For the first time in their Wallaby careers, Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani started in the centres against Japan at Yokohama with Henry Speight and Marika Koroibete on the wings.
And the Fijian connection worked a treat in the nine-try 63-30 win with Kuridrani crossing for three, Kerevi notching a double, and Speight grabbing one.
Even though Koroibete didn’t appear on the score-sheet, he was very effective in a Wallaby backline display that gave supporters plenty to cheer about.
Throw in the ever-present Kurtley Beale out the back, Reece Hodge making the most of his first crack in a Wallaby ten jumper, and Nick Phipps at last playing like a 59-Test veteran should, and subsequently, the Wallaby backline fired.
Sure the Wallabies were bigger, stronger and more experienced than their opponents, but to their credit the Japanese never threw in the towel and were, in fact, finishing the stronger in the last 20 minutes.
The cynics will say the Wallabies should have won by more than 33 points with 61 per cent possession and 57 per cent territory. They also dominated the run metres with 616 to Japan’s 350.
But that would be nit-picking.
For too long, the Wallabies have been criticised for lacking flair, but the Fijian connection has corrected that, with the most significant plus the performance of Hodge.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
Sure he made the odd mistake and took the wrong option every now and then, but overall he was very impressive, especially with the boot by converting all nine tries from all over the park.
And he did it with authority, with every conversion higher than the goalposts.
But no side can win without good service from their forwards, and that’s exactly what the backline enjoyed.
The scrum was solid with Scott Sio, Tatafa Polota-Nau and Sekope Kepu showing they are here to stay as the number one picks.
The Wallabies won all their lineouts with Polota-Nau finding his targets and turning in a powerhouse display across the board.
Adam Coleman continues his rapid rise among the world’s best locks, and there was nothing wrong with Rob Simmons’ comeback to the big time, with a runaway try a personal bonus.
But the pick of the pack was Sean McMahon, who has never played better with every touch of the ball gaining metres to support his solid defence.
Michael Cheika has at last found a number one number eight in McMahon while Lopeti Timani is an ideal back-stop with Ben McCalman in the mix as well.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
There was a downside, however, with the Wallabies missing 36 tackles, while Japan missed 32.
But the international was played at such a cracking pace for the 80 minutes, missing tackles would be a direct result.
Having said that, missing 30-plus tackles against Wales, England, or Scotland over the next three weeks would have the wrong direct result.
This is the time for Cheika and the Wallabies to finish the year with six successive wins, and look to 2018 with a far more positive approach than they had at the beginning of this year.
As for Japan, they must change their tag from the Brave Blossoms – it hardly has a robust rugby ring to it.
The Samurais or Warriors would be far more appropriate, and the way Japan played at the weekend, they deserve the promotion.
piru
Roar Rookie
You presume wrong - I'm quite aware of which of my national sides is which. My post was about team names
Slat
Guest
Piru I presume you mean the Allblacks as the Kiwis is the Rugby League team which is no where as good as the AB’s
Slat
Guest
Talking about money think about the Samoan RU who are now officially broke. The IRB needs to step up otherwise rugby will become like rugby league, a game played by a few.
Terry Tavita
Guest
he went to australia looking for a job just like everybody else..he's a good enough footballer to represent australia, end of story..
Terry Tavita
Guest
of course he is, he's white boy like you..
Terry Tavita
Guest
or maybe he feels tongan, like taumalolo..isn't that what he is?
Slat
Guest
Agree you only need one passport and one citizenship.
Slat
Guest
Yep a little like the Samoan nz game.??
bigbaz
Roar Guru
the way things are going piru we won't have a parliament or a Wallaby side. Maybe the RL WC have it right after all.
piru
Roar Rookie
In all seriousness, maybe being held to the same standards as federal parliament would go some way to soothing the issue. You want to be a Wallaby? Renounce your Fijian / Kiwi / English citizenship
piru
Roar Rookie
I suspect Dave is a social studies teacher who deliberately provokes an argument about English history so he can show off
piru
Roar Rookie
Waratahs, Springboks, Kiwis - none of these are fearsome They all have significance to their respective countries though. Brave Blossoms is probably the most Japanese name you could conceive
Slat
Guest
? As long as they stay out of politics the wallaby team should be safe, not to many Aussies in team.?
Harry Jones
Expert
Battering ram midfield, with hard-running wings, a sharpshooter from the tee, and elusive fullbacks! A Wallaby recipe for success; if the pack can just find parity with the big NH brutes.
