The Wallabies had the worst possible start to the 2016 season. Starting with the Super Rugby season, and then losing to England 3-0 at home.
However, as they always do they have managed to salvage the season to a certain extent at this point.
There is no chance of winning the Rugby Championship and rightly so. The best the Wallabies could hope would be to finish second on the table.
But the rest of the year will determine the success of 2016 and most importantly a clear indication to the Wallabies and the rest of the rugby world as to where they stand in the food chain.
It starts with Bledisloe 3, followed by the Spring Tour
But it’s more than just that, because I’m going to confidently assume that they will beat the Pumas and the Boks at home. And then it’s game on!
The Wallabies are two games away from playing the most significant and important game of 2016; playing the rampaging All Blacks side at fortress Eden Park.
But why is this the most important game considering the Wallabies have played them twice this year and lost twice?
The loss to England was bad but this is an entirely different proposition.
The Wallabies will have plenty of opportunities to avenge the whitewash starting this November. But an opportunity to play the All Blacks with all that’s riding on this game won’t come very often.
This is why:
On top of all this, this relatively new All Blacks team has sent a statement to the rest of the world with their performances on-field so far.
They have set the standard to new heights. Heights which no one else can reach any time soon. The word invincible comes to mind.
Now whether the All Blacks admit it or not, this will be a pressure game for them.
The Wallabies last halted their winning streak. It also doesn’t help that the Wallabies are one of the very few teams who does have the game plan to beat the All Blacks if executed perfectly, the others being South Africa and England to a lesser extent. Ireland were close a few years ago in a freak result. Wales aren’t there yet.
It’s a next to impossible task for nearly every other nation.
The effect the Wallabies will have if they win this game will be more valuable to them than the All Blacks will have if they win, especially heading into Nov in a bid for a Northern Hemisphere Grand Slam.
But if the Wallabies do pull off an upset win, I fear the All Blacks’ Northern opponents will face a fierce back lash up.
To the Wallabies game plan, then.
Considering what has unfolded so far and what’s at stake, the Wallabies must select a team that gives them the best chance to win this single game. The future is a problem for another day. The one and only priority is to win this game by whatever means necessary.
My thoughts on the best team to win this game against the All Blacks: (Injuries and total loss of form in the last two games not considered)
1. S. Sio
2. S. Moore (To be replaced very early in the second half)
3. S. Kepu
4. A. Coleman
5. R. Simmons
6. S. Fardy (Line out will be sorted so Fardy for more break down work)
7. M. Hooper
8. D. Pocock
9. W. Genia
10. Q. Cooper
11. R. Hodge
12. B. Foley
13. S. Kervi
14. D. Haylett-Petty
15. I. Folau
16. T. Polota-Nau
17. J. Slipper
18. A. Ala’alatoa
19. R. Arnold
20. L. Timani (Although I suspect D. Mumm will be in for him or S. Fardy)
21. S. McMahon
22. N. Phipps
23. T. Kuridrani
Now to the Spring Tour. Irrelevant of the result in Bledisloe 3, the Tour should be about giving themselves a chance at attempting a Grand Slam and also preparing for 2017. But beating England is a must.
My thoughts on the best team for the tour:
1. S. Sio
2. S. Moore (To be replaced very early in the second half)
3. S. Kepu
4. A. Coleman
5. R. Simmons
6. L. Timani (Needs overall game time to see how he fits into the picture in 2017)
7. M. Hooper
8. D. Pocock
9. W. Genia
10. Q. Cooper
11. H. Speight
12. R. Hodge (Long term 12, needs game time in the specific position)
13. S. Kervi
14. D. Haylett-Petty
15. I. Folau
16. T. Polota-Nau
17. J. Slipper
18. A. Ala’alatoa
19. R. Arnold
20. S. McMahon (To be brought in early in the second half, will be playing a prominent role in 2017)
21. N. Phipps (Back up for Genia and for a lack of a better option)
22. B. Foley (Back up as fly half and Inside Center)
23. T. Kuridrani (Needs to fight Kervi for the 13 Jersey while offering cover on the wing)
I admit that currently the A. Coleman’s partner is not a standout since the Wallabies actually have a few options there for once, not world class but options nonetheless.
The locking combination and the reserve lock is not very clear cut but other than that the rest is pretty straight forward I think unless I’ve missed a trick.
After the conclusion of 2016 Michael Cheika should have a pretty good idea as into what his main framework of his team will look like in 2017 unless a few players who haven’t been mentioned here over perform in Super Rugby or some of the mentioned players badly underperforms in the same.
The point is that Cheika would have a good platform to start off the 2017 season unlike 2016.
And finally to wrap this up, here’s a bit of wishful thinking all Wallaby fans can use.
Yes we had a disastrous start to the year, but with the remaining fixtures the rugby gods have offered the Wallabies a shot at redemption and more than that.
