The Wallabies let a precious chance to win a Test on South African soil slip away on the weekend.
As usual, there are a lot of talking points to come out of the weekend – Israel Folau is woefully out of form; Quade Cooper is still running sideways; the forward pack is lazy protecting their own ruck; our kicking still leaves a lot to be desired.
But the main takeaway is the Wallabies played a South Africa in about as vulnerable a state as you’ll ever see.
Yet, they couldn’t get the job done, even without a try scored against them.
The talk of hoodoos before the match were misleading. This is a Springboks team out of sorts and desperately searching for answers.
Switching to yesterday’s man, Morne Steyn, is buying a win instead of looking to the future. Allister Coetzee only played that card because he was running out of other ideas that would help this team rebuild over time and decided a win now would give him breathing room.
But looking at the rest of the South African matchday 23 would hardly strike fear into the hearts of Wallabies touring sides of yesteryear. It was one the Australians should have been able to beat.
As it turned out, the Springboks’ forward-heavy bench meant they handed another advantage to the Wallabies when three backs had to be subbed off, forcing an extra forward onto the field.
Still, Michael Cheika’s men couldn’t capitalise and win.
The ground hog day feeling was unavoidable. The Wallabies started full of running, panache and purpose, leading to early points and a sense they had the game to be dangerous.
From there errors crept in. Kicking duels were lost. And the Wallabies allowed themselves to be dragged into the kind of match their opponent wanted. (Click to Tweet)
Despite the fact there was no way the Springboks could have stayed with the game the Wallabies showed they had early on, the latter side still lost.
It was like watching that disheartening series against England in June again, especially the Brisbane Test, which started so brightly and slowly came apart at the seams. One step forward, two steps backward.
Deja vu hit me like a slap in the face while watching. I turned to my brother and said “we’re not winning this match”. I didn’t consider the score at the time, it didn’t matter.
Despite having the best of the match, looking the most likely to score tries and move the ball around on attack, you could tell it wasn’t coming together.
The Wallabies carried for the most metres, won the territory battle, had most of the possession, beat more defenders, broke the line more often, won more rucks, but couldn’t win.
The whole display was like a bumbling forward near the try line – all they have to do is fall over to score, but instead they run into contact and get tangled up.
Can we really say the Wallabies have improved this year?
When the eighth Test looks so eerily similar to the first it’s hard to argue they have.
It can’t be blamed on the combinations. Many players are new.
Gone is the beefy midfield tandem of Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani; Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley are now pulling the strings. Greg Homes has been replaced by Sekope Kepu. Rob Simmons is now paired with Adam Coleman in the second row. David Pockock, Michael Hooper and Scott Fardy is now Dean Mumm, Hooper and Sean McMahon.
The problem must be a collective issue of tactics, preparation, and composure.
How else do you explain starting with such sublime ball movement, focus and accuracy in two Tests five months apart, with largely different sides, only to fade in the same way?
Brett McKay asked a fair question about whether Israel Folau should be dropped on form. And no matter where you fall on that question, you have to admit his own play mirrors the team. Active, involved, confident and accurate for the first 15 or 20 minutes. But by the end he is vacant, slow, and indecisive.
Folau and the whole Wallabies team was like a three-hour movie that runs out of script after 45 minutes. That problem has to be something to do with their preparation and self-belief.
Rod Kafer’s report that the Wallabies’ half-time message in Brisbane was to not be surprised when they play well is still ringing in my ears weeks later.
Was a single Super Rugby season of floggings at the hands of New Zealand teams damaging enough to a group of players that battled through to a World Cup final that they don’t know how to repeat 15 minutes of good play?
Despite all this, the Wallabies still have a chance to finish the Rugby Championship in second place if they beat the Pumas next weekend.
That will be a tough outing, but the chance to finish above South Africa and the need to keep winning to steel themselves, win their spots in the side, and improve their Test ranking should be strong enough bait to keep them interested.
Vic rugby
Guest
The aru want to see returns on the big bucks spent on certain players. At some point they have to accept its not going to happen and move on
Machooka
Roar Guru
Thanks Ben... and yeah I thought this may have been a big victory of sorts.
