There isn’t a writer in Australia enjoying bollocking the Wallabies’ rubbish rugby. But it’s been hell watching the game they used to play in heaven.
Sadly, there’s been zero to salute – the Wallabies have won only eight of their 19 games since the final of the Rugby World Cup in October 2015, and in the last Super Rugby tournament the five Australian rugby franchises won just 21 of their 75 games, including a first time 0-26 against the Kiwis.
But Michael Cheika can coach, skills guru Mick Byrne honed All Black abilities for a decade, and defence coach Nathan Grey was a devastating defender during his 25 Wallaby caps, and 94 games for the Waratahs.
Cheika is the only coach to win major tournaments in the northern and southern hemisphere, including the Waratahs’ success in the 2014 Super Rugby, ending a 19-year drought.
Yesterday Byrne pleaded with fans to be patient as the Wallabies are close to getting it right.
Patient and close after the All Blacks led 40-6 at halftime last Saturday before declaring with 30 minutes to go leading 54-6, allowing the Wallabies to score an unanswered 28 points?
The Aussies missed 26 tackles in the first 26 minutes for the Kiwis to lead 26-6, and by fulltime that was a massive 48 missed tackles.
That’s all-round crap rugby.
What’s more galling is they are making the same fundamental mistakes game after game after game.
Let’s turn back the clock to the 2015 Rugby World Cup, where the top ten at completion were:
1 – All Blacks 92.89 points
2 – Wallabies – 90.93
3 – Springboks 86.80
4 – Pumas 85.09
6 – Wales 83.49
6 – Ireland 81.17
6 – France 79.78
8 – England 79.77
9 – Scotland 77.94
10 – Japan 77.05
Since then, there’s a been a dramatic change in the batting order due to these stats. England has won two Six Nations since Eddie Jones took over as coach, making the men in white the best-performed nation in world rugby.
1 – England has played 20 Tests for 19 wins at 95 per cent
2 – All Blacks – 19 – 16 – 84.21
3 – Scotland – 18 – 12 – 66.67
4 – Ireland – 20 – 12 – 60
5 – Springboks – 16 – 8 – 50
5 – Wales – 20 – 10 – 50
7 – Wallabies – 19 – 8 – 42.11
8 – France – 18 – 7 – 38.89
9 – Pumas – 17 – 5 – 29.41
10 – Italy – 14 – 3 – 21.43
Now the ultimate crunch with the Wallabies in free fall from number two in the world to number five, and the flying Fijians into the top ten.
The current world rankings:
1 – All Blacks 95.21 points
2 – England 90.14
3 – Ireland 85.39
4 – Springboks 84.57
5 – Wallabies 84.21
6 – Scotland 82.47
7 – Wales 81.75
8 – France 79.65
9 – Fiji 79.48
10 – Pumas 79.15
And there’s worse to come at Dunedin on Saturday, with New Zealand promising to play the full 80 minutes – no declaration.
Nobody in their right mind would give the Wallabies a chance of victory. But the fans deserve that even in defeat their team show the pride and passion that the gold jersey demands.
Like the Alan Jones-coached 1984 Wallabies and their history-making Grand Slam and Bledisloe.
Or the Bobby Dwyer-coached 1991 World Cup winners, and Bledisloe.
Or the Rod Macqueen-coached 1999 World Cup champions, with Bledisloe, Tri-Nations, and historic 2-1 win over the British and Irish Lions in a two-year period – the Wallabies’ greatest moments.
There were three damn good reasons why those heights were reached – Andrew Slack won 14 of 19 Tests as captain for 73.68 per cent success.
Nick Farr-Jones 23 of 36 for 63.89.
John Eales 41 of 55 for 74.55.
The current captain, Michael Hooper? He has six from 16 for 37.50.
It’s enough to make you weep buckets of blood.
Upfromdown
Guest
I agree Perthstayer. But I also agree with Ro to a large extent. These guys have the ability to perform a hell of a lot better. Losses are one thing, but poor attitude, bad selections and even worse game plans have let the team down. Both recent games v Scotland (home & away) the Wallabies have, give or take, gifted them 2 tries to start the game. They were also 2 tries down in Ireland, about 10 points down v Springboks last year and a lot more last week v NZ. Whilst Australia may be able to run down Boks every now and again, and v Ireland & Scotland at least 50% of the time, they can never do it against the AB's. They had England on the back foot in 3 of the 4 games last year, but bad decisions in attack & defence costs them, Arrogance also cost them v Eng in melbourne and Scotland this year. Going for tries when easy points were on offer is the height of it. I appreciate the opposition will say we defended well or pressured well etc, but the wallabies have to look at their mistakes. These are all fixable things. When you are a team that gift points, you take the easy points on offer when you can.
