New Zealand 42 – Australia 8. The biggest defeat for the Wallabies in Australia. A thrashing from the All Blacks and, as sure as you can be about anything in sport, another year of the Bledisloe Cup remaining in New Zealand.
In the 65th minute of the Test, with the score line 42-3, the Fox Sports television coverage flashed these statistics on the screen. Metres gained – Wallabies 324, All Blacks 798; missed tackles – Wallabies 29, All Blacks 8; linebreaks – Wallabies 1, All Blacks 9; advantage line gain percentage Wallabies 56, All Blacks 74.
These are the statistics a top tier nation would expect to create against a minnow rugby power. They are not the statistics that a top tier rugby nation should concede against any other team.
The 39-point advantage the All Blacks had at the time represented, if it had been maintained, the biggest winning margin ever in Australia-New Zealand rugby Tests going back to 1903.
Nick Phipps was one of the few Wallabies to emerge with any credit from the Test, although he played on the wing to cover for all the injured backs. His try at the end of the Test, made through some courageous stepping through a black wall of defenders, meant that the Wallabies scored one try to the six scored by the All Blacks.
In boxing terms, the Wallabies were knocked out in the second round of a 10-round title fight.
You could tell the All Blacks were mentally and physically up for the Test when they used their cut-throat Kapa o Pango haka. Those thousands of New Zealanders at the stadium, blobs of black amidst the massive fields of Wallabies golden daffodil scarves in the 65,328 crowd, immediately roared their approval.
The All Blacks had come to play. And play they did in a manner few teams ever in the history of the game have done.
All the Michael Cheika motivational rubbish about them not respecting the Wallabies was blown away in a brilliantly ruthless exhibition of the modern catch-pass-run modern game. The highest respect an All Blacks side can pay to their opponents is to play superbly against them. And this is what they did.
The Wallabies, on the other hand, had turned up to pay rather than play. They paid for having no system in their play. After a couple of phases someone just kicked the ball away. Bernard Foley dropped so far back in the pocket, you could swear he was playing at fullback rather than as the supposed playmaker.
The Wallabies lineouts were a shambles and they paid for that by losing a 5m lineout when they were set up for a rolling maul early on in the Test when it was still a contest. All Blacks were winning ball on the Wallabies’ throws in a way that led you to believe Dane Coles rather than Stephen Moore was throwing in. There was some ironic cheering when after about 30 minutes of play, the Wallabies finally won a lineout on their own throw.
In modern times, the All Blacks score on average around 27 points a match. I was searching in my mind throughout the match to find or work out the method the Wallabies were using or trying to use to score the four or five tries that would bring them close to the All Blacks average score, and a Wallabies win.
I couldn’t find it. You are not going to beat the All Blacks by kicking the ball to them. Their game is based on running the ball back through the disrupted defensive lines of their opponents. But this is what the Wallabies did, even after half-time when they desperately needed many points to make a game of the Test.
Ironically, during the pre-Test warm-ups, the Wallabies ran through several sequences of clever back line movements. I was watching pretty closely but I couldn’t see any of these sequences being used in the Test.
On the other hand, the All Blacks ran through their pass and catch drills and they brought these drills to the Test. Sometimes the pass and catch efforts had a Harlem Globetrotters brilliance in execution and effectiveness about them.
Essentially, though, we had one side, the All Blacks, playing as a team and the Wallabies playing (or not playing actually) as individuals without much concern, or so it seemed to me, for the interests of the team.
I am going to say something now that is provocative. But it needs to be said. Michael Cheika’s decision to bring back the Giteau Law players, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Will Genia is destroying and probably has, for 2016, the inclusive, self-sacrificing, team-first culture of the Wallabies.
This decision meant that Nick Frisby, who should be the next Wallabies long-term half-back, is not even in the squad.
It meant that Samu Kerevi, a big, fast, enthusiastic youngster, a runner who gained more metres that just about any other Australian in Super Rugby, was not in the starting 23. Kyle Godwin, named by Nicholas Bishop in The Roar, as a possible long-term Wallabies inside back and who has a left foot kick, is not in the squad.
