It promised so much and rather awkwardly, delivered even more. The homecoming of Eddie Jones has been an overwhelming, if unfortunate success.
Sadly, it all comes to an end this weekend. No more Eddie media jibes until the Wallabies next head north. No more talk of orchestrated campaigns. The media conspiracy – which I obviously can neither confirm nor deny – will be no more.
And for all our hospitality, he wants to leave our shores with a 3-0 scoreline. That’s the thanks we get!
For the last weekend of international rugby for the time being, here are the talking points.
Strength of stability versus the continued search for… well, something
After seeing yet another chopped and changed Wallabies side, it was like ‘our Eddie’ sensed one last chance to toy with Australian – and particularly Australian coaches’ – minds.
“You have to work extremely hard to earn an England cap so there was no temptation to make changes for the sake of change,” Jones said on Thursday, after he announced New Zealand-born backrower Teimana Harrison as the only change to the 23 which secured the Cook Cup series in Melbourne last week.
James Haskell was ruled out of the Sydney Test with a foot injury that Jones said, “hasn’t quite recovered from Saturday”. There was plenty of suggestion that winger Jack Nowell might also be ruled out with concussion symptoms, but even he’s remained on deck to earn another England cap.
Ben Te’o, in the end, got an RFU-funded trip home to catch up with family and supply early-tour headlines.
For the Wallabies, of course, it was another week of changes, after another week of searching for answers on the training track.
So it’s another lock pairing, another midfield pairing, more puzzling omissions, the recall of players previously cut, even fewer lineout options, and still no ball thief.
What can possibly go wrong?
Risk versus reward
If Michael Cheika gambled with Sean McMahon at No.8 last week, then it was an even bigger gamble to keep him there this week.
But with Haskell being ruled out, the risk of keeping McMahon at No.8 might be eased. Everything I’ve read about Teimana Harrison tells me that he’s a very talented young player, but it also tells me he’s played almost all of his rugby at Northampton at No.8.
Jones sees so much promise in him as opensider, however, that he’s left Australian-born Harlequins flanker Jack Clifford – who as far back as January was earmarked as the player to take Chris Robshaw’s then openside berth – on the bench again for the Third Test.
If Australia’s attacking ruck can keep enough of an eye on Robshaw, then the prospect of the Wallabies having a better time of it at the breakdown is definitely there.
Out wide, Cheika is banking on the Brumbies combination of Matt Toomua and Tevita Kuridrani paying off for him as it often did in 2015. In truth, Toomua’s selection probably saved Kuridrani’s bacon, and certainly, Samu Kerevi can think himself very unlucky. I’m sure I wasn’t alone in thinking he’d done enough to hold a place.
It will be interesting to see what Toomua’s presence does for Bernard Foley in attack. The further this series has gone on in the face of the white English defensive wall, the deeper Foley has attacked from. But if Toomua is there to straighten the attack and use his own passing game to supply the inside and outside runners, then Foley will need to play a whole lot flatter. The reward will be the Wallabies attack finding some spark.
But the risk there is that Toomua hasn’t played since the first weekend in May. And he’d been struggling with the knee injury that forced him out for several weeks before then. Let’s hope he’s good to go.
Get the Lions on the line
South African coach Alister Coetzee borrowed from the late Tony Greig’s famous advertising catchphrase last weekend at Ellis Park, and it’s worked so well that he’s put more Lions in the starting line this weekend in Port Elizabeth.
The injection of Warren Whiteley, Jaco Mostert and especially Ruan Combrinck turned the Test on its head last week, and with a chance to win the series, Coetzee has promoted Whiteley and Combrinck to the starting side alongside Lions teammates Faf de Klerk, Elton Jantjies, and Lionel Mapoe.
But he didn’t stop there, finally naming burgeoning cult hero and genuinely one of my favourite players, runaway Lions flanker Jaco Kriel on the bench. Did you know that when Jaco’s parents were scared at night, they used to climb into bed with him? And that he once took a lie detector test and the machine confessed everything?
