Where does Wallaby coach Michael Cheika go from here after last night’s 54-34 hammering by the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium?
The humiliating defeat is best summed up in the first quarter.
In 26 minutes the All Blacks scored 26 points, while the Wallabies missed 26 tackles.
All the wash-up from Wallabies vs All Blacks Bledisloe 1:
» QUIGLEY: Bledisloe a damning indictment
» Match report: All Blacks wallop Wallabies
» What changes should Australia make for Bledisloe 2?
» Vote in our DIY Wallabies player ratings
» WATCH: Highlights from Bledisloe 1
» WATCH: Michael Cheika’s post game comments
» Re-live the match with our live blog
That’s not believable, but it is a cold, hard statistical fact.
It’s so astonishing it’s worth repeating: 26 points in 26 minutes, with the Wallabies missing 26 tackles.
A half-time scoreline of 40-6, the biggest in history between the All Blacks and Wallabies, ended up 54-34, the second biggest in Rugby Championship history to the 90 points scored by the Boks and All Blacks in 1997.
When it was 54-6 after 48 minutes it looked as though a cricket score was looming.
Somehow the Wallabies found some pride to “win” the next 32 minutes 28-nil. Now that’s one hell of a comeback.
Rugby league convert Curtis Rona scored on debut, as did benchman Tevita Kuridrani, followed by the Wallabies’ best attacking pair in Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau.
Bernard Foley converted all four.
Beale was playing in the starting line-up for the first time in two years, and his first Wallaby Test since the Rugby World Cup final in 2015.
He covered 150 metres, more than anyone else, with Folau covering 147. The All Blacks’ best were Reiko Ioane’s 129, and flanker Liam Squire’s 104.
Beale was named the Wallabies’ best, and rightfully so. The quicker Beale and Folau combine more often, the better. They are by far the most lethal attacking units in the side.
You would think given a 54-34 scoreline that the stats would heavily be in the All Blacks’ favour.
Sometimes stats don’t tell the truth.
How could the Wallabies run 650 metres to the All Blacks 641, with the men in black scoring eight tries to four? And the Wallabies made 197 passes to 160.
The Wallabies had only 47 per cent possession in the first half, but 68 per cent in the second.
It was the same story with territory – the Wallabies with 47 per cent in the first half, but 64 per cent in the second.
Where the Wallabies really missed out were the 48 missed tackles compared to the All Blacks’ 40, with the majority in the second half.
So what can Cheika do by next Saturday in Dunedin?
Not a lot.
Kuridrani for Samu Kerevi at outside centre would be a start, Lopeti Timani for Sean McMahon at number 8 is another, and perhaps Rob Simmons for Roger Arnold at lock and Sekope Kepu for prop Allan Alaalatoa.
But the main aim must be for the Wallabies firing from the get go, not the second half.
Watching the Wallabies last night brought back nightmares of watching the Waratahs and the many times they have given up a big first-half lead.
It’s a brain explosion that can only be fixed by being an international team, not a social side.
Damn it, rugby is an 80-minute international game where you can’t doze off in the first 40 and hope to win.
With only eight wins from 19 internationals since the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, it’s time for the Wallabies to grow up and earn their big bucks.
rktc
Guest
Rugby is a 80minute game that starts in the first minute .The AB just needed 50 to call it a night .
Ouch
Guest
No way Steve. The NRL players are a cut above the rugby players in terms of skill, commitment and toughness both in the forwards and the backs.
Ouch
Guest
Agree Fionn. RL players are more skilled than their Union counterparts except as you point out, in long range passing.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
....from the mouth of the Assistant Coach.... "The pressure that the All Blacks put on us was something that we probably couldn't replicate at training." REALLY??? all of that time training, bonding, taped mouths, building combinations...etc etc etc...."Hooper says it better....our best footy is on the training paddock..." this is the second time Cheika has done this...time for him to go!
Greg
Guest
Lucky the Allblacks give some of the other players a run, that help made our score a bit more respectable. I don't believe we were that good to score 4 try's in the second half. There is a lot of politics that in Rugy at the moment and the last thing we needed was a 80 plus score to make the Southern Hemisphere rugby look worse that what it already is.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Look at the Wallabies run in 2015 - Scotland in the quarters, Argentina in the semis, All Blacks in the final. I'd say right now Ireland would have a better chance against all those teams that the Wallabies do.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
You think maybe the reasons the tackles aren't being made is because of the complex hide the playmakers system ?