It meant that Rory Arnold and Sam Carter, the big second rowers who powered the Brumbies maul and lineout, were not even in the squad.
It meant that promising young outside backs like Andrew Kellaway, a record try-scorer in the World Rugby under-20 championship, ahead of Julian Savea, are not in the squad.
I watched the ‘Giteau Law’ players during the Test. It made for horror show viewing.
Will Genia, singled out by Cheika as playing well, missed a tackle on Ryan Crotty to let in the All Blacks’ first try. There was no sign of the Genia break-outs, or his former ability under the high ball. He hasn’t played for nine months and has cartilage problems.
He shouldn’t have been brought back from France.
Adam Ashley-Cooper had his first touch in the 34th minute. He was outplayed by Phipps as a Wallabies winger!
He shouldn’t have been brought back from France.
Matt Giteau almost dropped his first catch. Then got himself caught up in a ruck/tackle. Due to an unfortunate injury he was off the field after 11 minutes! That was longer than he spent on the field than the Rugby World Cup final.
He shouldn’t have been brought back from France.
Drew Mitchell was not selected in the starting 23. He apparently hasn’t played any rugby for nine months. He is keeping the Kellaways of Australian rugby out of the Wallabies. Why has he been selected for the squad?
He shouldn’t have been brought back from France.
To this list, I would add players like Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Stephen Moore, and David Pocock (going on a sabbatical anyway) whose future in the Wallabies should be limited to The Rugby Championship.
Cheika needs to do what Steve Hansen did with the All Blacks in 2012, after they won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He introduced nine new All Blacks who displaced veterans whose best days were in the past. All nine of these new players are in the current All Blacks squad and are now among the senior players in the team.
Now we get to the damage done to the culture of the Wallabies by the return of the Giteau Law players. Their very presence is divisive. They have left Australia. No one is criticising them for this. But by allowing themselves to be rushed into the Wallabies squad, even though their best days in the jersey, are long gone, they are indulging themselves at the expense (literally and figuratively) of the younger, better players who are the future of Australian and Wallabies rugby.
I got a very real sense of the self-indulgence and smug self-interest of Giteau, Ashley-Cooper and Mitchell a couple of weeks ago when they tweeted their opposition to an article I wrote that pointed out Cheika’s Giteau Law back-to-the-future plan for the Wallabies would “end in tears.”
Being attacked for what I have written, as ardent readers of The Roar will know, is nothing new for me. So people reading what I say next should understand this. It is why the three old amigos have tweeted that is the important, and the repercussions of their attitude as far as the needed re-building of the Wallabies is concerned.
After the tweets, Mitchell then accused me (in a name and shame attempt) of being “negative” and “ill-formed.” He did this on the ARU’s own website and then in The Daily Telegraph.
Once again, let me make it clear, the fact of these existing are irrelevant, as far as I am concerned. It is what they mean for the damaging of the inclusive culture of the Wallabies that is the real concern.
Here is what Mitchell said about my insistence that bringing back the veterans from France will hold back the development of the next generation of Wallabies: “I just think it was ill-informed, there was a negative intent to it. We’re here as much for the off-field stuff as the on-field. We want to help the younger guys and Cheika has wanted that.”
We can see from the pathetic performance from the Wallabies on Saturday night just how much the presence of the French veterans has helped the younger players. Many people have told me that have never seen a worse performance from the Wallabies, even in the Woeful Wallabies days, as that provided on Saturday night.
Moreover, can anyone tell me what help Ashley-Cooper, Mitchell, Giteau and Genia have been to the young players, on the rise, the future of the Wallabies, who they have kept out of the squad or the starting 23?
This disaster has been nothing more than a cover-up for Cheika’s woeful selection policies, an over-wrought coaching style that confuses motivation with proper preparation, his penchant for playing veterans over young talent and a disregard for the civilities of discourse and conduct in a rugby context.
Who going to take any responsibility for the now-obvious disastrous impact the Giteau Law players are having on the Wallabies culture and public discourse about rugby matters?
