The Wallabies’ 2017 record will likely be shaped by what unfolds at Murrayfield on Saturday night.
While there is no great danger of this being a season fondly remembered by Wallabies fans, a good result against Scotland would probably be enough to ensure it was recalled as ‘eventful’ rather than disappointing.
Scotland are no mugs, as Australia found out in Sydney. A second-gear effort will not get the job done against them, as even the All Blacks came close to suffering defeat at Murrayfield last week.
The Wallabies were poor in many areas against England but were able to keep the contest close for a long time thanks to their defence – the alarming thing for Michael Cheika is the manner in which Australia fell away late.
Cheika was the man who started the new fashion of referring to the substitutes as ‘finishers’, implying that far from plugging gaps left by injuries, the bench had a crucial role to play in getting the 80-minute job done.
Last weekend, England’s finishers took the pace of the game up a notch against a tiring Wallabies side and took the game away from them, even if the final score flattered the home side a little.
Australia’s replacements struggled to make any impact at Twickenham and Cheika’s use of them was simply confusing.
Ben McCalman was introduced too early and was unable overpower his opponents because they weren’t tired yet. But he had to be brought on because once again Ned Hanigan was exposed as too lightweight for Test rugby – which every Wallabies fan could have told you would happen before kick-off.
Cheika loves backing his players and that’s part of why players will run through walls for him, but his persistence with Hanigan is just downright frustrating.
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Samu Kerevi was the only player along the backline who looked like causing England any problems last weekend, even if it did take him a while to get going. It was baffling then to see him hooked in favour of Karmichael Hunt just as he appeared to be hitting top gear.
Stephen Moore quite literally just got in the way and, while Will Genia had a poor game, I’d rather a tired Genia steer my side home than a fresh and frantic Nick Phipps.
2017 has been a year of slow, but untimely steady progress for Australia. Much like the Rugby Championship, where the only losses came at the hands of New Zealand, there would be no shame in a European tour where the only loss came against England.
However, a loss on Saturday night would change the outlook slightly. In a year where the Wallabies finally found a way to overcome the All Blacks, it would be so Michael Cheika-era to bookend that season with two losses to Scotland.
Cheika’s backers will be hoping the Wallabies can account for the Scots on Saturday so that 2017 can be filed as ‘unspectacular progress’, while his critics will be waiting in the wings ready to call for the coach’s head in the event that Australia lose again.
Given how the year has panned out so far, don’t be surprised if it finishes as a draw – leaving both sides somewhat unsatisfied.
Bob
Guest
Hmmmm do you still think Cheika stays? The gulf between 4th and 5th has rarely been so big.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Okay, didn't see that thrashing coming. I notice Cheika is still defiant. Tracking nicely for 2019. What a joke.
Sporting brats
Guest
OK Jack stop pissing in the pockets of the Wannabies and Chucka and accurately define this bunch of over-rated soft bellied Pacific Islands team. Do the right thing Jack - insist that Chucka goes and that we get some backs with the balls to tackle and I don't mean the weak as piss gutless shoulder charge of Kepu! Defence makes a team not a bunch of soft who look good in the open with no-one to tackle them!
GusTee
Roar Pro
Touche
GusTee
Roar Pro
53 - 24 & another record loss by the Wallabies. Sums up Australia's rugby year under the excellent stewardship of Cameron Clyne.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Keith, are you talking about Coach of the Year Cheika? The man who beat England once and has traded off it ever since. Even after losing to them five times in a row. He's the Trump of rugby with a loyal band of followers who refuse to criticise him or any of his selections. They say Phipps is a better scrum half than Genia. Hooper a better 7 than Pocock. Remember their excitement about Skelton? How they justified the repeated selection of Mumm, Horne, Hanigan, Robertson?
Tooly
Guest
We didn’t blame the ref when Scotland lost in the WC ; we were full of praises for Joubert with plenty of advise fo the Scots on how to lose . It is a match we are expected to win anything less will epitimise our mediocre year . I note that Mark Ella has Chekko summed up .
double agent
Guest
Cheika is not the only coach to play favourites. There are thousands of coaches out there at all levels of rugby,no doubt other sports too that all have their favourites. I can't remember the last time fans didn't complain about Wallaby selections. Maybe 1999.
double agent
Guest
Hopefully he won't be playing in the final ten minutes.
double agent
Guest
I'll be glad when the 2017 rugby season is finally put out of it's misery!