Dave
Guest
I am nice, decent and open minded. That's why we are having a discussion without resorting to violence. Its a very anglo concept. One of the key's to our civilisational success in fact. I'm quoting the words from our national anthem which you refer to as merely 'song lyrics', but you simply ignore the historical facts I cite, and attack my character while calling me names and pretending you are somehow morally superior. Just the other day you told me that Anglo was confined to "London and its surrounds". You also reference the 16th-17 century, presumably speaking of the lineage of our Royal family, not the 5th century onward angles, saxons and jute tribes that moved to the British isles from modern day Germany. The people's that would later form what we know as England, and dominate and unify the isles under the the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The Scots, Welsh and Irish all part of that nation too you know. Anyway, you are the clever one in this discussion. Probably the most learned man of all in fact, for you know something that the Spanish, Dutch, Russians, French, Germans, Turks, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, and Soviets were ignorant of. For every one of them repeatedly signed off on treaties with 'Anglo'' in it for half a millennia. The Spanish must be particularly stupid, for they were signing peace treaties with England and Britain off the top of my head since the Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604) all the way to the Anglo Spanish War (1796-1808). It must have been news to the Scots, Welsh and Irish when they discovered centuries of treaties of which they were combatants of a sovereign power that didn't exist according to you. Imagine the shock Scottish General Sir Ralph Abercromby must have had when he took part in the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland for instance. Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas must have been dumbfounded at the news of the signing of the Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission (1887-1889) and the Anglo-Russian Entente (1907). I mean, what kind of navy was he part of?? The Japanese are clever, so the Anglo- Japanese Alliance (1902) doesn't make sense either. Why would Japan sign a military alliance with "London and its surrounds". Poor old Dublin born Lieutenant-Colonel Reynolds would no doubt be handing his Victoria Cross from Rorke's Drift in at the news. After all, it was part of a fictitious Anglo-Zulu war. I have no idea why 'Men of Harlech' is associated with that campaign either. Real head-scratcher . Welshmen in an Anglo- Zulu war??? Every foreign minister for 500 years, every brave Briton who took up arms from across the United Kingdom, and all the great writers and historians - all of whom just had a collective "misunderstanding of the history of the anglo peoples" I suppose. Funny that.
Dave_S
Guest
David you ain’t no “Dave”. All the other “Daves” I know are kind, decent, open minded people. “just the other day you were telling me how the word Anglo did not exist.” BS, I pointed out to you your clear misunderstanding of the history of the Anglo peoples. As usual you display limited comprehension skills or an obstinate refusal to face facts - take your pick. Now youre quoting song lyrics to promote your agenda? But I thought jurisprudence was your only game??!! Gosh what a Renaissance man, how can we keep up!
Noodles
Guest
While you have your crystal ball out can you give me a few stock tips? Seems such a waste to use up such insights on mere rugby tips.
Dave
Guest
Oh my are we being triggered Dave S? Historical reality is 'ugly' and 'BS' to your quaint ears. Dear oh dear. Tell me Dave, seeing as though we share the same name and all, how many David's are there in China? What about India? Japan? Indonesia? Just a random coincidence that we have the same 'boring old uber conservative' name I take it? Nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that we come from the same group of people, and shock horror! who happen to by some miraculous and totally random chance - actually have the same religious origins. Amazing coincidence. Almost as much as the fact the we are speaking the same language. Impossible as it seems though, because just the other day you were telling me how the word Anglo did not exist. Anyway, how about I leave you for the night with a song. Maybe our Anthem 'Advance Australia Fair'. The actual words of the original song that is. Verses 2-4 for some cultural enrichment for my fellow Australian; Verse 2 When gallant Cook from Albion sailed, To trace wide oceans o'er, True British courage bore him on, Til he landed on our shore. Then here he raised Old England's flag, The standard of the brave; "With all her faults we love her still" "Britannia rules the wave." In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia fair. Verse 3 While other nations of the globe Behold us from afar, We'll rise to high renown and shine Like our glorious southern star; From England soil and Fatherland, Scotia and Erin fair, Let all combine with heart and hand To advance Australia fair. In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia fair. Verse 4 Should foreign foe e'er sight our coast, Or dare a foot to land, We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore, To guard our native strand; Britannia then shall surely know, Though oceans roll between, Her sons in fair Australia's land Still keep their courage green. In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia fair.*
bigbaz
Roar Guru
You obviously don't live in Australia
Dave_S
Guest
“the high court recognised that we shared the same ancestors, the same surnames, the same genetics and so forth” BS!! Clearly you haven’t read the judgment or any subsequent jurisprudence. It was a comment on the narrow legal question of whether Australians (in 1906!) where Brittish subjects, according to the Constitution. No more. As usual, you boring old uber-conservatives have no proper justification for your ugly views.