The Wallabies were dismantled by Scotland 53-24 at Murrayfield overnight. It was a frantic game that saw the Aussies handicap themselves yet again through ill-discipline. It wasn’t pretty. So, where did it all go wrong?
1. Sekope sees red, Kurtley yellow
Australia’s discipline hit a new low this week. As half-time approached, Sekope Kepu went flying into the breakdown. Rather than making a genuine attempt to clean out, he launched his shoulder into the head of a Scottish defender who wasn’t even making a play at the ball. A deserved red card which left the Wallabies with a mountain to climb, having to play more than half the game a man down.
The tragedy is that it came just as the Aussies were gaining momentum. They’d scored two quick tries, and even the breakdown in question came from a strong Sean McMahon bust. It killed off any hope of a Wallaby win and will have infuriated both captain and coach.
A late Kurtley Beale foul had no bearing on the result, other than to ice Scotland’s performance with one final try. It also showed, for the second week running, Beale’s willingness (and inability) to plead his innocence in the face of even the most blatant evidence.
By deliberately bundling the ball out of play, all he did was earn himself a one-minute head-start on Cheika’s inevitable post-match spray.
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
2. Scotland got off to a flyer
The home side didn’t wait for a numerical advantage to launch their attack, however. They leapt to a 10-0 lead through enterprising play across the park. The early warning shot came via a rampant rolling maul which gained 35 easy metres before the backs sliced through in midfield, only to knock on with a try begging.
Scotland looked to outflank Australia at every opportunity, knowing full well that their wingers rush up and in. It looked like Scotland had done their homework and were working to a clear plan. In contrast, the Wallabies were ragged, with very little in the way of a Plan B, and slow to react to errors.
The chief destroyer for the Scots was winger Byron McGuigan who bumped off tacklers at will and finished with two tries. McGuigan was due to start on the bench, only getting called up due to a late injury to Stuart Hogg. He took his opportunity brilliantly.
3. Say no Moore (mon amour)
It’s perhaps a little harsh to call out Stephen Moore in his final game, but it was a sorry old showing from the departing hooker. I mentioned in the match preview that Cheika appeared to bow to sentimentality with his selection over the in-form Tatafu Polota-Nau. And so it proved.
Moore was off the pace from the outset and shaky at lineout time ‒ normally his bread and butter. He was sluggish in possession and capped it off by playing speed bump for Jamie Bhatti in the second-half, a break which set up a try. Not the way any player wants to go out.
Thanks for the memories, Steve. But we’ll try to repress this latest one.
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
4. Foley-Kuridrani combo a rare bright spot
When the Wallabies did get a roll on in the first-half, it was the combination of Bernard Foley and Tevita Kuridrani that most impressed.
Scotland’s rush defence was disrupting play and the likes of Samu Kerevi and McMahon used as battering rams to make inroads. In order to turn possession into points, Foley first grubbered through close to the line for Kuridrani to dive over.
The big highlight came a few minutes later when Foley scooted down the touchline, kicked through for himself and, as he was being caught, had the awareness to swivel around and pop a pass to Kuridrani for his second simple finish.
Things were looking up at that stage. The Wallabies had their noses in front 10-12.
5. Kicking woes need clarity (along with everything else)
Throughout the year, we’ve seen kicking duties seesaw between Bernard Foley and Reece Hodge.
Foley’s boot has been on the fritz for a while now, unreliable when conversions and penalty goals are at a premium. Hodge, meanwhile, has been relegated to long-range efforts and occasional touch-finders.
There’s definitely an argument to hand both goalkicking and clearance kicks to Hodge full-time. Chopping and changing goalkickers during the match clearly isn’t working. Likewise, Foley’s pop gun clearances are surely not the most effective route out of the 22.
Are these decisions a symptom of a broader lack of direction? The Wallabies have certainly gone full circle this year from bad, to promising, to actually pretty good, and back to woeful. It’s a startling regression in terms of basic skills, decision-making and execution.
