On Saturday night Australian rugby fans witnessed an attacking master class for the best part of an hour of play. Sadly it was the Wallabies’ opposition who showed the confidence, skill and expertise of a superior rugby team.
Brace yourselves for another angry Wallabies supporter article. I realise they are coming through thick and thin at the moment, but if it slightly helps my outlook on Australian rugby, I’m going to go right ahead.
Once again, the first game of the Bledisloe Cup had arrived – and for a brief moment last week, I dared to hope that our Wallabies had a chance of making it a competitive game. In all, 30 or so of our best rugby players had nearly a full month of preparation together, a very rare luxury on the international circuit.
Any doubts and hesitation about the Super Rugby form were cast off by the players and coaches and we were promised that they were ready to get stuck into the All Blacks.
Then the first half happened.
I remember sitting on my couch during half time, I was angry. Angry that Michael Cheika had seemingly surrendered any chance of defensive superiority in the hope that his men can match the All Black’s attacking skill and, angry at the lack effort by our best players.
I was just thankful I didn’t buy a ticket, what a waste of time, money and effort.
I don’t want to join the chorus of fans called for an end to Cheika’s reign, I actually think he has done an acceptable job since he took charge. I do, however, find it incredibly infuriating that certain player’s defensive shortcomings are so obvious to the majority of Australian rugby fans, but the head coach is oblivious to it!
Then, he rolls out this lineup against the best attacking team in the world. Was the resulting bloodbath ever in doubt?
It’s quite unfortunate that he is still the best coach we have, and, without any other viable option, will these head scratching selections and tactics continue? Probably.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Put aside any problems with the growth of rugby talent in Australia (or the problems with the governing body), I have read many reasonable, sensible game plans and tactics from Roarers, utilising the best players we have and presenting the best possible chance to knock the All Blacks off their perch.
Sure, it’s easy to say these things from the outside looking in and it’s definitely not as clear cut as many would like to think, but it’s truly hard to accept some of Cheika’s decisions as a top tier coach.
The Wallabies missed 37 tackles in the first half, 48 overall. In contrast, the All Blacks missed 45 tackles in three Test matches against the British and Irish Lions.
Cheika cast off any suggestions that it was due to a lack of effort, rather, the fact that a little self-doubt crept into the players. The excuse just churns up the old argument that these guys are professional rugby players, they literally don’t have any other job to do other than go out there and play hard.
I would argue that a blatant lack of cover defence, falling off basic front end tackles and a general unwillingness to ‘go the hard yards’ isn’t a lack of confidence at all.
A month ago I wrote an article as a call to arms to Australian rugby fans, I said that we must try our hardest to back our team purely with the knowledge that they will go on to the field, try their absolute hardest and ultimately live up to the fabled Australian way of never giving up.
I also blamed a lack of confidence for their results in the June Test series.
Now here I am, questioning all of those sentiments.
Ultimately, I am lost. I’m unsure how to move forward. The Super Rugby season was tough, as a Brumbies supporter I feel incredibly sorry for the Force and its fans, but the latest performance from our national team has brought a new level of devastation.
The only way to win is with the ball in hand, yes strong attack is incredibly important, but surely there needs to be some balance within the team.
The Wallabies must show the All Blacks some respect by playing strong defence, rather than relying on them to make the same schoolboy errors that we do.
Simon Douch
Roar Guru
Thanks for the comment, agreed, I like your backline swaps. It won't be long before his job has a serious question mark over it. Losses to the Springboks and Argentina will probably do it.
System of a Downey Jr
Roar Rookie
I've been on the fence a little with how to perceive Cheika. The clarion call of 'He doesn't have the cattle' always made me question where his responsibilities ended. But after that game it became crystal clear. Cheika. Must. Go. All these conversations back and forth are futile. He can't get the team to implement basic defence. Yes - he doesn't have the cattle. But he can't herd what cattle he has. I believe in all likelihood Cheika will hold his job with just five wins this year - a win over Japan, one over the Barbarians, manage to scrape a win over either Wales or Scotland (wouldn't be surprised to see Wallabies drop the Scotland game as it is the final game of the year) and here's hoping he can muster two wins over Argentina. South Africa will be too strong in both home and away games and All Blacks matches are a forgone conclusion. Yet he is safe until post-World Cup 2019. I believe he must drop Foley - put Beale at 10. Alter the centre pairing, move Folau to wing and that is just the backline changes. His biggest problem is the loosies. They will get eaten alive against all three Rugby Championship teams. After the 2015 WC - If I told you that the Wallabies would lose at home three nil to England, to a Scotland team stripped of their best players, scrape past Italy in the last five minutes and concede 40 points to the All Blacks in a half of rugby - and to top it off the coach hadn't resigned or been sacked - then you'd think I was trying to insult you.