The Wallabies have lost to Argentina 19-23 at CBus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast as Round 4 of The Rugby Championship threw up two big upsets and away wins.
The Wallabies now find themselves on the bottom of the table and the same old questions are going to be shouted louder than ever in the coming days as fans demand action after a poor performance at home.
It was an exciting first half that had almost everything – good, bad and ugly. The opening period was fast paced as you’d expect with both sides looking to get into some rhythm and to a fast, positive start.
Both sides looked to run the ball as much as possible and it was a lovely move from the Wallabies that saw the first try of the game as Will Genia did his usual great job of supporting and was in place to take a good pass from Reece Hodge.
The Aussies clearly felt that there was rich opportunities out wide as they kept looking to get the ball out to the wings as quickly as possible.
This time it worked well thanks to a nice loop around the back from Dane Haylett-Petty who then gave a lovely pass out the back of the hand to Hodge who had space to run into before giving the final pass to Genia.
The Pumas though hit back quickly with Nicolas Sanchez finishing off a lovely passage of play from the visitors.
Their forwards and backs each did their part as the pack crashed into the Wallabies defence time and again before they shipped the ball out to the backs. Sanchez was in support and took a nice pop pass to dive over the line.
Israel Folau had been moved to wing by Michael Cheika and many were unsure if this would work out well but in the first half Folau was able to get his hands on the ball a lot and have a real impact.
Later in the half his off load almost created another Aussie try but in 19th minute he decided to do it all himself – he took a crash ball through a gap and then stepped, stepped and stepped again as Puma defenders were left for dust.
But while there was a lot of excitement as Folau crossed the line there were still plenty of signs that all was not well in the Wallabies game.
Handling errors were too prevalent and the line out started to falter as well with three lineout failures in close succession gifting the Pumas opportunities to relieve pressure and score points.
At halftime the Pumas were up by three with the score 17-14 to the visitors. It was clearly going to be a tight game but stats such as the Aussies missing 24 tackles alone in the opening 40 minutes were concerning.
The second half only saw a total of 11 points from both sides but what it lacked in points it more than made up for in tension.
Neither side was able to grab control and both were guilty of making mistakes and poor decisions but the Aussies were more guilty than the Pumas.
With about 25 minutes to go it was a one-point game after the Wallabies fought their way back thanks to a try from Dane Haylett-Petty.
Fans started to think that this was where the Aussies could use their experience and skill to pull away but it just never happened. Mistake after mistake robbed them of any rhythm and meant they could never really build any pressure.
It was concerning to see more than one instance where the backs were making poor decisions and unable to execute set moves with any sort of crispness or penetration.
When Cheika went to his bench things became even more confusing – Matt Toomua was pulled in favour of Bernard Foley when arguably it was Kurtley Beale who had been the weaker of the players.
Equally when Will Genia came off, his replacement, Nick Phipps really offered nothing better and arguably was a bit worse than a tired Genia.
Both sides were scrappy and in the end the Pumas held their nerve better. Reece Hodge and Emiliano Boffelli both had chances at huge penalty goals but where Hodge missed his, Boffelli slotted his and stretched the Pumas’ lead to four and the Aussies knew they needed to score a try to win.
Scoring tries has been something they’ve struggled with all tournament and today was no different. They did get into the Pumas 22 with just moments to go and for all money it looked like they might sneak the win.
Folau had the ball with Foley in space outside him. But instead of giving the pass, Folau tried to go alone and a huge hit from Tomas Lavanini knocked the ball loose – and as the ref’s final whistle blew, Australian heads dropped.
The Argentinians are a better side than they used to be and their wingers are absolutely electrifying, but, the Wallabies should have won this one and they know it. Where to from here for Cheika, the Wallabies and Rugby Australia is unclear.
Apparently in the post-match period Lukhan Tui was involved in an altercation with a fan as the players left the field.
Details are still hazy about what actually happened but clearly there is a whole of frustration on all sides of Australian rugby.
An immediate response is needed in a whole lot of areas – but will we see it?
Stu
Roar Rookie
Sorry Buddy. A player can't cherry pick his good moments to trade off later against his bad moments. That epic try he scored in the first half is what he's supposed to do, in fact what all players are supposed to do, at Test level. I.e.- perform to the highest standard and don't d1ck it up. He scored the try due to no errors, no knock-ons, no fumbles, committed play. Great. That's what all players are meant to be bringing to the side as a standard - there aren't brownie points for it. Cue his complete and utter fud moment, and whilst that absolutely wasn't the reason we lost the game (we lost due to 23 poor players and coaching staff), it did cost us the win.