Marcus
Guest
Way back when the Wallabies won things, they were Australian. Nowadays they are just a bunch of losers from Queensland and New South Wales.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
No I doubt you are correct with...'nagging doubt there...' they had no DOUBT whatsoever, I think you will see the ABs really put the WBs to the sword under the roof at Dunedin...
sittingbison
Guest
Village elders vs village idiot?
dontcallmeshirley
Guest
I have just watched a replay if the game and found a few things enlightening. It seems like it takes a village to coach the All Blacks. Steve H is a member of a selection panel, none of whom are on his coaching staff and none of whom he got to appoint himself. TV shots of his coaching box shows himself, Mike Cron, Wayne Smith and Ian Foster. All aged wise men, quietly taking notes. Cut to the Wallabies box and there is Michael Cheika ranting and raving. Sole selector and autocratic leader of an inexperienced coaching team, he personally appointed. I have no particular axe to grind with Cheika. Perhaps the ARU should intervene and offer him help in the form of a selection panel and senior advidors. I suspect that even MC may be at the point where he may feel he needs someone to share the burden. The village that manages the All Blacks seem devoid of infighting or egos. It all seems to function like a well oiled machine.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Ian Truth hurts: you know these guys would die for the jersey. This is simply not true for the Wallabies. Why I stopped attending Waratahs games long long ago... Cheers KP
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
thumbs up!
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
reminds me of teenage days girl at other school was Diana Pash always known by boys as Diyawanna Pash Cheers KP
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
ha ha ha!
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
hey, don't talk down Father Brown! KP
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Love it!
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Well noted! Cheers KP
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Don't encourage the media Harry. Much prefer to read about actual rugby stories rather than grubby nonsense.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
'Even allowing for that it appears that one player (Kerevi) struggled with his role...' Here's the difference. In the 1st test in last year's Oz England series, the WBs scored 2 tries and nearly a third in the first 20 minutes. The English inside centre (Luther Burrell) 'struggled with his role' in the defensive pattern. Jones immediately substituted him and England went on to win the game.
Stephen C
Guest
Initially my thoughts were that the All Blacks took their feet off our throats, allowing the pathetic Wallabies back into the game. I still think the effort was beyond poor and totally unacceptable, but I have re-thought the whole 'they declared' thing. We keep getting told that 'Rugby is an 80 minute game'. This adage should also apply to teams like the ABs regardless of how far ahead they are. It's a bit of a double standard that to suggest close losses at the end of the game are indicative of switching off, without acknowledging that a comeback at the end of the game is the complete opposite. If the ABs did switch off and concede four tries, that is equally unacceptable in the context of a Test Match. It's only that they switched off for 30 minutes instead of 50 that saved them. The Wallabies were appalling and if it were my choice I would have made knee-jerk wholesale changes, but having calmed down and re-watched the game last night, I don't actually think the ABs fell asleep, I think we woke up. Way too late admittedly, but there are some positives to take away from that game.
MikeFlanker
Guest
If the Force bankrupt the ARU im court thanks to Forrest then I will be delighted. Then the rotten mess can be destroyed and we can build again for Rugby and not factional interests.
MikeFlanker
Guest
I'm sorry David but when you say "But Michael Cheika can coach" in the context of this debarcle you sound like you are absolving him of blame. Yes Cheika had success in the past. Yes you are correct to predict more misery for the WBs but why is that? I will tell you - there is a culture of denial and avoidance of responsibility in the Wallabies - both in the players and the coaching staff. MC defends Grey when there is clear evidence from 2016 and 2017 (in Super Rugby and internationals) that Grey's systems do not work. Either they are fundamentally flawed or they do not have the players to implement them. Either way a responsible coach admits it is not working and change the system, as well as adjust selections. Hooper is also infected with this disease by not calling out the defensive failings. The ARU board members will not call out the woeful performance and lack of skills for what it is. The entire structure is rotten and we already had evidence of that from Super Rugby last year. I have been a defender of MC for a long time but enough is enough. He is destroying the Wallaby legacy and damaging the confidence of the few good players he has left.
Adsa
Guest
My worry is not the continual floggings from the Darkness Onside, it is the the 4-0 losses to England last year, recent touch ups from Scotland, Ireland last year the team is not advancing. But all is not lost for us rugby tragics, we need to play Wales three times per year. (& good one Jacko).
ian gilfeather
Guest
With Rugby being a business these days, and guys playing for 'franchises', not teams, I think its time to get more business like when we analyse the Wallabies woes.One of the major features of the business environment is the reward for good performance. We see CEO's get big bonuses, and workers get bonuses for achieving good outcomes. They dont get bonuses for bad outcomes. It may cost them their jobs. So why is there not an incentive payment system for the Wallabies? Why do we pay these guys 12K or whatever they get per game, win lose or draw? Where's the incentive for them to excel? When you look at the All Blacks and the Boks, or the Lions, you know these guys would die for the jersey. This is simply not true for the Wallabies. There is no evidence that it matters that much to these players. Time and again, we see them out-passioned by their rivals. But they obviously do care about the bucks. So here's a proposal: let them keep their fat figure of 12K for winning, but if they lose, lets cut their salary to say, 3K. We may just see a bit more effort from a bunch of guys who are grossly over-paid and under-performed. If Rugby in this age is really just a business ( and ask the force about this for confirmation), then lets be really business -like, and stop funding under-committment and hopeless performance
Buk
Guest
Amongst all the negative issues, one glitter of hope - a list where Scotland comes 3rd in world rugby. My grandmother would be over the moon :)