Cheika has shown he’s a decent motivator and man-manager, but the broader structure and cohesion of the team is in dire need of an overhaul. It’s almost like he cares too much sometimes to make clear, clinical decisions. Either that or the players haven’t listened. If it’s the latter, we’re in real trouble.
At least it’s all over now. Rest up, fellas. Time to put the cricket on.
StuMur
Guest
Yes, but that's because the general paying public here aren't interested enough in it. They might show interest for test matches, but that's about it. No wonder there's no ongoing comp here.. They go off and spend their money at the league, afl or football. Without the global glitz of televised test rugby, low grade domestic games at the local park expose rugby for what it is.. Disjointed, confusing, out of touch and bloody boring.
steve
Guest
yes but how many times has he made intercepts and gone on to score. A lot. I don't mind if he trys and misses. its the rub of the game. @kirky I am sure you are one of the Roarers asking for Quade to come back.
ThugbyFan
Guest
R.Hodge took nearly ALL the penalty kicks to the line. Most were booming kicks, but only gained 20-25m before over the line. Pretty much the same gain metres as B.Foley's pop kicks.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Agreed there Gus. S.Moore was selfish, he should have gracefully retired on a high note and in front of his local fans at Brisbane after Bledisloe III. Moore played cr^p for the whole tour, his sole influence on the team was to hold back J.Uelease's WB career for 3-4 games. Even worse was M.Cheika selecting him in the touring squad. The coach has no problem shafting M.Philip, S.Higgers, QC, L.Timani or R.Arnold as coaches have to make hard decisions yet MC goes to warm butter with his favs such as Moore, T.Robertson, N.Phipps and Ned Flannigan. Not a good look and it will eventually lose him the players' respect.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Snob, your line "Heck, if it wasn’t for that contentious penalty in RWC QF in 2015, that would now be 3 straight wins by Scotland over the Wallabies." is wrong. It's so snobby and faux pas to moan and rant about them Aweful Brutish Aussies, but at least get your facts straight if you want to denigrate them. It would not be 3 straight losses against Scotland simply because Australia beat Scotland on last year's EOYT. In that RWC2015 QF, the right team won because they scored 5 tries to 3 despite the lax officiating of that match. I am constantly amazed as to how many people sprout "never blame the referee", especially following the reaction from the England vs WB match last week. Then 2 seconds later bring up that QF game as a prime example of "the ref cost us". Be consistent at least. As per form, the IRB (read Rugby for us British Isle Olde Farts) said nothing and allowed the bitter Scottish officials and ex-player meatheads to moan in the media for weeks afterwards and publicly crucify Craig Joubert. Their bitter comments and the payback ruined Joubert's career. Interesting to compare their slack effort at that time to tell the Scot to STFU, with the speed of how they "investigated" M.Cheika's spray last week. As for this match, Australia played like tired men really needing a rest and against an up and team playing a chimera of NH forward power and smarts with SH fast paced attacking rugby. Give Scotland credit, they in all likelihood would have won the match whether S.Kepu had his idiotic attack on Watson's head or not. They belted Ireland and Wales in the 6N2017 and almost beat NZ last week. Full credit to them, they are playing hard rugby with passion and "unseen before" speed and are fun to watch. And I do agree with you that the WB seem to only have Plan A and seem not to be able to think and adjust once on the field. Poor coaching indeed. Why Kepu did it, who knows? Perhaps it was payback for an unseen hit earlier or Kepu wanted to show his team-mates how to clear out a ruck. If he did either then he was clearly stupid and cost his team plenty. One Scottish tv commentator suggested he slipped as he went in for the cleanout, but I don't buy that as his red was as much to do with shoulder only as to where he hit. If he had used arms, he may just have got away with a yellow card. But he didn't so he's off! In this case, the referee was correct. btw, any comment on the ref's interpretation of where the offside line lies? I thought at times it was quite innovative. :)
piru
Roar Rookie
Some fine hypocrisy there Waxhead given your recent crowing about the WA rugby community being cut out of the national picture. One place at least where what school you went to has no bearing on your eligibility to progress.
