As the Aussies stare down another Bledisloe series defeat, they should take heart from the flamboyant French, who recently showed that the Kiwis can be unsettled – even at home.
The Wallabies must approach this game with the ferocity they displayed in the Sydney loss and hope that fortunes go their way in opportunistic moments.
While the 38-13 loss looked like a hiding, the Aussies had the required arsenal to match it with the mighty All Blacks but let themselves down at crucial stages in the second term.
The Kiwis were forced into an uncharacteristic brand of rugby, which made them look vulnerable throughout, making the margin of victory flattering. Take away the opportunistic moments that changed the course of the match and the scoreline would have been much tighter.
Plenty of work is needed in the Australian scrum and lineout, which caused the most amount of damage by turnovers, but the Wallabies played a well-orchestrated brand of rugby drilled on foiling opposition pressure. As such, they were able to change the visitors’ strategy to scrambling in defence, rather than employing their renowned skills when they have control of a contest.
In fact, the All Blacks struggled for fluency in the first half because of the Ausrtalians’ relentless defensive effort, resulting in an uncharacteristic morass of mistakes.
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In contests such as these, two committed halves is the required minimum, but alas for the Wallabies, their fiery first half appeared to have sapped their momentum and the resultant stream of basic errors caused the blowout.
Michael Cheika’s men must ensure the lapses are rectified but also expect a more committed effort from Steve Hansen’s side.
The All Blacks for their part can review this as a wake-up call to the closing gap between themselves and the hungry pack in their wake.
Returning skipper Kieran Read made a difference by tightening the defence to near what it used to be and stifling many a threatening counterattack.
It all points to a riveting series if the Wallabies can overcome their Eden Park hoodoo, where they have not tasted success for 32 years.
Banjo Kelly
Roar Rookie
It’s a funny game rugby. Lose 7 of your own line outs and give away 4 or 5 scrum penalties and before you can say “our set piece was @#$&*%“, the critics are already talking about how Haylet Petty, Beale and Foley are rubbish and the kiwis kept Folau out of the game......It is our rugby knowledge that is rubbish. You heard it here first: the Wallabies to sort out their set piece and cause the biggest upset of all time tonight.
Trevine Rodrigo
Guest
Agree Mike. When the odds are heavily stacked against you. Throwing caution to the wind and just playing out of your skin can sometimes unsettle even the best. This should be the Wallabies mindset at Eden Park if they are to bury the hoodoo.
MW7
Guest
You have to cut us some slack. As a long suffering Wallabies fan we have to look at some reasons to be positive. When NZ suffer the odd loss, you can be almost 100% certain it won't happen next game. Aust fans on the other hand has to take what they can. Unfortunately we are at the stage where where we get comfort from seeing score from 1st phase on turnover ball, instead of seeing you torture us for phase after phase before scoring
Drongo
Guest
Only three players above him on the all time super rugby try scoring record board and all retired. He will become, early next season, the most try scoring player in history.
In Brief
Guest
"He is very rarely able to compete in attack" .. except for each and every time he steps off his right foot and beats the first two defenders as he did again vs the All Blacks on the weekend.
Mal Cornet
Roar Rookie
Cheika should just yell out cattledog . Have a brawl and get the game abandoned. That would be our best result.
Mike
Guest
I tend to agree Trevine. The French assume that they have little to lose so they may as well go down fighting. Sometimes that can give the ABs a scare. The W's may as well throw everything at the ABs in Auckland. It will help if they can do some serious corrective surgery on their lineout and scrum. But hey, nothing to lose, and anything can happen.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
The French are far better players than us but also poorly coached. Could lose to Italy tomorrow.
Offside
Guest
Hahahahaha. Very well put Atlas. I think Trevine might be watching a different sport in a different part of the world. Maybe he's talking about how France played in the FIFA World Cup?....
sir timbo
Roar Rookie
As a wallabies fan I give this a +1
taylorman
Roar Guru
I wonder if the Wallabies win by 25 points at eden park scoring six tries that the ABs will be described as ‘unlucky’, the wallabies ‘opportunistic’? Somehow I dont think so, in fact I think it would be more the second coming of the messiah?
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
There still seems to be this hubris around Folau as "their most lethal strike weapon". He is not. He is very rarely able to compete in attack unless someone makes a hole or a break for him. On his own he is dam right lazy and unable to inject himself into the game. I have seen Folau do wonderful breaks from; (i) taking the ball high and hitting the ground - where few defenders are, and (ii) when Foley or Beale open a hole for him or an opportunity. He is unable to do it himself. Whereas, Ben Smith can open, dart and cut through a line very easily. Folau is not the answer to the Wallabies woes, never has been. He is a winger and not a Fullback.
Mal Cornet
Roar Rookie
A cricket score is approaching unless Hansen decides to let’s hus b side have a run, and introduce new blood in order to save Cheikas career.
Sam Taulelei
Roar Guru
I expect both teams to reset after last week and improve in the areas where they were off the mark and rusty. Set pieces is an obvious target for the Wallabies. Greater accuracy on attack and defence is another. Despite their first half defensive effort the Wallabies still missed over 40 tackles for the match. The injury to Folau robs the Wallabies of their most lethal strike weapon - in the air and out wide. Who will replace him and how will they attack without him?
Atlas
Roar Rookie
Shouldn't this have a 'satire' emoji? "take heart from the flamboyant French"? France lost 52-11 at Eden Park. Series average was All Blacks 42 France 13, what aspects are there to "take heart" from in terms of inspiration from losses like that? If not for the six 'opportunistic' tries, the All Blacks may not have won, we'll you've got me there... vulnerable throughout? Essentially, a clear moral victory to the Wallabies then.