ThugbyFan
Guest
One thing about WB playing against England that is a worrying trend. In the June 2016 tour, it generally was equal tries per match (I think two games were 5-4 tries) however since then England is still scoring 4 tries a match but the WB are going in reverse, 2 tries last EOYT and none this year. This suggests that the WB defence has slightly improved as the English team attack has, but the same WB attack tactic of run the ball at all costs is killing them, the NH teams have worked out rush blanket defence to negate it. The decent NH teams just consider the WB players as moving tackle bags while the WB coaches refuse to give little thought to change things up, such as grubber kicks or up-n-unders with organised chasers to harass the back receivers, or long kicks to the opposition corners to keep them in their half. The WB did use short kicks with chasers in the Wales game and it netted them 2 tries. Mysteriously against England on a wet deck, they put it all away. Then to show what mugs they were, England got 3 late tries, all with short kicks (one was an intercept but it was still kicked) past the WB defence. I just cannot understand it, its simple Rugger 101, "wet ball, kick through or over defence line and make them pick a wet rolling ball up with rabid chasers about to tackle or ruck them". Its bad enough that the coach shows favouritism and accepts players' faults as long as they bring haste and "training attitude" to the table, but the blind refusal to mix and match, or change a game plan that clearly has been worked out by most opposition teams is a real worry. I was at the Scotland game at the SFS in June and the WB played like headless chooks (not Machooka). W.Genia was short of a run with wayward passing gifting 2 tries to the Scots. Although the WB ran more ball, turnovers killed off lots of moves. Add that the Scots basically OWNED the rucks, WB either arriving too late or not enough power to blast the opposition off the ball. The WB only lost 4 rucks but every WB attack ruck was slowed down while the Scots organised their defence. A.Coleman, S.Carter and S.Higgers were the power boys to complement M.Hooper and Ned Hanigan. I don't believe the WB could play so badly again, even if a better Scottish team turns up, and I doubt if they will gift 2 tries like last game. For me, the biggest problem is by now B.Foley and W.Genia must be feeling in need of a good rest and will struggle for the last 10-15 minutes. M.Cheika has his "energiser bunny" in N.Phipps for ½-back but 5/8 is a problem, perhaps if he still has legs then R.Hodge moves there for the last few minutes. If the WB keep their cool, attack the Scottish rucks and mix up their attack game such as how they did against Wales, then it should be a 6 point win the WallyBees. Oh and I hope they have had a good think about how easily they gave up 3 tries in the last 10 minutes, I'm positive the Scottish coach noticed. :)
David
Guest
Zander Fagerson's back this weekend so possibly a very narrow improvement there. Fraser Brown fit again too won't do any harm at scrum time.
David
Guest
Can't see Cheika resigning any more than I can imagine him being sacked. He'll be there until at least 2019.
RucknRoll
Guest
Nailed it Tooly. Not taking your gift 3s in the wet and persisting with a kicker with the yips over a bloke who regularly lands goals from half way is just poor captaincy pure and simple. And the Waratah selection bias is just annoying. Not like they had a stellar season. At least on tactics Genia finally accepted he can't kick a football well. But game in game out it's just the basics that kill them (yes Tevita and Nick I'm talking to you)
mzilikazi
Guest
No, only comments of that nature will arise if there is good reason. Are you honestly satisfied, Craig, with the current standard of officiating ?
Jock Cornet
Guest
We need a bench
Jock Cornet
Guest
A great domestic club comp has dramatically improved the Scotland side, the reverse is happening in Oz. Our super sides are sliding south.
englishbob
Guest
Good article Jack. Quite agree this game is so important for the wallabies to win, almost purely on a morale basis. The wallabies are never going to rack up like england(ill be the first to admit Englands fixture list is never as hard as australias) or New Zealand but a win tomorrow would show that the wallabies are deserving of the third place ranking, which I think they are. A loss tomorrow and a bit of justified pressure will appear on this coaching group
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I’m going with a WB win purely on the grounds the Scots are down to the bare bones at tighthead, and I think this will tip the balance.
Keith of WA
Guest
mmm... his selections are very suspect.. The only forward with mongrel is Coleman The wallabies don't often win when he is out.....