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Maybe a coach that can't improve the ability of the players isn't what Australia needs right now.
Dolphinberserk
Guest
Avoiding injuries perhaps?
Dolphinberserk
Guest
Indeed. There is something not right in the whole management of the team (and Australian Rugby in general). I felt the WB players weren't slacking off, although the tackling was woeful at times. The AB achieved nothing during that long period of open play in the second half and the unanswered points while adequately defending (apart from Foley's attempted clear, Izzy's high five tackle etc), stealing the ball in the line once etc against the world's best team in the second half should mean something. Some people have suggested that was some sort of AB sting, to investigate what attack the WB might put together, but I think that's a little far fetched. I am imagining that they were instructed to avoid injuries in the second half, as after their recent performances (against England etc) they have their task of keeping world champion status truly cut out for them. I guess we will find out next week. I can't imagine the AB's holding back when playing at home!
Cut One
Guest
Shuey... I'm sorry to break this to you but there are no bad teams, only bad leaders. Chieka Ball is s failure at every level.
Fionn
Guest
It isn't possible to say enough bad things about the Australian defensive system, Poth. Sexton can defend better with 3 broken bones than anyone in the Wallabies can at 100% fitness.
Schuey
Guest
Cheika is doing ok witha terrible bunch of players. The same players who were 0-26 against kiwi teams in Super Rugby.
Derm
Roar Guru
"Perhaps appointing Nicholas in place of Grey is the answer." This. With bells on. Yesterday's match was a tale of two defences. One was abject, wilful and calculated; the other was sloppy and circumstantial.
frisky
Guest
The most interesting stat was 40 missed tackles by teh AB !! Is this a record??
Ronnie
Guest
In what sport or commercial organisation would you employ a coach that presided over a Super Rugby team that conceded an average of 36 points a game. I so happens that the Defence coach of the Waratahs is the same person who is the Wallabies defence coach. I guess that it is acceptable that he is presiding over the same debacle at the Wallabies. WHY HAS HE NOT BEEN SACKED????? WHY WAS HE EMPLOYED WITH THE RUBBISH RESULTS THAT HE PRODUCED WITH THE WARATAHS???? IT APPEARS THAT IT IS AN OLD BOYS (RANDWICK) NETWORK. KEEP THE "GOOD BLOKES" WHO CARES ABOUT THE RESULTS!!!!!!! HOW COULD THEY POSSIBLY ALLOW HIM ANYWHERE NEAR THE TEAM?????? WE WILL WAIT AND SEE WHAT MASTER DEFENSIVE PATTERN HE COMES UP WITH THIS WEEK, BECAUSE YOU CAN BET THEY WILL STILL HAVE HIM IN THE JOB.
Dave
Guest
What at a total plum.
Bruce Dribs
Roar Rookie
What would have been useful from the press was to ask Cheika if he had any regrets about his team selections. From the announcement there was widespread concern about 13 (out of position), 6 (inexperienced and lightweight) and the backrow combination as a unit being too small. All three of these concerns rung true on the night. Frankly, I think Cheika got off lightly at the press conference. When he backs the Grey defensive plan 100%, who asked him to justify that belief given the results that it has delivered this season? Cheika would have us believe all that went wrong was a bit of poor communication and lack of confidence. Falling of 50 tackles is a physical component, not chatter or confidence. It is commitment and skills.
Fionn
Guest
Did Rona really 'walk' into the Wallabies? A lot of people were questioning his inclusion, and he was rightly shown up. He scored a lot of tries in League, and all my League friends rated him pretty highly when I asked them about him. From what I've seen in RL (I don't watch heaps), most NRL players have much better lateral movement, better offloads and the forwards are better ball runners (that said, all RL forwards are more similar in size due to not needing to scrum or line-out). The 5/8s and halfbacks have far superior kicking games and most have superior short passing games, but struggle with long passes (seriously, aside from Thurston they all seem to throw harbour bridges).
Atlas
Roar Rookie
Since 1 November 2014 Played 35, won 19, lost 16 Points 925-852 54.3% win rate