That’s the kind of power the man yields, and what Coetzee is about to unleash on the Irish. Pray for them.
Was Newlands Ireland’s high point?
The way the Boks ran away with the second Test, and the way the Irish found themselves completely incapable of arresting the turnaround of momentum has me worried about them this weekend in Port Elizabeth.
Now they face the same sort of challenges they faced at Newlands in the first Test, but with confidence fairly dented and their opposition with the tail well and truly up.
It’s a real shame they couldn’t hold out for even just ten more minutes last weekend; that may well have been enough to snuff all hopes of a South African comeback. And as a result, suddenly the first ever series win in the Republic seems as far away as ever.
Jared Payne is a big loss, and Joe Schmidt has rung the changes in the hope of replicating the form that is his side out to early leads in both Tests. Will it be enough? I’m not so sure.
Eleven different cogs, but the All Blacks machine still chugs away
Hands up who saw Steve Hansen making 11 changes to his side for Dunedin? Liars.
Let’s try that again. Exactly, no-one.
Some changes are forced, sure. Aaron Cruden and Malakai Fekitoa were both forced out with injuries, but elsewhere it’s changes a-plenty.
I’m really pleased to see Highlanders backrowers Elliot Dixon and Liam Squire picked. Dixon, as well as being one of the form players in Super Rugby over the last two seasons, has the best head-tape arrangement in the game, while Squire now boasts the best haircut in world rugby.
George Moala gets a shot, Waisake Naholo gets a rocket, and Tawera Kerr-Barlow gets another game of rugby after a long layoff.
And the scary thing? Even with so many changes, the All Blacks won’t miss a beat. With dry track under the roof, this one for Wales could really escalate quickly. Could really get out of hand fast.
Enjoy your last weekend of Test rugby. For a little bit…
Charl
Guest
Moa, many people were outspoken then. As they are now. Other countries were outspoken then, but aren't now. That is a real tragedy. Damien de Allende's heritage is neither here nor there - he's a South African, and a great person and rugby player.
Charl
Guest
Complete crap. It's not rumour, it's lies. It's Tony Ehrenreich from Cosatu. And you believe Tony Ehrenreich. Hilarious. You clearly don't know South Africans and rugby.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Ha ha. I know for a fact one isn't true...Richie's never been to the Islands. Think you're getting he and Shane Warne mixed up.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
You mean Japan right ?
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Its Germany - could be husband and wife ..
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Too busy chortling to cringe !
buster
Guest
If Toomea 's knee doesn't hold up, what then?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Aargh, swing low. The words of a people of time gone by. The best of England shipped out centuries ago Timbo. Sadly, they're trying to get it back by buying it in. We just laugh. They still think they're the centre of the universe. Now they've voted to go it alone again.And I thought Trumps fan base was fickle. ?
Akari
Roar Rookie
Thanks and good call in hindsight indeed...
Jaffamike
Guest
Love it!
Loftus
Guest
Truth hurts? Or do you prefer to hide your head in the sand, like an ostrich? This is rugby related and should be exposed
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Seriously, the German cyclist Jens Voigt has a similar reputation. Some say that Kriel and Voigt are cousins....
