They’re the coach killers that have Michael Cheika demanding his Wallabies toughen up and take the fight to the All Blacks for the full 80 minutes in Saturday’s final Bledisloe Cup duel of the year in Japan.
Damning statistics reveal the All Blacks are continually blowing the Wallabies away in the crucial five minutes each side of halftime, crushing any hope Cheika’s men can return the prized trans-Tasman trophy to Australia.
In the Wallabies’ nine Tests against New Zealand since Cheika took the helm in 2015, the All Blacks have out-scored them 79-15 between the 35th and 45th minutes of matches.
The recurring nightmare – featuring Beauden Barrett as chief tormentor – began in Cheika’s very first trans-Tasman showdown in charge – New Zealand’s World Cup final triumph over Australia at Twickenham no less.
A devastating 18-point blitz shot the All Blacks from 6-3 after 35 minutes out to 24-3 and all but game-over two minutes into the second half of New Zealand’s 34-17 victory.
The alarming trend has continued for three years, with the Wallabies leaking 21 unanswered points in the make-or-break few minutes before and after halftime of their latest defeats in the first two Bledisloe clashes in 2018.
Cheika’s men led 7-0 until the shadows of halftime in Sydney before the All Blacks assumed control after Barrett put Aaron Smith over for their first try.
A week later in Auckland, the Wallabies were in the fight at 7-7 until Barrett again struck with a try in the 37th minute as the world champions stretched their lead to a match-turning 21-7 in a twinkling after the break.
Cheika has warned his charges there can be no repeat of the costly lapses on Saturday when the Wallabies bid to salvage some trans-Tasman pride with victory over the All Blacks in Yokohama.
Tellingly, Australia’s lone victory over New Zealand under Cheika came when Israel Folau’s 39th-minute try – the game’s only points in the pressure minutes either side of the break – proved the difference in a 23-18 win in Brisbane last year.
“Some of the numbers around scoring movements both pre and post halftime, we just need that extra bit of concentration and focus on how we can manage those periods better,” Cheika said.
“We have to try to maintain – and take – control when we need to in those times and have that resolve so that if something does go against us we’re straight back into it and not putting our heads down at all.
“That comes with having a good plan there so believing in that and making sure you’ve prepared mentally for those situations.
“Then, who knows, maybe we’ll own the last five or last 10 in the match on Saturday.
“But you’ve got to understand how to do that as opposed to just hoping it happens.”
Hertryk
Roar Rookie
I wake up every morning hoping the board of RA have been sacked ...
graymatter
Roar Rookie
Couldn't have put it better Realist! Again the clown deflects criticism and his supporters blame player depth, or skills or fitness. Rubbish. Its selection and application. He selects far too many players that don't apply themselves to the task they are charged with performing. Its called working. My mantra would be - you've been paid well, now do your bloody job!
Dan
Guest
Yep
Cole
Roar Rookie
He is not nor will ever be a better coach than Link or Deans was. His record is telling enough.
Realist
Guest
Chieka is the worst coach the Wallabies have had since Greg Smith. The only success he’s had is forcing a crop of quaility deserving players overseas while unapologetically gifting gold jerseys to several Tah butt buddies like Nic Phipps. The Wallabies are statistically the worst they have ever been in history. Thanks RA
Vesi Tagoiagea
Roar Rookie
thats why the wallabies is ranking 7 th now because he is the best coach we have. lol you are joking
In Brief
Guest
Why? Do you really believe sacking Cheika will make any difference? He's the best coach we have or have had for many years. The results across our super rugby teams should tell you the problems aren't due to one man
Duncan
Guest
The ABs are also pretty good in the 55min to 67min period and also in the 77 min to 81 min stanza. Just ask South Africa (2018 and 2010) and Ireland (2013).
jacko
Guest
Would 70-15 make it all ok would it...Sorry but a few points here or there are not relevant in the context of the article.....Aus has shocking results in those crucial minites and that bit is fact...The rest is minor details
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
Bugger you Tree's now I had to look as well. You right it wasn't the 35 minute mark it was the 27 minute mark and you are also right it was 21-3
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Well the author also got the score wrong in the RWC final when he stated that "A devastating 18-point blitz shot the All Blacks from 6-3 after 35 minutes out to 24-3 and all but game-over two minutes into the second half of New Zealand’s 34-17 victory." The score was 21-3, then 21-17, then went to 24-17, so I would take the 79-15 result with a grain of salt until I checked that for myself. Obviously a lot of points have been leaked in the 35-45 minutes, but what team do the ABs not do this to regularly? Maybe the first 35 minutes should be worked on to stop the control that the ABs have obtained in that 1st half to devastate before and after half time?
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Nah Thommo, they have taken an extra 19, along with the squad of 32. All going to Japan. the 19 will return home after the Japanese leg, with the main squad carrying onto Europe. So all up, there is 51 players in Japan. It does look as though Shag will be trying out a few fringe players, with the RWC in mind.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
You guys do realise the author is referring to the last 9 Tests (In the Wallabies’ nine Tests against New Zealand since Cheika took the helm in 2015, the All Blacks have out-scored them 79-15 between the 35th and 45th minutes of matches.) The first of that 9 count back was the Twickenham Test in October of 2015 (World Cup Final) and yes you guys are right there were 2 earlier test with Cheika, Carter was the first five for those, BB first game was really the WCF although he didn't start. The author probably started there to support there argument I guess. Most other facts seem pretty close to the mark.
Loxie
Guest
We often do own the last 10mins after the horse has well and truely bolted and the game is out of reach. If not for the final 10mins of face saving when the ABs have checked out, cannings would be absolute massacres...oh wait we have had plenty of those under Cheiker as well. The magic minutes either side of halftime are when fatigue from 35mins of scrambling to cover the structural flaws sets in, caused by 1/2 the team playing out of position.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
I don't think it is pedantic to expect accurate facts in a professional article, and it does not help in adding to the reliability to any of the other stats and numbers brought up. I also think the main premise of the article is questionable also, as the All Blacks seem to punish ALL teams before and after halftime when they are on form, which is often. The Wallabies would be better focused on actually moving the ball direct past the advantage line and playing the set piece with passion and determination, like they did in the 2nd half vs Arg, and the other 2 times Cheika's team has beaten the ABs. Most of the time the ABs destroy Aus on either side of half time, it has been built on the dominance of the ABs in the 35 minutes before that. You must push the ABs back from the 1st minute to have a reasonable chance to beat them.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
Hey man, I didn't see the broadcast and was just asking if they or Swain said who they though may be playing or leaving. I believe the team will announced on Thursday as normal.
woodart
Guest
I noticed that too jacko. busy being pedantic ,and not concentrating on the point of the article. wallabies seem to switch off after 35 min, and take 10 min to get going after oranges. top two inches .
Thommo on Bribie
Roar Rookie
Bluffboy, my point was that Swain had made a monumental blunder. NO ABs have headed for Europe yet. They'll ALL be on deck for Saturday (though team not named yet). Hansen and co named a squad of 32 players for Bledisloe III. A group of 22 or 23 players will then head on to the UK while the remaining nine or 10 will be joined by a secondary group of 19 players for the Test against Japan in Tokyo on November 3.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Yes, the score was 21-3 when Smith received the yellow card in the 52nd minute. Aus then hit back with 2 tries to make it 21-17, then Carter knocked over the drop goal in the 70th minute to make it 24-17.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
Thommo, did they name the team for Saturday or which player are heading straight to the UK.