0-3. Not a great look, is it? The Wallabies have officially been whitewashed after a 40-44 loss at Allianz Stadium. Here are our talking points from the match.
More of the wash-up from Wallabies vs England
» England whitewashes the Wallabies
» Match report: Wallabies go down in points-fest
» DIY Player Ratings
» Roar Forum: Wallabies to-do list for the Rugby Championship
» How hard does a Wallabies forward hit?
» Re-live the match with our live blog
» WATCH: The full match highlights
The whitewash we didn’t see coming
Australia was pretty confident of a win coming into this series – after all, before now, we had never lost a series on home soil to the English.
To not only lose the series but for it to finish as a total whitewash in favour of the visitors was a surprise that we quite simply never saw coming.
Decades from now when some future rugby writer looks up this series in the record book, they might glance at the results and think it came in a poor era for Australian rugby.
To see that it came after a year when the Wallabies won the Rugby Championship and were runners-up at the World Cup will be baffling.
So this comes as a bit of a wake-up call – will it be the making or breaking of this side? And why did it happen? Well, one factor is…
Missed kicks costs points
It’s a simple fact of the game – if you can’t kick for goal reliably, you are going to miss out on vital points. In match decided by a margin of just 4 points last night, this is a killer.
England’s Owen Farrell missed just three shots on goal for the entire series, and no more than one in any single match, missing two penalty goals in the first two Tests and a conversion last night.
Bernard Foley’s record in front of goal across the series however looks pretty shabby. In the first Test? We had just one of four tries converted. Last night? Two conversions and a penalty goal missed. Nail all three and it would’ve been a win.
Of course, Farrell’s lack of misses is even more impressive when you consider the fact that he’s taken so many more shots than his Australian counterpart. And why is that? Because the Wallabies showed…
Poor discipline
If you could point out one defining factor about the Test series as to why England won and Australia lost, this is probably it.
In the first Test, England had six penalty goals from seven attempts, while Australia managed two from two. In the second Test, England had three from four, Australia none from none. Last night, Farrell booted a perfect six from six, Australia three from four.
Do we need to say anything else? These numbers are a worrying trend and really, they are unacceptable for a side that wants to win. The Wallabies played some great rugby at times during the series, but shot themselves in the foot when it came to their relationship with the referee. And that begs the question of…
Leadership?
Is it time for a change? If Brexit is enough to make David Cameron resign in disgrace, surely a 0-3 series loss to England on home soil is pushing it for Stephen Moore?
Okay, we’re kidding there… but only a little. Maybe it’s not so much a question of who the Wallabies captain should be now, but who the captain should be come 2019, and how long we want them to have been in the job when the journey to Japan rolls around.
A few names have been floated for that task, but it feels like a real standout successor to Moore is yet to emerge.
Finally, since it’d be a bit mean to have all the talking points be about the Wallabies, let’s ask…
How far can Eddie’s England go?
A clean sweep at Six Nations, and now a white wash on Australian soil? There’s little more that Eddie Jones and his English side could have done to impress since he took over.
So the question becomes – just how far can they take it? They’ve lifted themselves up to No.2 in the world rankings, which leaves us with a pretty clear next goal for this side.
Can Eddie’s England beat the All Blacks? Could they even push towards a world cup win in 2019? There’s a long way to go, but the early signs are promising.
Timbo (L)
Guest
Can't have a full time 8 without a full time 7 on the field. Would have liked to see Frisby with more time on the park. DHP is awesome at 15, yet he is playing 14. Morahan also has a magic boot and should be the heir apparent for 14. Izzy is an awesome 13 or 11 yet he is playing at 15.
Timbo (L)
Guest
TWAS, I think this is what is known in the literary world as artistic license or hyperbole. A concept not foreign to authors nor posters. But yes a bit harsh if taken on face value.
Timbo (L)
Guest
Before Sighting Moore's overthrow, it might help to watch this: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/picture-evidence-backs-wallabies-claim-on-linesmans-touch/news-story/22d2d5fecc0270b580dbbb5ec1bfcfad I am not saying that this would have changed the outcome of the match but it should change how we judge Moore and Coleman on that particular line out.