Dianne F Stemp
Guest
everything u have said spiro is true ,start blooding some new players while golden oldies in team no chance ,look at steven moore cant even play 80 minutes wannabies look old and scruffy
Dave Pook
Guest
I think the most annoying thing about this is that it feels like the drive to win at all costs came from the ARU after the England series, rather than the fans who are always prepared cop a loss if they feel the team is moving in the right direction for the next World Cup.
Rhys
Guest
Dead right Jacko. oz have 2 teams too many, it weakens the gene pool,, an sa has 3 too many, the same teams always crowd bottom of the table. The touted benefit is someone, god knows who, makes a lot of money, but oz and sa get sicker the more teams they are add, worshiping the myth, it makes them stronger. Given the training regimes and resources available in the modern professional arena, imagine the quality of footy we'd be watching if there were just 3 ozzies teams and 3 saffas. It was Shakespeare or Plato I believe, that said "Too many cocks in the kitchen makes shit soup".
Richard Hood
Guest
Spot on. We have plenty of good young players.
Marlin
Guest
I think we (could) have the talent/depth but because the Rungy world is so useless the AFL and the NRL and soccer take all the talent. They have no plan at grassroots level to retain the players - the AFL go into schools, hand out kits, coaches, training etc etc etc and what does rugby do? Buy a marque player - we are on the road to nowhere
Craig
Guest
As a kiwi commenting I agree with Spiro! The truth hurts!
Roy Harris
Guest
I can't believe that you guys still have not got it yet. You call yourselves professional sports men and your are waffling You have totally missed it and as a consequence you have lost a year And even worse you have done a monumental disservice to the younger players that are coming through you all need to fall on your swirds
AuntyPodian
Guest
Couldn't agree more Spiro and have been saying as much since before the RWC. I _almost_ understood bringing back Giteau for the RWC, almost, since it was a RWC and he could (maybe) make a difference. But even then part of his brief should have been to remain and help prep the next generation of Wallabies. For the last 'n' years the ARU have focussed more on past glories, than on development of the game. Grass roots rugby is woefully underfunded, and the top tier players are nowhere to be seen. Funding from the ARU is instead used to bring back Dad's Army, or entice leaguies. Possibly the one thing I dissagree with you on (slightly, at least) is AAC - I do agree he shouldn't have been there as that is still an attempt at past glories, and he had decided to go on his own will. What I disagree is tat AAC was smug - his demeanor once the game got underway was clearly "wow, I'm nowhere near ready for this". He's not going to be ready for it this week either. In his day he was one of the best - possibly one of the few Aussies who, if he had chosen to become a Kiwi, could have found a plae in the ABs family. His day was yesterday, as a player - on that I agree with you. Cheika needs to look at how NZ (and South Africa) invest in and develop their talent, and start to replicate it. At the risk of lighting a fire, Deans started down this route, but it's a 5+ year plan, not a 3 month plan, and the ARU and the Australian public grew impatient. Part of the blame there lies with Deans' inability or lack of desire to communicate that plan properly, but part of it also lies with the ARU for failing to continue with it once Deans' day was done.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
Interesting. Thanks.
Heathrow
Guest
This bringing back players who qualify thing is fine until these guys retire then you have a squad with no experience who will get pasted week in week out by most teir 1 teams.whats most concerning is the wannabies have to plan b they just keep plugging away hoping something will happen and we know it doesn't. Israel folau probably the best player is average at best against a solid defensive side like nz england but c arves up against samoa etc making it appear hes actually good.hes not.stephen Moore has to go as captain he cant play 80.never saw richie leave the field after 55.australia has no depth and as such they do ok considering but the heyday mid 90's early 00's are long gone and this is the new status quo,sorry
Winston Grimes
Roar Rookie
There is no Australia rugby from schoolboy to the top. It is polluted with some junior clubs and parents who will lie and cheat and pay officials - anything to get their lack lustre kid selected and considered for a scholarship to Kings and others. The top young kids who play by the rules, are dedicated to the sport are caste to one side. Within the GPS more rot as it is all about winning,nothing about skills and character. If you are an islander and weigh 90kg at 15 and scholastically challenged - your in. Club rugby is dead, 1st 15 players are sons of officials in the club or old boys sons. It is all about the individual. Wallabies - a bunch of so so talented individuals. They are NOT a team, they will not tackle, they will not pass hoping for some individual glory. They spend more time with ads and getting their hair right that knowing and executing drills. After all these years of following and supporting rugby I am over it. I get no joy, no rush from watching the game. I turn my back on the sport and the Wannabees.