ClarkeG
Guest
Why were Scotland not awarded a penalty try? Because the match officials again got it wrong in my opinion. I think it quite probable that the Scottish player McGuigan would have scored but for Beale's infringement.
piru
Roar Rookie
KB's should have been a PT too in my opinion.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Boy, I thought he was dreadful. I think Beale has to learn to stay planted... just about every kick he attempts to catch he leaps for, and it bounces out... terrible catcher... simply has not improved in game situations. He slotted into first receiver and did nothing but either turn it over, or pass to somene right next to him who then got smashed... He did actually get to the ball close to the line this time, but I am about 90% that he deliberately knocked it out... his protestations were pretty poor. Two weeks or poor play from Beale, when we were all singing his praises earlier this year. Big dip in form from him.
piru
Roar Rookie
Personally I think the RC may be a blessing in disguise, as the Wallabies may be able to convince themselves that they would have been competitive with 15 men. There is nothing to indicate that was the case, the players looked like they'd never met each other before - some of them looked like they'd never played rugby before.
Marto
Guest
Foley is inept at 10 .What was the final score Mango.? Keep jogging mate,you`ll get there one day.
graymatter
Roar Rookie
Agreed and JC is talking rubbish. We do have the cattle. Chieka simply refuses to consider them and ultimately they realise that they are never going to get a fair chance so make the decision to head OS. Don't tell me a Wayne Bennet or a Wessels couldn't inspire the Wallabies with some frank and fair selection and advice to players about what playing for your country and your mates requires!
ClarkeG
Guest
Talking of accuracy, Kepu did not have his left arm wrapped around Watson, unless having your hand on a players arm equals wrapped, but I'm not sure why that matters anyhow.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
Kurtley's 'foul' a la SBW's punching the ball over the dead-line - shows the hypocrisy and incompetence of alot of Refs...why was SBW's not just a yellow card but a penalty try as well - when you look at the footage, it is stretching it to think that the French player would get the ball and thus a try.....the ball was on the R) side of SBW and the Frency player on SBW's L)....but for Gardner to award a penalty try was just pathetic....so if that was the case, why did the Ref in the Scotland game not also award a penalty try...it was a blatant scoop away and for Kurtley to say he was 'trying to bring the ball into him' defies evidence and logic....Aussie got butt-kicked big time by the Scots....the beginning of more of the same I would think?
soapit
Guest
yep ive discussed this time to respond thing with you previously and im still not a fan. points are points
Uncle Eric
Guest
PeterK, I think the Scottish flanker Watson looked up and saw Kepu coming at his head and moved his head to the side in an attempt to avoid contact to his head. I fear for the outcome if he hadn't moved. Good as Kepu is, there is no doubt he is a very dirty player. One who should get a few weeks suspension to contemplate his behaviour.
Uncle Eric
Guest
Two problems with Hodge kicking BFC. Firstly he takes an eternity to get boot to ball and as a consequence does get charged down too often and secondly his accuracy, even when not under pressure, is questionable. Yes on a good day, he gets tremendous purchase, but it's often not the case.
GusTee
Roar Pro
FunBus - regarding your final comment ..."but I think both the WBs and SR teams will be better next year" I agree to the extent that the reinFORCEd Rebels will be better next year - the rest will be the same old same as. Then the following year the reinFORCEd Rebels will run out of money yet again and they too will be back to square one. Until we have meaningful change at the very top, Australian rugby will be on its knees and going down.
ForceFan
Guest
McCalman has only played SR with the Western Force (since 2010). He has played 1 season in Japan (in SR off-season 2015-16). How does this make him a "journeyman"?
markie362
Guest
Dont put ur hopes on Brad thorn.the aussies arent ready for anotber kiwi coach.