Martin English
Roar Rookie
SP, I don't think Hooper is playing against instructions; for a start he has played that "non traditional" role for many coaches at both state and international level. That leaves me with the obvious question... Why have so many persisted with Hooper as a non traditional number 7. I think it goes back to a point others have made; the lack of depth of Australian Rugby. Even with my prejudice against his style of play, I would be hard pressed to leave him out of the Wallabies let alone Waratahs. Whether you would do that comes down to a judgement call on whether his replacement would add enough in the traditional role to allow others to do their job better,; A simple example would be whether a better scrummager (enabling a) a straighter front row and b) a better platform for the backline) would bring more to the team than Hooper's general play where he does excel. It's not just Hooper... As alluded elsewhere, it's has become a jigsaw, trying to fit the 23 best players available, regardless of position, into a cohesive game day squad. That's why you get a fullback playing on the wing, a centre playing fullback etc...
Brumbies fan
Guest
Plus one Fox
RubberLegs
Guest
The ARU could buy a winger who can kick goals and drop Horne.
kiwineil
Guest
on reflection i think many of Australias problems in this series stem from having two world class sevens and trying to fit them both on the same pitch at the same time. In so doing the rest of the pack is undersized, and going backwards, or at least not going forwards. Which pressures an admittedly average half 5/8 combination. So the backs get slow ball.... I dont think thats all .. .and I lament some of the selections this series, and the lack of rugby brain shown throughout, but i reckon solving the above gets you 80% of the way there. You might say hold on Poey didnt play the last two. and that s right. However, once Poey was out, did Aust play a true #8 at #8 in Test II and III? or another 7?
bruce bridges
Roar Rookie
The balance in the pack is fixable. Just select a back row that offers Line out option Ball carrying Defense Strong breakdown presence. Just pick a proper 8 and get over the fixation on back row that does not offer all of those 3 especially when effectively playing 6-7-7.
Vic Ram
Guest
Very upset with the results, hurts as a wallaby supporter n fan. its high time they should drop captain Moore, he was the one who gave away 10 points in less than 5 minutes in second half, two straight line outs resulted in 10 points.............Moore too old n unfit, drop Rob Horne, didn't do anything in 3 test, useless wing................drop Greg Holmes another useless and dump player .............
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Fair comment all round.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Too many people comment on England's results without even watching the games. Colin's synopsis is a good one - and they have indeed improved again on this tour. Good teams don't become poor over three games - more likely they've been made to look that way.
moaman
Roar Guru
Exactly TWas, but I think that despite my elaboration, our self-appointed Roar Cunstable, Antoni, jumps in jackboots and all with a disparaging remark--again.
moaman
Roar Guru
Hooked to the left I think.
Hmmm
Guest
Wouldn't mind a toomua, kerevi, kurindrani setup. Need to drop horn and find a winger who kicks goals. Cll on wing , toomua to start practicing or bring in jack deb. Our general play kicking and goal kicking is one of the wallabies greatest weaknesses.
Rory
Guest
Caught and overtook them for a couple of years in 2001-2003 ?
Luke Ringland
Guest
I think they need to try Kerevi at 12 and Folau at 13 with a ball playing, kicking from hand fullback. I think Beale could have played this role well. But perhaps Hunt, DHP (is he a good ball player?) or maybe try the young guy Hodge.
pete and paul
Roar Rookie
I believe that England are becoming a good side...they are not a very very very good side as you say....they looked very very good because the WBs were bloody bad...
Faith
Guest
Amen to that. Phipps single-handedly lost that last game for Australia ... before the crazy pass to Folau there was still a chance.
lex
Guest
Discipline was a problem during the series but that can be fixed. England had a pretty awful record of giving away penalties during the Six Nations but somehow they fixed the problem between winning the 6N Grand Slam and showing up in Australia. This should be the easiest of fixes... Easiest of the easy fixes > tell the team the STFU instead of shouting at the refs.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Just bringing it down to your comprehension level