Many angry words have already been written about the Wallabies’ 24-19 loss to Scotland, and many more may well follow again today.
And in fairness to all measured critiquers and frustrated desk-thumpers alike, it was the kind of annoyingly sub-standard display that deserves an angry reaction.
If only we could guarantee those angry words are read by those who need to see them…
But what can the Wallabies do to move on from ‘The Sydney Debacle’?
Well, if they’re honest with themselves as players and coaches, they’ll use this game to their advantage.
A full match replay should be required viewing this week, as the Wallabies prepare for Italy in Brisbane, and repeat viewings should be part of the planning for The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup preps, too.
If the Wallabies ever want to know what might happen if they play within themselves, or assume that someone else will get to that ruck, there is eighty minutes of pretty solid evidence played out in front of a decent afternoon rugby crowd who expected much, much better.
What the Wallabies will see on the replay is a team who were way too passive at the breakdown, and particularly when in possession. They were frighteningly inaccurate. Their skill execution let them down on countless occasions. They made silly decisions; they remembered for ten minutes they had a longer kicker on the field, and then forgot about that same kicker late in the game, forcing them to launch futile lineout drives from way too far out.
They’ll see a team who weren’t desperate enough; neither in defence, nor when needing to clean up a mistake. They played way too much east-west rugby, and not nearly enough north-south.
And what they will see on the screen in front of them is what will happen if they even think about underestimating a team between now and Christmas.
None if this takes anything away from the Scots, who were superb across the park. While the Wallabies bumbled and fumbled, Scotland bashed, barged, pilfered, stole, retaliated, sliced, diced, and julienned. And won.
And what’s more, they did exactly what anyone who watched them completely dominate Italy in Singapore the week before expected they would do. They were hard over the ball, physical in defence and at the breakdown, solid at set piece, and ruthless at turnover.
The Australian camp would – should – have known what was coming.
Wandering among the Wallabies post-match, I was confronted by the ashen faces of gold-clad players who knew what was coming their way. Nothing they could say between then and kick-off next Saturday was going to change any minds; they’d underperformed, terribly so, and they knew it. Honesty had to be the best policy.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
“There were times when we just didn’t control our pace, and also, they made the most of the opportunities when they countered,” an almost shell-shocked Tatafu Polota-Nau attempted to explain to me on ABC Grandstand.
“We need to make sure we work hard on our urgency, but also on our shape as well.”
The required improvements were obvious, and the players themselves were already thinking ahead to what surely now has to be a gruelling week of preparations in Brisbane.
“It just comes down to who wants it more,” Polota-Nau said. “Well done to Scotland for pouncing on the opportunities when they presented, but we’ve just got to be harder on ourselves next week to prepare for Italy.”
Scott Higginbotham was similarly circumspect. For a guy who has openly said any Tests he plays from now on is a bonus, he’d be well aware that his spot is far from secure this weekend.
“We’ll have to look at the breakdown; I think that’s going to be important for us, definitely our attacking breakdown,” the No.8 admitted.
“We need that speed over the ball, and that’s what we’ll need to work on.”
Michael Cheika has suggested that changes for Italy this week are likely; “I’d say there’d be a few,” was how he answered the question post-match on Saturday evening. How many of those changes will be above and beyond what was probably already planned to face the 15th-ranked team in the world, we’ll never know.
And really, changes are immaterial after a loss like that. They might have an effect, they might make no difference whatsoever. I’d be just as inclined to send the same XV out in Brisbane and have them prove the Sydney loss was ‘just an off day’.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
In all reality, and I say this with all respect due to them, but the Wallabies should be beat Italy handsomely this weekend. If they don’t, it just underlines the whole theme of this column.
The Scotland loss must be the line in the sand for 2017. A full review of preparations and game plans for The Rugby Championship and the Bledisloe must happen now. The Wallabies have to be smarter, clearer, cleaner in everything they do for the rest of the international season.
Losses may still result, but they cannot be as meek and as dispiriting as what Wallabies fans had to endure last Saturday.
John R
Roar Guru
Re: Savea, paraphrasing from a mate of mine in the Wellington police force 'I think he only hit her with a pillow or something like that, but we were too scared to go to court because of the high powered NZRU lawyers'.
Jock Cornet
Guest
I agree Melon are people watching super rugby. This is not an aberration. I think ROARERS are mad , they are insane and are not realistic. We ar crap and we are going to lose a lot of gameS
Akari
Roar Rookie
Thanks, paul. It would however help if you provided evidence to support your post. If you haven't seen it yet, do read Nicholas Bishop's top notch analysis of Hooper's performance in that test. I totally agree with him.
paul
Guest
He wasn't one of the best on field, he was one of the worst on field.He is allergic to rucks.That is where we were smashed.He is too bluddy small for a test 7. Even Moore had to bolt him on for a pilfer as he would have been bollocked by the Scots openside.He has had many partners in that backrow over the years without success,and there has been one common denominator in all our losses. " Michael Hooper " It`s no coincidence that since he has been seven we have been sliding down the ladder of international rugby.Now he is captain.We are no hope.Michael Cheika should be sacked forthewith for naming a teenager as our national captain. FFS. He looks like he just came off of a skate ramp at Manly.