Gotcha
Guest
But Folau is the best Wallaby back, right ?
glider
Guest
quote from an interesting article printed in 2008 under the banner of a site called HAKA. The Guiding Principles of NZ Rugby - by Paul Waite. This article is just so right and speaks exactly to the situation Australian Rugby finds itself in. This cut & paste is probably the heart of the issue for Rugby in oz right now ..... never a truer word spoken IMHO Quote: " The fast-tracking of talented young players from school level, often by-passing club rugby entirely results in a less rounded player than we have seen in years past. Club rugby puts precocious young lads alongside grizzled and experienced old hands. They get knocked on their arses, brought down to earth, and schooled in the black arts by hardened, if less talented, players who have been around the block. Time spent in this environment knocks the edges off, engenders resilience, teaches a great deal in a short time, and is invaluable. It also works the opposite way around, in that Clubs once again become the central source of talent, and derive pride from producing great Super Rugby players, or even All Blacks. Better, harder players are produced who still have the same talent but are less apt to get too carried away by it and forget where they came from, and why they are playing the game. As well as producing better players for our top level, this has the effect of re-invigorating the grass roots of the game – a win-win. full link here http://haka.co.nz/the-guiding-principles-of-nz-rugby-3/
Big Red V
Guest
Also agree, HOWEVER the AB's made some errors that defied belief given their rare form of late. That quick Barrett throw in to virtually no-one except the SA player, the intercept pass, the very poor kicking at goal and to top it off, they to had a chance to win it at the death as well. The fullback did a Falou with a man standing unmarked outside him!!
Big Red V
Guest
Haha, now THAT is one of the longest bows ever drawn....
CJ
Guest
It was a two on two when Folau had the ball. The Argie winger came in when Folau went for it. Then the other guy smashed him in a great tackle. Really, its a bit late in the day for KB to try to adjust to 5/8 at test level with the game he plays - that should have happened a decade ago. Time for Wessels to get the gig.
Chully bun
Guest
Send me a link to where Quade has blown a deadest try in a test match. I`ll wait. Ps , He has played 70 tests so you should find one, right ?
What was that ?
Guest
Soon as Foley and Phipps came on the team started to fall apart.Foley dropping balls missing a a deadest sitter of a conversion throwing a hospital pass to DHP. Phipps throwing a ball over the sideline and knocking on.Hanigan.? Well he um haha, he was a laugh. getting ragdolled again.
GoodSport
Roar Rookie
Good on you. Agreed!
GoodSport
Roar Rookie
Yes, it falls back on Cheika and coaching, remembering Cheika has influence b eyond the immediate game. Also, if rugby is like a game of chess, where is the successful strategy at any level?
GoodSport
Roar Rookie
Exactly! So it comes back to coaching at several levels.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
I think it’s more that they don’t seem to improve at all when the6 get into the Wallabies. So many of them have the same weaknesses they had when they arrived. Foley still can’t kick accurately or long, Folau still can’t kick at all or pass to the right, Phipps is still hopelessly inaccurate, Koroibete still positions himself wrong......... the list just goes on and on. It shits me to tears
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
I’m not in the camp of those calling for Cheika’s Head in the lead up to the next World Cup, but I started to wonder yesterday when Toomua rather than Beale was pulled for Foley. Apart from other obvious reasons, Toomua was kicking for goal perfectly. Foley’s first one misses. 2 points wasted. The margin was 2 at the time. And Toomua is so much better in finding touch or kicking for distance downfield. Surely you have to respect the jersey by going for the win rather than vaguely trying something different as Cheika put it (though it wasn’t different from past lineups) and treat the match like a trial game? We’ve had enough of that in recent years losing home series to England, Scotland and Ireland. The underlying problem is the player pool we have. But it doesn’t help when some our best backrowers have been overlooked and forced or recruited overseas. I still can’t get how Pete Samu, workhorse that he is, can be a starring backrower for Australia when he wouldn’t get a start in a single NZ super rugby franchise.
Mr Angry
Guest
“Stronger as four” lol. After the dumping of the Force last year I’m really enjoying the demise of the Wallabies.
elvis
Roar Rookie
Well they certainly had some better rugby smarts, and it was a lot more entertaining.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
PUMAS deservedly won and by not getting that last try, then the CRACKS which are now CRATERS OR CANYONS - would have been papered over. Argies did well!!!
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
+100
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Great point!!
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
From the reports, it appears the fan pushed, which is assault, of Tui's sister and Tui would not have been in a good head space with the death of his step-father. My son when he was 10 years old smacked a boy out who had belted his sister in the face. When the Headmaster said, he understood the reasons, but you should not have hit him. My Son replied - "No one F$%#&g hits my sister!! I think the fan may have been lucky Tui did not take it further.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Paulo - yes congrats to the PUMAS great play with some poor play but good pressure and commitment. Well done - enjoy it!! But not with Argie wine!!! Ha! Ha!