The Wallabies are a disgrace to their country and the coveted gold jersey that those before them have worn with pride.
Skipper Michael Hooper should be asked to explain how his side missed a staggering 48 tackles. For he, too, slipped off crucial tackles.
The inability of any Australian Super Rugby teams to topple New Zealand sides in this year’s competition was a portend of things to come in the Bledisloe Cup.
Remember 2011, when the then-brilliant Will Genia and Quade Cooper orchestrated the Reds’ triumph in the Super Rugby final against the Crusaders, the Wallabies clinched the then Tri-Nations series.
These days, you’d have more luck discovering a cure for cancer than turning the Wallabies’ fortunes around.
While the All Blacks’ off-field dramas in the lead up to Saturday’s Test steeled their resolve, the opposite was true for Australia –even with the noise following the Western Force’s axing.
This was a game between a freakishly good and a relentlessly bad side.
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If the Wallabies were talking about adopting the British and Irish Lions’ style heading into Saturday’s match, none of it was remotely visible.
In fact, it was the complete opposite.
The Lions drew the series on the back of excellent line speed and brilliant counter attacks. They had one hell of a halfback in Connor Murray, and world-class No 10s Owen Farrell, Dan Biggar and Jonathan Sexton.
The Wallabies need to develop a world-class 9-10 axis. Genia has become too predictable, while Bernard Foley is a one-trick pony.
It’s also time to let go the likes of Stephen Moore and Tatafa Polota-Nau. The former has signalled his retirement from international rugby, but they can’t carry him on the basis of having been a wonderful servant of Australian rugby.
Across the Tasman, the likes of Julian Savea, Malakai Fekitoa, and Patrick Tuipulotu are playing in the domestic competition. Such is the gulf between the two countries’ talents.
Wallaby legends John Eales, Michael Lynagh and George Gregan must be crying blood watching how far the Wallabies have regressed since the last World Cup final.
More preparation time, a tough training regime, and acquiring the services of ex-All Blacks skills coach Mick Byrne counts for nought when the players are devoid of ideas and unable to execute the basics.
Last weekend it was poor tackling, this weekend they will leave something else on the training pitch on the way to Dunedin.
The All Blacks won on the back of their ambition, relentless desire to keep the ball moving, and hunting for space. And they found plenty, not least because of the worse-than-schoolboy defence from a side that less than two years ago nearly knocked the All Blacks off their perch in London.
The more confidence the visitors gained in the first half, the more the Aussies drifted out of the game, and their accuracy and cohesion slipped.
Sam Fiji
Guest
I think Michael Cheika has got to stop making comments before big games. There has to be a replacement coach before the World Cup.
Ron Andrews
Guest
The basics of rugby union revolve about the ability to pass the ball, both to the left as well as to the right, to use the correct tackle technique, learn positional play, be a physical presence on the field, and be fit for the entire game.. These skills are usually learned from an early age, mature with experience on the field, until they become intuitive Without all these basic skills in place, for the entire team, there will always be weak links in your side to be exploited. The notion of players needing to change positions to defend, rather than marking their man, surely indicates one such weakness, and in many instances, under pressure, can lead to total confusion in a so called defensive line, as was apparent last week end. One could continue to dissect the entire team and coaches performance, but until the basics are correct, this team will continue to struggle with top class opposition.
frisky
Guest
Very harsh comments. Not constructive. Continuously bagging the WB for missing 48 tackles overlooks the fact that the AB missed 40 tackles. A bit better, but it clearly is not the key to explain the blowout. Anyone can pick on stats to give themselves a chance to vent.
Maroon Grown Hero
Guest
I see where you are coming from, but it feels like it is a combination of many factors that are leaving Australian Rugby fans shocked, disappointed, disillusioned... - The ARU and the handling of the Force/Super Rugby Fiasco - The coaching (flawed, predictable and futile defence 'systems', baffling selections for the favourites, a head coach who won't take criticism on board) - Lack of leadership (Hooper, don't need to say anything further) - Seemingly lack of basic skills
PiratesRugby
Guest
Yep, Link got shafted. Meanwhile Beale is starting at 12 and Hooper is captain. And their old coach has Link's job. I wonder how that makes other players feel?
Loosey
Guest
Mate that is harsh. The boys put 34 points on the best team in the world after losing every game in the super rugby to them, you couldn't ask for a worse preparation. I'm sick of people rubbishing the wallabies. Take it out on the ARU and those running Australian club and super rugby because they are responsible for this score, not the boys on the field. It wouldn't matter who played in that team, you could have put the world all stars in their place instead, but if they had to play through the season of club rugby we've had, they would lose too. Players can only do so much, the system they are in is almost completely responsible for their success or failings. Articles titles like this are just plain low and completely unhelpful to the players. But I guess it worked on me! Rant over
Angus
Guest
I think that with all the off field hassles we must stand by our boys. Lets leave the hard words for Michael Cheika at this point and give him some more leeway. We need to stand by the Wallabies, they must be hurting big time. The real issue is the ARU BOARD - they are the guardians of the game in Australia and all this has happened on their watch. Enough is enough.