Just imagine if the Wallabies beat the All Blacks in Bledisloe 3 and win a Grand Slam later on, it will leave the Wallabies with just five losses; two to the All Blacks, and three to England. They will be ranked No. 2 in the world, and would thoroughly deserve it.
The opportunity is there, the Wallabies just need to go get it.
Gishan De Soyza
Roar Pro
Sorry Kiwineil dont agree with you. What exactly did Argentina show? Last I checked they got thrashed on the score board. You cant have an attacking blitz for a part of the game and call it game plan. There is a reason they got beaten beaten like that, they are going to find it extremely difficult to keep playing like that for 80 mins against the All Blacks. So sorry, not sold on that. With regards to the Wallabies game plan, its no secret conspiracy. When in form and their game plan executed well, the Wallabies are the 2nd best attacking team in World Rugby, there used to be a time when they were the best. Yes, even better than the ALL Blacks but no more. The best and most effective Wallabies attack comes from structured back line moves, not by playing for territory or powering their way through the forwards or by kicking penalties. By scoring tries (not by just attacking without any result and then blowing out of steam later on) added by a solid defensive structure with exceptional line speed. Now this is currently not happening due to various reasons which is a discussion for another time, but to answer your question, yes this is the game plan which the Wallabies have or at least trying to achieve at the moment. And this is the game plan which has worked well for them when the Wallabies have previously beaten the All Blacks.
Gishan De Soyza
Roar Pro
And I suggest you watch the 2007 RWC QF again.
Garth
Guest
Our beloved Wanganui is perfectly happy in the Heartland competition, they don't have the (financial) resources for the step up to the ITM. The miracle I've always hoped for is the Ranfurly Shield. A perfect one-off game to secure it and having the Shield in the Heartland comp for a year would suit me fine.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I think talk of winning at Eden park off the back of the last two wins is a little premature, particularly with the away matches to come. Both Argie and SA will be looking for revenge at home so one slither of complacency- that is certainly not warranted- will see the Wallabies on the wrong side of the ledger. Both sides will come at the Wallabies hard. They know they have weaknesses to e plot with the number of losses they've had this year. I think the three are very even, all matches to date simply going the way of the home side. Keep saying it but injuries will hit the Wallabies hardest and Pocock and TPN are already out. If oz lose two or three of their very best they will be very vulnerable, probably in a way that any of the 8 remaining matches in 2016 could be a bridge too far. Forget Eden park for now, this road trip is going to be tough.
Wozza
Guest
So every Australian thinks the ame as what's said on Fox sports or printed in some News ltd rag do they? Seriously, get over yourselves cos this attitude of yours is really pathetic. It's sad that winnings not enough for you guys.
Porkie
Guest
Or any news paper in this country you must be the only Aussie not saying
Porkie
Guest
Wozza try watching the other rugby Show or fox sport commentators
Wardad
Guest
Not quite so bad then .
Wozza
Guest
Fair to say it goes both ways
Wozza
Guest
To be fair??? You're kidding!!! Who are you hearing this from cos I don't know any Aussies who've thought we've had a shot at the Bled since 2010. You guys make a huge issue every time the media asks a player if they expect to win and they try to give a half positive answer? This is a huge kiwi beat up to fulfil some desperate urge you have to look down on Australians. You want to hate and you've made up your sad little excuse to do it. Explore your motives because my first response describes you and those like you to a tee.
kiwineil
Guest
+1
kiwineil
Guest
Gishan You've certainly stirred up a hornets nest, no doubt about. As a Kiwi, living in Aust, with Aust kids, I wear a NZ hat second, an Aussie hat third, and a rugby hat first and foremost. An by rugby hat first, what I mean ins, I want rugby as a code to be strong in Australia. Leaving aside what I see here at the grassroots, which is a debacle .... and taking your post as I found it I have one big issue. And that is, while a game of rugby is a 1 on 1 contest, and any side can always beat the other side (Japan Sth Africa for example), and its therefore not inconceivable the Wallabies could get up in Bledisloe III, the issue I raise is your view that the Wallabies have the "game plan" to succeed where others cannot. Now, I reckon the Argentinians showed how to beat the All Blacks, but ran out of juice. The Wallabies, in their two games, have had no obvious plan at all .. static fwd play, aimless kicking back to the best counter attacking team in the world .... I'd go so far as to argue that in the two games to date their plan, such as it was, was diametrically opposed to the way a team should play to combat the AB's . Fair play to Aust, they played much better against Argentina, and in my view that's cos they got more than parity in the fwds and gave Genia time, and Cooper both time and space, which created opportunity. So the question for the Wallabies against the AB, then, has to start with going forward in the forwards .... So my question is, can you pls enlighten us what you think the Wallabies game plan is that positions them to crack the AB's at Eden park......