Phillip
Guest
I reckon he could have stopped Brexit all on his own.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Nicely written Brett and as always worth a giggle at the puns/jokes. Will be interesting to see what Fast Eddie will have his Northern Heathen Horde do in the 3rd test. SFS track looks good, should hold well for scrums etc and weather is fine though almost as cold as Canberra. It should suit the WB fast running game, maybe even the now-non-Euro Poms might have a run. I suspect the Poms will try to make it a penalty-fest like in the 1st test. Schoolmaster Nigel Owens won't cop scrums collapsing, but as long as he polices the rucks and stops all the shenanigans that went on in Melbourne, then no-one can complain. Good to see A.Coleman get a run and spot on with S.McMahon, our mini8. Obviously the current #8 in Aus SR don't cut the mustard for M.Cheika so lets hope he goes well. I imagine Big Willy and W.Palu are there to repeat their "heroics" for the Tahs against the Chiefs, who also stood off most breakdowns. Skelton and Palu with Tom Robertson trucked it up the middle with multi pick-n-go and had the Chiefs running backwards. They do that here and McMahon and M.Hooper could have a field day. Nicholas Bishop in his Roar article, http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/06/22/didnt-australia-play-smarter-melbourne/ had some great photos of the 2nd Test showing acres of empty space behind the England rush defence line. I couldn't believe the WB didn't try some over-the-top kicks with a suite of chasers to ruck over the top of any Pom who dares touch the ball. Any decent 5/8 and well coached midfield chasers would have done some horrible damage. Only 1 such kick in the match was strange and that was poorly chased. Maybe coaches orders, Brett, do you have any suggestions? In the SA vs Ireland 2nd test, the Spuds looked out on their feet in the last 10 minutes. I wondered how much was due to the high altitude and how much from the really good SB subs adding the oomph to run over them. Back to sea level evens it up again but agree the SB should win. As for the Kiwi vs Wails, black runs through their veins. They could bring in 11 sheep and likely still win. Unless Jaco Kriel was on the other team, then it would then be Lamb Chops in Haka Sauce for dinner. And remember, go the WB. :)
Stu. B.
Guest
Hi Brett,enjoying the blogs big time but leave the Boks to worry about the men in black and focus on our own problems What I need to say is, right now if Eddie Jones was to be coaching the Wallabies we would shed him in a similar manner as the coaching list over the last 10-15 seasons and it would be for similar reasons the playing list believe they are test players and have no intention of being physically and phycologicly battle hardened,working together as a professional unit helping each other to reach a common goal.meaning winning tests The way I see it any wallaby coach to pressure these guys attracts a negative reaction and I couldn't anticipate a different attitude to Eddie But you say we managed world cup runner up ,well remember Scotland and don't forget we were comprehensively beaten in that final. From an over the hill hooker to a sleepy fullback and not very much in between,just doing enough to hold position, it will be a long, long time between consistent victories. As a long term solution I would suggest that Australian rugby should take ownership of the game and grow it in its entirety,control from infants to golden oldies with coaching at every level working toward a common goal,get rid of this ad hock protectionism,this has inhibited our growth and expertise with only a few exceptions for a 100 plus years.I understand some hard working amateurs will fear for their cups and shields but this is Australia and the focus needs to arrive toward this point.
Marius Ciliers
Roar Guru
Good day Digger. This topic has come to light a couple times. And nope not talking bout ol Cheika.. I was researching Defensive Attacking Strategies online when I stumbled upon this article. http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/wallaby-attack-patterns/ . Was interesting to read the Roar commentry and post test analysis and the questions raised, having allready read this article. Not a full in depht article but a good read none the less.
Steve
Guest
Not happy. Australia unfortunately is stuck in a playing mode of phase rugby that is way too predicable. The Kiwis learnt a new way to play against us when Maqueen and Jones coached Australia and they bought in the the rugby league style defence that England through Jones is now using against.us. Total rugby is how the Kiwis evolved their game to beat our defensive systems. Cheika and the ARU need to get a whole lot smarter if we are to win consistently against the big rugby playing nations, otherwise second tier countries like Wales and Scotland are going to start beating us on a more regular basis as they work out how to read us and defend against our one dimensional phase play strategy.
Harry Jones
Expert
I am in that cult. He's an assassin with ball in hand
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
A lot of men died building Rome Chook ...*S* ... Very good post man!
HiKa
Roar Rookie
It's an uncomfortable fact that rugby in South Africa necessarily involves racial politics. Not necessarily the choice of South African rugby, but a choice made by South African politicians. To say there should be no mention of it is to promote ignorance. I welcome Boks fans posting about the racial angst about selection policy for their team as it gives us all a better understanding of what's going on with the Springboks, and SA society more generally.