Colin Kennedy
Roar Guru
Hi EP, you make a telling statement that sort of throws your angle out the window: "But looking at the rest of the South African matchday 23 would hardly strike fear into the hearts of Wallabies touring sides of yesteryear." Point is, this is not a Wallabies team of yesteryear, and one I would venture to add (like the Boks), is not one to strike fear into the hearts of too many either. It's also funny how so many teams should have, could have, would have, might have defeated the Boks in South Africa, but never did. They're a rubbish team, with a rubbish coach, but some of them still have their pride and Bok pride covers of a multitude of sins. Maybe pride is what these Wallabies are lacking? Not the coach, not the talent, just genuine pride in the Wallaby jersey? That "do or die attitude", I don't see it...
ben
Guest
http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/85015214/star-halfback-aaron-smith-leaves-all-blacks-tour-in-disgrace
ben
Guest
Northland did win...first win in over 2 seasons.
Bman
Guest
I believe they went for that shot "praying" that he made it. Not because of the 3 points, but because it would have thrown all sorts of doubt into the Boks minds if he did. The Boks would now have to worry about every possible penalty inside 65m being worth 3 points to the wallabies. That worry leads to a more open game of ball in hand for Australia and thus more scoring opportunities. However, it backfired and the wallabies shriveled up and gave the boks a home win.
Tissot Time
Guest
No 4
paleocortex
Guest
classic !!! I love a good sheep joke. Also love a bit of nihilism occasionally. "Life's a piece of shit when you look at it, but...always look on the bright side of life"
Blinky Bill of Bellingen NSW
Guest
At the risk of being unpopular, I'll be honest and say that what I was most disappointed with in Pretoria is that no leader stepped-up and said 'okay boys here's what we're going to do to win this bloody thing'. Instead is was more of the same thing that wasn't working, for what ever reason, despite the number of times we'd be in their 22. Something needed changing up because we were the ones that were guilty of beating ourselves.
CUW
Guest
"Warfare is the Way of deception. Therefore, if able, appear unable; if active, appear inactive; if near, appear far; if far, appear near. Attack where your enemies are not prepared; go to where they do not expect. This strategy leads to victory in warfare, so do not let the enemy see it." Art of War - Sun Tzu
jameswm
Roar Guru
Toby Smith, Greg Holmes and Ala'alatoa have all shown they can handle it.
Simoc
Guest
Nothing, it's only ewe that matters.
Brizvegas
Guest
I think they may well be mentally scarred as well TM all that effort for another loss could have an impact you think?
Machooka
Roar Guru
Correcto mondo guys... but I think the real reason they didn't go for touch was the Saffer lineout may have made them think otherwise eh? Eitherway, I agree it was the wrong option at the time, especially as we had momentum. Hey Shane... did your Northland beat Waikato. I saw some of the game and you had a handsome lead at halftime.
frisky
Guest
Want to learn how to score tries, but do not have time to watch hours of replays? The answer is simple.: Simply watch the last six minutes of the first half of the AB-Puma game. Three tries in five minutes !! I do not believe that the Pumas defense is softer than the Boks. The Puma have beaten the Boks this year, and came very close to doing ot twice. My money is for the Wb to beat the Pumas. They used up all their energy against the AB. This happened last time they played.
RubberLegs
Guest
The Bock game looked like the first test of the season for the Wallabies. I know that he played every game but one in the world cup but Bernard needs to go; he doesn't know how to play #12. He just doesn't get it - he gets in Quade's way. Quade is expecting too much from the forwards; they lack leadership and cohesion and cannot be trusted to hold the ball for more than 4 phases. Genia had to run the ball too many times. Hanson is skillful and should be fresh as a daisy The selectors are failing. By all means try youth, McMahon almost lasted half a game.
CUW
Guest
it was pathetic becoz 1. it was so early in the game and 2. auzzy were dominating play and running nicely. the penalty looked like sef-doubt , which am sure what the saffer water boys would have been telling them " look boys , they dont think they can score , so they opt to kick from eternity , DUH".
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Thought the same thing at the time CUW. Why didn't they kick into the 22 & apply pressure? Hodge might have a rocket launcher of a leg but back yourselves to score 7.
CUW
Guest
wobblies could have come close if not for that first up silly penalty from 65m. i think that miss played on the mind , making Hodge miss comparatively easy ones. IMO what every kicker needs is a good first up hit - in cricket we say one good shot off the middle of the bat and then things flow nicely. why the hell would u try that ? just go for a lineout and play , especially so early in the game when ur running the ball nicely. unless of course , u r afraid the saffers might steal ur ball at lineout. a really pathetic option , imo. maybe it also convinced the saffers to take all their kicks seriously and get the points.
BBA
Guest
I think it was more like Issa going off injured at the end of the match and being in doubt as well as another player on the "maybe injured list, lets see how the injury progresses" situation, that may lead one to think that they may be battered and bruised. Issa would be a big loss for them.