Let’s be clear: the Wallabies played better in the second Bledisloe this weekend than they did in the first game.
Let’s also be clear: the Wallabies did not play well.
If I was Michael Cheika I would be considering reviewing my LinkedIn connections and seeing if there are any teams around the world looking for a new coach come about December 2016.
To lose against this All Blacks side in Wellington is no disgrace at all.
The last time anyone beat them at home, Reece Hodge was 15 years old, Kevin Rudd was Prime Minister (the first time!) and the first Masterchef Australia series was aired.
The judgement of fans and critics alike must all come down to performance rather than the result.
Let’s look at the performance and talk about the good, the bad and the ugly.
Some passion and fight
No one can deny that the Wallabies stepped the aggression up a gear in Wellington. Knowing that they had to take the battle to the All Blacks and restore some sort of pride, the Aussies ripped in from the outset.
Sometimes that ripping seemed to be taking place at the expense of intelligence but nonetheless, the Wallabies let their opponents know that they were going to come off the pitch battered and bruised.
Using Folau’s strength in the air
As I said in my article last week, the Wallabies had to use Folau’s ability to take the high ball as an attack weapon in game two.
Time and again he has shown great ability to leap above any opposition and retain possession from a well placed up and under. In the 10th minute Cooper put the ball on a six pence – a beautiful high ball that came down just metres from the All Black’s line.
Folau did what he does best beating all defenders to take the ball and get oh so close to opening the Wallabies’ try account. I’ve written before that I think Folau is an overrated fullback, but there is no doubting that he is one of if not the best in the world under the high ball.
At a time when the Wallabies are searching for sources of points, it was great to see them going to this play early in the game.
Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper’s First Date
This new partnership performed better than predicted. This was Foley’s first professional game at 12 and the combinations first game together – and what a baptism! – and they didn’t do too badly.
At a time when teams like England are showing the value of having two flyhalfs playing at 12 and 10. This Aussie combo could develop quite well and provide the type of attack and kicking that is much needed.
Adam Coleman
A memorable Test match start to be sure. Of course, the late tackle was idiotic and there were times when the aggression was very close to being a poor alternative for actual skill.
Given that the Wallabies have had plenty of issues in their second row, Coleman’s first start was promising.
If he can learn to use that aggression in the right way, at the right times then he’s got a future.
Only losing by 20
A week after a spanking that was so hard it would have made a masochist rethink their chosen fetish, to lose by only 20 points in Wellington is strangely a sign of improvement.
Don’t ask me to justify that too much more, but it is.
Or at least it could be if the Wallabies go on from here and perform well in the rest of the Championship. If the good points from this game can act as a positive foundation to build momentum from then this loss can serve some purpose. Only time will tell.
Sadly there’s a few too many points to list here so we’ll focus on some of the major ones.
Poor Decision Making
The Wallabies continued to make bad decisions at important times. It’s been said so many times before but it’s still true – you cannot beat the All Blacks by making silly mistakes.
In the second minute of the game, the Wallabies were able to turn the ball over just outside their own 22. The ball was spun out to Samu Kerevi whose got space in front of him and four teammates outside him with a potential overlap.
For some very bizarre reason, Kerevi – a hard running centre usually – chose to deny his natural instincts and kick off his wrong foot.
The ball promptly went out on the full and the All Blacks had a line out on the Wallabies 22m line. The pressure was on straight away.
Defence
While the reduced margin of losing is an improvement, the Aussie defence was shown up a few too many times to let the back slapping begin.
One event especially stood out. In the second half, the Wallabies had moved Cooper back to cover the touchline kick because they weren’t confident of him defending in the backs. Folau had been moved over to provide cover in the centres and right wing.
The All Blacks put up a kick as Folau drifted back towards the Wallabies left wing. Cooper did an impression of a turnstile as Israel Dagg takes the up and under from him.
From the next ruck, the Kiwis moved the ball from right to left and Folau can be seen covering across – but he’s not meant to be providing fullback cover behind the Aussies back line, he’s meant to be in the line.
As a result when the All Blacks get the ball out to Smith he is able to get on the outside of Dane Haylett-Petty and Folau is still five metres away – the best he can do is try and tackle Ben Smith who easily gives the pass to Savea who then scores.
Folau and Cooper continue to be a weakness for the Wallabies in defence. Teams will recognise this and try and take advantage of it time and time again. It must be fixed.
Control
This is closely connected to decision making and sadly it was missing in action. Two key moments sum this up – both immediately after restarts.
In the 13th minute, with the Wallabies having just put pressure on the All Blacks and got three points, they then conceded a penalty from the kick off and Beauden Barrett knocked over the kick to cancel out the Aussie good work.