Marto
Guest
The Jeff Wilson of Aussie rugby..Wilsons still cut about the 1994 tackle of the century.Get over it baldy.
Marto
Guest
Bit sour Kiwi rugby.? Suck it up and you`ll be fine bro.
paul
Guest
Vic rugby, 6 words? Nice .Soon you may able to type 7.Keep up the practice bro.Baby steps.
Brett McKay
Expert
The point is, Waxhead, is that I never used the word 'aberration', because this wasn't an aberration. It's been way too regular, and we're all over it. So how can the Wallabies move forward and get something out of the Scotland game? By using it to ensure that kind of performance doesn't happen again. You and I actually want the same things, we want improvement, we want progress, and we want a winning team...
Waxhead
Guest
Ok I read it again as requested Brett. Is this the bit you're referring too - "The Scotland loss must be the line in the sand for 2017. A full review of preparations and game plans for The Rugby Championship and the Bledisloe must happen now. The Wallabies have to be smarter, clearer, cleaner in everything they do for the rest of the international season. Losses may still result, but they cannot be as meek and as dispiriting as what Wallabies fans had to endure last Saturday." Yeah whatever - we were all saying same in 2007 after similar Wallaby losses. Draw all the lines wherever you want Brett - reality is the only thing that has changed in past 10 years are the faces of the players and coaching staff. And as for the others here who are content with "decent" - go play your social tennis. In pro sport decent = mediocre and comfortable with losing. I want to win EVERY game and make no apology for it
Brett McKay
Expert
1. Here's what I wrote about the Force and the Rebels. Nothing has changed since then, neither on the developments, or my opinion: http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/04/11/sorry-melbourne-aru-genuine-force-must-stay/ 2. If you read my comments on Alison's GAGR piece, you'll have noted I made mention of having helped he through the draft process. That was more than three weeks ago, an indication of just how much work goes into a piece like this. 3. This was my first column since the Wallabies had played. I think I'm allowed to write my own observations of the game.
Ed
Guest
Thanks Brett. We don't have the skills, the fitness nor the awareness to play the "Australian way" for 80 minutes. Oh the day for a Tony Rea spray.
ajg
Guest
I think that the final 20 mins has killed all the aussie super rugby teams this year. they just seem to run out of puff and ideas
ajg
Guest
i could accept the losses if I felt that the team was building. But after the debacle of the super rugby season what did we expect?
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Savea didn't hit a woman. If he has he would have been charged with 'male assaults female' & not had the charge withdrawn through diversion. Is it really that difficult a concept to grasp!
Red Menace
Guest
It means this; yet another story on this web site about how rubbish the Wallabies were on Saturday. How many do we need? Yet, yesterday, on another site which I don't read and thanks to Crazy Horse for pointing it out, an interesting article about ARU finances, which you made a comment about. How about something different? Why didn't you put something about that in your column? Giving full credit to the person who wrote the original article. Even in the comments there was another table of how much funding local rugby gets per state. WA is getting less than South Aust, less than the NT. There is a story there Brett!! The bias against the Force on this site is beyond the pale.
timber
Guest
I see you're from the school of 'when one rival under performs swing with extreme prejudice to favouring his nearest rival'. The reality is Foley and Cooper are much of a muchness., both have shown glimpses of ability while never really convincing at Test level. Give Cooper his chance and soon as he underperforms you'd be glamouring for Foley back.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
The bloke hits women... unacceptable. I can forgive if he doesn't do it again, but I can't forget and to do so condones the behavior. In fact I think I'll yell it in a well timed insult next time I see him play...
timber
Guest
What evidence is there that the Wallabies are underperforming vs. simply not being good enough? Looking at the Wallaby squad only Folau and Hooper are world-class players (might make the World XV) and even they have notable weaknesses that would have them missing the cut. The rest of the squad looks decidedly average. 'Potential' is often a euphemism for wishful thinking.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
While Larkham is clearly not as good a coach as he was a player, the Brumbies have made the semis consistently with him as head coach, due to the ridiculous system we have now where you don't have to beat kiwis to make the semis... he is clearly the best super rugby coach in Australia... scary stuff, pull your finger out Bernie!
eagleJack
Roar Guru
You going to the game Marto? Surprised the psych ward will let you out. You must have finished all of your cereal this week. Good boy.