Kirky
Roar Rookie
That win last year was a 'jack up' as the All Blacks were well aware it was World Cup year and they weren't at all worried about winning or losing the Champs one bit as, they'd won it so many times a loss wasn't going to worry them! Loved it when we saw the 'great one', Dan Carter drop kick two restarts into touch on the full in that game with a smile on his face each time, ~ what does that tell you? The All Blacks had only one goal in 2015 and that was the winning of the World Cup and justice was served after the Wallabies victory the last time they played them! Ah well, these things happen!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Gishan! After the beat up by Marto', Kafer, Phil Kearns and Maloney who has now jumped in as a reinforcement on that horrible Rugby365 show they front up on, in regards the statement by Graham Henry on the woeful state of Australian rugby, ~ You can be assured that the very best All Black team will play against the Wallabies in an attempt to literally reinforce Henrys' statement by showing exactly what he meant by kicking Wallaby butt right off Eden Park and reinforcing his and most peoples view of the state of Australian rugby as he described it. These guys have just dragged it on, and on, and on like the proverbial 'cracked gramophone record' and everyone 'across the ditch' has made it abundantly clear that the Australians are nothing less that a bunch of whingers which they've always been renowned as. So it could be imagined that the Kiwis' will go out hard from the outset in an attempt to win this game, ~ no doubt about it! Whether the statement by Henry was right or wrong is a moot point, ~ but he has one of the most enviable records as a Coach as we all know so it could be easily said that he's more than qualified to pass judgement on such things. He was merely stating that Wallaby rugby is in a very bad state which it is and who can deny that?, ~ but regardless, it struck an inferior complex type nerve in the Aussie' camp so much so that they just won't admit to the generated fact by that statement of the state of the game as it is right now in Australia, as being correct. So the Rugby365 presenters and others have kept this ludicrous thing going and, all it's done is annoy the crap out of the New Zealand rugby Fraternity in no uncertain terms so it will be very interesting to see which of these ''knowledgeable ones'' cuts across the ditch with the Wallabies as Commentators, ~ wouldn't like to be in their shoes one bit!
Jokerman
Guest
Oh well Gishan I suggest you watch the movie 'Princess Bride' miracles happen there. One guy comes back from dead too!!
Gonzo
Guest
I don't know why so many kiwis get their knickers in a knot about the concept that the ABs might lose, at Eden Park of all damn places. Yes the current form and history are against the Wallabies, but it takes two to tango, and sport, like love, comes down to small defining moments. There's nothing to say that the Wallabies don't find their moment against the ABs at Eden, they have enough cattle to score at least 1 try which could be all that it takes. Putting that aside, I think the ABs will win. It might not be comfortable, but for the ABs winning against the Wallabies will never get old and protecting the record at Eden is paramount. There's no doubt that the 18 game streak is also a factor, but as many have already pointed out, they need wins 16 and 17 first and the Boks and Argies are different beasts at home. The saddest thing about the Wallabies this year has been their selections. Pooper was unavoidable, but playing guys like DHP and Hodge out of position or too late in the piece really hurt the Wallabies IMO. Folau should be good enough to slot into 13, the ABs were able to introduce Ben Smith and Mills into that role and Folau is probably a better athlete than both. Allowing Folau into the line puts DHP at 15 and punting Foley to the bench as the closer just gives a rejuvenated Cooper more to play with. Keeping Foley there just handicaps him. Cheika will never make these changes though. He has shown himself to be as stubborn as his reputation dictates and I've never heard of many successful coaches who were not flexible. Anyway, we will see how Eden plays out. Yes the Wallabies have a chance, but it will take a monumental game from them.
Zack
Roar Rookie
Running rugby has been Aussies' style of play in years gone by. I'm not convinced the current coach has demonstrated thus far that he has a "game-plan" based around that, nor has the players who can. For what it's worth, I picked the Aussies to win their last 4 RC Tests home and away, and will be well-prepared to beat England in November. I still stick by that. For Eden Park on 22nd October, a potential Grand Slam in the Autumn International tour may tempt Cheika to rest some of the players like he did last year in the same fixture in a dead rubber.
canadiankiwi
Guest
Two home wins against Argentina and South Africa (tests they should always win at home) and, all of a sudden, the Wallabies have the away tests in Argentina and South Africa in the bag??? The Wallabies will lose one or both of these away tests - they are not very good and both opponents play much better at home. The Wallabies have no chance at Eden Park this year- none. The Wallabies' tight five is by far the weakest in the RC and the Wallabies do not have the centers (Foley & Kerevi) to threaten the All Blacks' defense.
canadiankiwi
Guest
That front row is TERRIBLE! The second row is worse.
Gishan De Soyza
Roar Pro
Well said and well respected.