Then eight minutes later, the Wallabies score a penalty and then look to control the restart. The catch is cleanly taken, the ball is moved back to Cooper and he’s got time and space for the clearance.
It goes an awful ten metres. The resulting line out is just outside the Wallabies 22. From there, Dagg ends up scoring a try.
Scoring against the All Blacks is hard enough. You simply cannot undo all the hard work within seconds with poor control of simple situations.
It’s something drummed into kids from their school rugby coaches – you must not concede points just after you’ve scored some.
Line Out
I try not to swear in case my mother or daughter read these articles so I’m just going to say this: Please, please, please fix the line out.
Attack
There’s two things that stood out about the Wallabies attack on Saturday.
Firstly, for the vast majority of the game it was really very poor. No continuity, little momentum and poor decision making plagued the Aussies.
Obviously part of the reason for this is the way in which the All Blacks defended and also the fact that the Aussies had to do so much more defending than attacking that meant they were arguably more tired when they did get ball in hand.
But it’s important to note that despite a good run by Will Genia and a couple of broken tackles by Folau, there really wasn’t anything to cheer about for the Aussie fan. This has to change.
Teams need to be able to score points and compete on the scoreboard and if Plan A doesn’t work then they need to go to Plan B. And if Plan B doesn’t work then they need to change again.
The Wallabies’ attack against England was so much more impressive than it was in these past two games. Don’t get me wrong – the Aussies still lacked a lot during those three games too – but at least Plan A produced tries.
Against the All Blacks, the Aussies have looked truly boring in attack.
Secondly, why oh why will the Aussies not use Folau’s power in the air? As has been mentioned, in the tenth minute he took a great catch just metres from the All Blacks’ line. It seems ludicrous that Cooper and Foley would not try that again!
Part of the issue is that the Wallabies hardly got into the All Blacks 22 again but this move can be used in lots of positions around the pitch.
To be fair, there wasn’t anything really ugly about this game. The aggression was sometimes foolish and both teams will look back at points of contact and agree among themselves that those moments should not be repeated.
So instead of the ugly let’s end with the beautiful.
Barrett again had a great game and it was summed up not by another slicing run but by his great effort in the 56th minute. He dabbed a little kick through into the Aussie 22, Cooper grabbed it and kicked long to get the Aussies out of defence – but who is back inside the All Blacks half to take the catch cleanly, over his head, and attack again? Barrett.
And at the ruck that comes from Barrett’s run the Wallabies give away a penalty and another chance for the opposition to pull further away. Dan who?
It was always going to be hard to start the Rugby Championship with two games against the best side in the world.
The Wallabies still have a lot to do to and the coming weeks will be critical for many involved in the Aussie set up.
Will this brutal start harden up the Wallabies and see them win the remaining games and come a face saving second? Or will they have broken the Aussie resolve and heart leaving them to fight for last place?
Oliver Matthews
Expert
"Quade can read the play better than Folau, catch the high balls and can spark a counter attack" - I agree with the first point and the last point but sadly he was shown up with that key catching of the high balls. I've said for a long time that Folau - for all his great attacking qualities and strength under the high ball - has not picked up the defensive nuances of playing at 15. He doesn't read the play well and is often caught out of position. That try in the second half for the ABs is a prime example - Folau was drifting out of position and the Kiwis took advantage of the overlap to get another 5 points. Problem is Folau is so much better under the high ball than Cooper. Same try showed how Cooper was easily out jumped by Dagg. There are too many accommodations being made in the Aussie back line defence at the moment and teams who are sharp will take advantage of that time and time again.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
I missed the first match, but caught the second. My impression was that this was the best All-Blacks team I have seen, let down only by poor goal-kicking. There was barely any time when the Australians were able to move forward with ball in hand. They were repeatedly smashed and knocked backwards in possession. Many people here have commented on the Wallabies' poor decision-making ; surely that is because of the speed and pressure of the All-Blacks. I think Australia did very well to hold an irresistible force to a 20 point margin, and to actually remain in the game (on the scoreboard at least) for the first half. I think the Wallabies need to aim high to be the second-best team in the world for the next couple of years. Unless New Zealand has a brain-snap, no-one is going to get near them, and that is no disgrace.
Lara
Guest
At test level, if players are selected out of position then to me it seems the coach has no faith in his squad of players or he is bias toward certain players. Cheika is showing signs of both and it affecting how the team is functioning . Cheika is limited by the quality of his playing stock , but his tactics or lack of is also a problem. A good coach can still devise a game plan that suits his players abilities and still be competitive and in five test to date , Cheika has shown nothing of note.
