s Wallabies are the direct result of Cheika’s coaching.
And while beating the All Blacks was a supreme effort, there were many facets of their play that aren’t part of the overall Cheika game plans.
Like passing behind support that jolted any backline moves, especially in the first half. Like losing three successive own-ball lineouts within sight of the All Black tryline. Like missing too many first time tackles, and making too many turnovers.
We haven’t seen the best of the Wallabies yet, but they are getting there.
For example, the scrum has improved out of sight. And it’s worth repeating, the mindset has improved out of sight as well, that’s been a constant weak link over the last decade.
The mindset and the depth, two more major breakthroughs from the Michael Cheika desk.
The front row of Scott Sio, skipper Stephen Moore, and Sekope Kepu with 158 caps between them, more than held their own against Tony Woodcock, Dan Coles, and Owen Franks who share 214.
The locks James Horwill and Dean Mumm last played together five years ago, but last night they played like youngsters, full of energy.
Having already saluted Pocock and Hooper who would have shared my men of the match award, don’t overlook the tireless Scott Fardy. The Wallaby trio outplayed Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, and Kieran Read – no mean feat.
But there were two individual debits.
Nick Phipps has played his last game, the only weak link in an otherwise superb performance. He was too slow delivering, his passing pedestrian.
When Phipps was yellow carded for foul play in the 53rd minute with the Wallabies hanging onto a tenuous 10-9 lead, Phipps left shaking his head as though it was a bad decision from English referee Wayne Barnes.
The bad call was the stupidity of Phipps’ foul play.
Once Nic White came on after Phipps’ 10 minute holiday, the Wallaby backline lifted enormously. White landed a critical 48 metre penalty, scored a try and converted it to wrap up the game.
White was the icing on the cake, and I never thought I’d ever write that.
Bernard Foley is gone as well. Matt Toomua will be the 10 at Eden Park.
Foley wasn’t even first choice goal-kicker last night, that honour went to Matt Giteau, and once Toomua came on the backline started to flow as he straightened the attack.
Giteau will be pressed by the presence of Kurtley Beale off the bench, while the back three of Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper, and the incredible Israel Folau will be on Eden Park duty.
Every one of the Wallaby bench lifted the side, yet another coup for the constant Cheika depth drive. And there are more in the grandstand just itching for a crack and deserving one.
Let’s be practical. One Test win doesn’t make a season, but three in a row against the calibre of the Boks, Pumas, and All Blacks is more than meaningful, it’s bloody magnificent.
But four on the trot will be the ultimate, watching Stephen Moore hold aloft the coveted Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park dispatching the 1986 and 2002 hoodoos to the dust bin of history.
Then Wallaby rugby will be back.