Angus
Guest
Clyne must go back to banking and Pulver to marketing - let those who love rugby get on with the game. The ARU BOARD en mass must go!!!!!!!
Angus
Guest
There are systemic problems that arise by virtue of years of mismanagement of the game by the ARU BOARD: ergo, the ARU BOARD must go and fresh blood must replace it.
Sheriff
Guest
Why do we need to 'hide' anyone in defence? Are they not professional rugby players? Haven't they ever learnt to tackle? If that is the case, why are we paying them?
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Fatman Concur with this: The players who we ‘hide’ on the wing; Beale, Foley and Cooper are better defenders than they are given credit for. Coaching misjudgment in my book. Not to mention, how much do you improve, when coach says you are not up to it. Cheers KP
mace22
Guest
A bit harsh but understandable. I ranted on the comment section of the roar after the all blacks loss to the lions. Calling them useless, the worse team since 2011 and how the 2005 team would trash this lot. Losing does strange things to the brain. But I felt a lot better after the rant. But I saw a lot to be happy about the wallabies if I was one of their supporters, things I haven't seen from them in years. Their attack was 100% better than anything that has been seen in years, they did not capitulate and give up like they have in previous games against other teams and took a majority of their scoring chances. If they can sort out their woeful defence then the wallabies will be very competitive. Problem is can they do this before next week knowing the ABs will definately improve. I honestly hope so. I want the wallabies to be a rugby power again, as I'm a All Black fan first and a southern hemispere rugby fan second. I want them to go up north on the end of year tour and dust up those northern teams.
Stu B
Guest
Imram to understand where the Wallabies are at somebody said recently just have a look at the front office,enough said!
Ex force fan
Guest
The Wallabies are a disgrace because the ARU is a disgrace. You need to fix the ARU and address the stranglehold that NSW has on Australian rugby at all levels before the team will impact. With the coach, assistant coach, captain, co-captain and the majority of the player group coming from the NSW it is no surprise that the performance of the Wallabies are in line with the performance of the Tahs. The same issues are experiences including a lack of leadership, players been selected with poor form, and "star" players not producing performances that is in line with their pay. The current Wallaby team is an re-enforced (pun intended) Tahs side. Until it becomes an Australian side, it will be trashing after trashing...
The Fatman
Guest
The Wallabies' biggest problem is this ridiculous fixation that we have on players defending out of position. Of course Kerevi is going to get stranded in defence when he cannot slide out because the has to keep an eye on who is actually defending at 12, and if they are in their position yet. The players who we 'hide' on the wing; Beale, Foley and Cooper are better defenders than they are given credit for. Considering Hooper doesn't play on the ball, we can cover for the occasional one on one missed tackles. It has to be better than conceding 4-5 simple tries through the backline. Pity those All Blacks took the pressure off I wanted to see a point a minute - at 54 points there were there after 54 minutes then STOPPED. Hopefully next week they will play the same way for 80 minutes in front of a home crowd. I had read in the past few days the Wallabies were in with a show, they are, were and continue to be pathetic. The ARU need to clean the swamp.
Fionn
Guest
Poor effort, Dr. Cheika's failings have no bearing on the fact that Deans made mistakes also. They are completely different mistakes, and Deans had much better players to work with than either Link or Cheika. Deans' time was up after the 2011 RWC, he held on too long. What we should feel really bad for is what happened with Link.
DrGeorge
Roar Rookie
If the goal of the ARU Board is to plunge this game beyond disrepair, then I cannot wait until next weekend!!
DrGeorge
Roar Rookie
To all those who were savaging Deans, well look where we are now!! Cheika the Saviour and the ARU Board have plunged this sport to the very bottom of the barrel... Where do you start?? The administration, culture, players - it's all so woeful... No doubt the ARU sill spin the BS about the second half fightback and how the Wallys were so great to win that half... LOL you know something is very very wrong when the Wallys are getting pats on the back for that effort!
P2R2
Roar Rookie
Ummm - you may wish to add the COACH....
sittingbison
Guest
Yup, it's the ARU....sorry ESRU...that is the disgrace. Wallaby performance is symptomatic of that. Completely dysfunctional, morally and actually bankrupt, deceiptful, lacking any idea of how to grow or manage the game, and pandering to a small and declining privelidged few rather than the broader community. They have broken the game, alienated public support, disheartened the players...they have lost the changeroom and in disarray. They need to go in a boardroom sweepout and change of executive (already well underway with CEO, CFO and COO already resigning)