RubberLegs
Guest
Cooper has always played a cover defending role. His positioning in defence would have little to do with Cheika or Gray. Quade can read the play better than Folau, catch the high balls and can spark a counter attack. If Wallabies needed resolute defence at #12; pick Tony Fainga'a. Foley is a reserve #10 at best these days. Cooper needs to assert himself more on the field. Link was clever to appoint him VC.
watcher
Guest
I think Cheika is outsmarting himself there. Shifting players out of their positions to defend just complicates things. They can still be targeted out wide. Surely the 10 and 12 should be in their positions which is closer to the defensive mass of the forwards. Further, on attack I don't see the point of Foley at inside Centre unless for kicking. Cooper can create, that is given, he needs people who can run off him. I can't see Foley doing that as well as say Hodge. As you had so many back injuries why didn't AAC get a run at Centre, he always fronts against the AB's. Monday morning quarterbacking, but Hodge and AAC in the Centres presents a real danger, a newbie beside a 100 test veteran to boot.
buddy boy
Guest
you wanna fix the defense, how about coops and Foley defended their positions instead of hiding, every other five- eight combo does it and that's going to help the whole team...hang on ...that's probably too complex for the best coach in the world
watcher
Guest
I don't think that is a new thing, you have such competition for talent over there. What has always impressed us Kiwis about the Wallabies over the years is smarts. Players like Farr-Jones. Eales etc were innovators. They played wit flair using all their resources. Not so much this team, but often with the AB's it appeared they almost would rather set up perfect second phase than score a try. Aussies have always had that point of difference of having great skills with the ball. They went away from that and IMO need to get it back. The NZ style of play doesn't suit them same as vice versa. Play that hit and run game that is good to watch. They need to be playing, practice, no matter how intense, cannot replicate games. Genia and Cooper's performances were terrific when you consider their lack of games. The AB's had a practice game against two provincial sides, each playing 40 minutes. When you consider that few Aussie players had any meaningful Super playoff time and the European players none. It was a serious mistake by Cheika in the preparation. It showed. I believe sport should be positive, so play that way. The AB's have been too dour in the past, so to see their play now is great to see. Coleman and Hodge have shown the young players are there, they just need meaningful preparation and a suitable gameplan.
Steve Wright
Guest
Well, TM it's great to have the view of an insider on JH and especially on the sad remnants of Auckland rugby. What's happened, especially over the last Decade? We know what happened to John - he went off to coach Auckland Grammar after the AB's - hope he learned how to speak Fijian. This year for the Blues it was the NZ Super wooden spoon.There has been a progressive decline at their Super rugby level, and a slow diminution of All Black selections from the franchise. Auckland used to be a national rugby powerhouse, but along with North Harbour it seems to have gone (going) down the gurgler. So you're the inside man with the lowdown - What's happened? Is it a coaching deficiency ? Is it internal politics? Is it Auckland regional water? Must be a reason(s) and you seem to be the man who should know.
Steve Wright
Guest
It may occur to some that many of the refs called upon to officiate at international matches do not speak ( or have insufficient) of the language of the teams playing on the day. This the case with a number of the European refs doing duty in the southern hemisphere. Poite and several of his colleagues have insufficient English for the job and it shows. Soon Argentinian and Japanese refs will appear. The same problem will appear with them. The solution lies with the various Rugby Unions and the IRU. They are all awash with money and can stinking well do something about it. Either teach the refs passible English or Esperanto or Swahili or whatever, but they can solve part of the problem arising from complaints and observations subsequent to Saturday's test.
Republican
Guest
....thats the problem, the players are there - still. The reason is that there is no depth in Union GR here as there clearly is in NZ. I detect a heap of denial in this respect both from Australian die hards and NZers who assume the code has the same profile here as it does there. Well in actual fact the code is seriously struggling to survive in Oz and thats putting it mildly. Suffice to say it is likely that the Wallabies will resemble dads army next WC.
taylorman
Guest
Well that's your opinion and you're welcome to it. Having been in the Auckland club scene from the start of Hartys career he was by far the most innovative and forward thinking coach around. He continued to get sidesswiped by anti Aucklanders with the continuous pairing up with gruff Wyllie, who also, with Mains, rode off the coat tales of the Auckland success of the mid 80's. Your view is a common one at the time and you're welcome to it, but to suggest either Mains or Gruff were even half the coach Hart was is a joke. Mains got lucky in 95 and that was it. Prior to that he was hopeless. Won one NPC in his 85-91 run where Auckland won five during his tenure, so like gruff rode the small success he had of the Auckland dynasty at the time.