Geoff T
Guest
At the moment i think that the Wallabies are just try to win a Cup to put in there trophy cabinet, and not looking forward to the future.
Andrew
Guest
Wow, you seriously want to blame the overseas players, have you bothered to watch the s15 or whatever it is now for the past few years? Since the waratahs won it, the the aussie teams have been crap, even the year NSW won, the other aussie teams were crap. No aussie team would have got close to the semis this year if it wasn't for the warped way they decide the semi finals, and this despite the fact that they have the easiest draw of all the countries because they get to play the other aussie teams 50% of the time LOL. We don't have the talent for 5 teams in Australia because ethe ARU doesn't invest any money into its juniors. How do you honestly expect the aussie team to be ready for hard test football when they are use to playing soft games in the lead up. On top of that the aru doesn't let them play club rugby when they arnt playing S17, so last week we had players playing that hadn't played for 4 weeks and some even longer. If you think banning overseas players is the answer, you seriously have no idea.
Andrew
Guest
Really Taylorman, so your saying European rugby isn't at the elite level? Gee the poms and irish and welsh go all right them considering there players play in such a soft competition. Do you watch the super 15, its no were near as tough as it use to be, its all about points not toughest. The aussie teams are s***. we don't have enough talent to go around and we spent 50% of our time playing against each other, instead of playing the tougher teams. I would be willing to bet giteau and the rest are playing tougher football then most of the home base players. The kiwis on the other hand actually play most of there games against tough opposition because they play each other. The aussies teams are a chance for the NZ sides to have a rest before they play someone decent.
Andrew
Guest
yeah of course he is, this coming from a group of men who are blaming a player for getting injured, seriously!!!
Andrew
Guest
Oh PO, Australia hadn't played a match since the world cup, the poms had played plenty, the aussies were always on a hiding to nothing.
Andrew
Guest
They had the hardest pool of the lot, they were lucky against Scotland as in they got a penalty in the last few minutes, but they well and truly outplayed Scotland, Scotland was ahead because of dubious penalties and numerous missed penalties especially in the scrums. Its amazing that the only bad decision people remember is the one in the last minute when there were numerous other bad calls. The scotish prop cheated the whole game and Scotland was rewarded with 6 points (or was it nine) not to mention a number of other scrums that the aussies should have got the penalty and would have allowed them to kick a penalty or score a try. Sure the Scottish played with guts and determination but that didn't make them the better side. The argies would have beat them by 70.
Twisty
Guest
As an ardent fan, I believe if you are Australian and play rugby you should be eligible to be picked to play for Australia. IF your form warrants it. The reason the All Blacks have always done so well is because they have always done this. Look at how long it took them to get any player to 100 caps, and how many have played 100 caps (also look at who they were and how good they were still playing when THEY retired). We have too regularly picked on reputation, this is not a recent development, a " giteau" development . Yes some players in form were left out, and yes the players picked ahead of them didn't perform, but this is not a "giteau law" incident. It is an Australian rugby psyche that has been ongoing for way to long. It is also not something that is limited to the players.
John Flannery
Guest
Insightful.
Garfunkel
Guest
Well I almost have to laugh myself to sleep EVERY night Spiro because the rest of the Rugby World haven't worked out that unless you adopt and follow the NZ model for the development of Rugby in your various countries YOU ARE STUFFED. None of you even know who GOVERNS the sport let alone who sets priorities. Here's a clue. Study the changes brought into NZ Rugby by Henry, Hansen and Smith in 2008 and in particular study and understand the player identification and retention programme. Until you and the Poms etc work that out you will have NO BLOODY CHANCE. It might help you understand where our depth comes from. In the meantime, prepare yourselves for another NZ World Cup Victory and general domination of the game.