Richard
Guest
You didn't see the game.?? You just saw the highlights on YOUTUBE/?? Wallabies had 30% of the ball. Most of that was in their 22 Stick to Ice hockey analysis..
Boots n' all
Guest
Steve I don't think I've said here I know more than anyone I've just made an observation for better or worse that the quality of the officials performance impacted on the quality of the game and performance of both teams just my view....
jaysper
Roar Guru
Yep, I have to side with Steve with this one. I realise I may have walked into a North vs South spat (I don't know where you guys are located). But, I'm a born and bred North Islander and as far as I can see, Hart coasted along of Main's coat tails for as possible and was found wanting in '99 as the "Mains Effect" if you will, wore off. . Main's strategy was near perfect for the '95 World Cup but like Griz before him, Hart didn't change things up (personnel & strategy) in time for the subsequent world cup and was shown up because of it.
jaysper
Roar Guru
Honestly think you are being too hard on them Oliver (and I'm a Kiwi!). Look at the Canes in the Super Rugby, scoring points off them in the knockout stages was like pulling teeth and this seems to have translated into the ABs. Looking at both the Canes and ABs, there have been times where they have been more successful in gaining territory in defence rather than attack. . Its never nice to hear that the opposition are playing so incredibly well that your team doesn't get much of a look in. But in the first 2 Bledisloe matches I believe that is by far more the reason than that the Wallabies have been woeful. Don't get me wrong, they are clearly not up to par, but just not as bad as the "lynch mob" want to make them out to be. . They need to get better, but more importantly they need to begin the rebuild phase in time for the next RWC, which if we are honest is the most important thing to most fans in Rugby - or at least Kiwi fans due to our abysmal performance at them up until 2011.
watcher
Guest
A Referee needs to communicate and Poite seemed to have preconceived ideas from the start. And I am an AB supporter. Moore asking for a yellow card so early may have been a factor, personally I think anyone saying that to a Ref needs to be penalised, Captain or not. The issue of a yellow or red is the at the sole discretion of the officials. We need to keep the chat to the Refs or risk the Soccer debacles. The Wallabies have shown they can compete. Coleman is a find, he had a brain explosion, but he is a young bloke trying his guts out for his country and will learn from it. I think he and Simmons could go well. Early days guys. I thought both teams could have handled their off the ball antics a lot better, we are rugby fans, we don't want to see handbag swinging at every breakdown. As far as Franks goes it didn't look good to me, however they have reviewed it and Douglas to his credit has come out and cleared Franks. In the light of the evidence being reviewed and the alleged victim saying there is no case to answer what is the point of citing.
watcher
Guest
I think you Wallaby supporters need to get a grip on reality and seriously need to chill out. Less than a year ago you were in a World Cup final. The core of that team is still there. You have lost this year to England, who had something seriously important to redeem some pride after the WC debacle. The All Blacks have had the wood on you guys for a while. Not surprising as it is one of the greatest AB teams ever over a long period. Remember in 1996 you guys got done 43-0 in Wellington and were lucky to get nil. Since then you have won the WC once and been in two other finals and a semi. It will take a bit if time but the players are there. Keep the faith.
Steve Wright
Guest
So Boots, you had a better viewpoint than the ref, the linesmen and the TMO did you? You also obviously have officiated as ref at the international level, so we know that you know what you're talking about. Well done, keep it up.
Steve Wright
Guest
Cobblers TM, John Hart rode on the back of the crack outfit that Laurie Mains created and left behind, and the excellence of the players then in the team. In addition to scoring at will from broken play, they made scoring from set pieces look like a training exercise.Very shortly afterward, when several key players moved on, the combination fell apart, and Hart did not have the coaching wherewithal to move to a new script. The utter shambles of 1998 is still one of the worst memories for the team, and 1999 was also bl*** awfull. When Hart fell on his sword, repairs began immediately, demonstrated by the u beaut Bledisloe test in Sydney 2000. Hart was too full of management spin and b/s for that job, and he did everyone a favour by pushing off.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Yeah I take your point about the ABs defence being the key factor and not the Wallabies attack declining Jaysper. But for me the top teams in the world (including Australia) should be able to shift from Plan A to Plan B in attack when the opposition are derailing Plan A. Against England the Aussies struggled to make that shift - I've said it before but their Plan B in attack against the Poms was just to do Plan A but faster. And it didn't work. Against the ABs the Aussies executed their attack plans so so poorly. Partly that's because of the great defence and pressure from the Kiwis, but a lot of the blame has to land on the Wallabies themselves.