Wallabies coach Michael Cheika will be pulling the knives out of his back following yesterdays 9-6 loss to Wales in Cardiff in a boring try-less, penalty goal shootout.
Much has been spoken, and written, about Wales losing 13 on the trot to the men in gold until yesterday, but it’s much worse than that.
Wales has won only four of the last 29 meetings with the Wallabies, since the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup clash in Rotorua.
Andrew Slack led the Wallabies that day in the 22-21 loss, followed by Wales’ 24-22 win at Millennium in 2005, the 21-18 success at Millennium in 2008, and yesterday’s boring 9-6.
And you can throw in the 29-all draw at Millennium in 2006, leaving Wales with 24 losses against the Wallabies in the last 31 years.
Little wonder the Welsh faithful went hysterical yesterday, even though the Wallabies gift-wrapped them the win.
Cheika didn’t order the Wallabies to knock back two “gimme” penalties in the 50th and 53rd minute from right in front – but Michael Hooper did look for the hero seven-pointers that amounted to nothing.
“My reading of the game was amiss, I should have gone for goal,” was Hooper’s explanation post-match.
Michael Hooper and the Wallabies are struggling (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Cheika didn’t lose possession over the line like Samu Kerevi did in the fourth minute, nor did Cheika knock on like Hooper, Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale, Will Genia, and Adam Coleman when the Wallabies were in try-scoring positions.
Nor did Cheika give away a penalty like Ned Hanigan for not releasing two minutes from time to allow another interchange player Dan Biggar a penalty shot to win 9-6.
There’s no nice way to describe the Wallabies yesterday – they played crap rugby, and Wales weren’t far behind.
It was an international clash of importance between the fourth-ranked Wales, and sixth-ranked Wallabies, but they played like the 40th and 60th ranked sides.
In 11 months, the two nations will meet in the opening round of the Japan-hosted Rugby World Cup with the winner most likely to top the pool, and the loser virtually out of contention very early in the tournament.
So where did the Wallabies fail yesterday?
Under normal circumstances, any team that has 56 per cent possession, and 59 per cent territory in the first half has a comfortable lead.
Not the Wallabies.
It was 3-3 at the break, and only because Welsh fullback, and champion goal-kicker, Leigh Halfpenny missed a “gimme” penalty in front in the 40th minute.
But the players weren’t the only ones to blame.
Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe played a major role in making sure the entire game was a debacle.
On May 12 this year I suggested O’Keeffe had his ticket withdrawn after an appalling display in the Crusaders-Waratahs Super Rugby clash at Christchurch.
No referee is more in love with his whistle than O’Keeffe, and he’s killing the game as a spectacle.
No back in either Wales, or the Wallabies, could beat Usain Bolt over the 100 even if the Jamaican gave them 30m start, yet defending backs were constantly cutting down opponents well short of the advantage line.
Simply they were offside with O’Keeffe keeping his eyes on the ball, and rarely looking behind because he was on the wrong side of the play.
So where to from here for the beleaguered Wallabies?
Next up the Italians, the easy-beats of the Six Nations, but there’s no iron-clad guarantee the Wallabies will win.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
And to finish a year to forget, England at the home of rugby for Will Genia’s 100th cap – a major, and deserved, milestone.
Is it too much to ask that the Wallabies play both games as they did in the second half against the Pumas at Salta?
Down 31-7 at the break, the Wallabies stormed home playing superb rugby with five magnificent tries to win 45-34.
If they can do it for one 40-minute half in 22, why can’t they do it more regularly?
The answer to that rests between 23 sets of ears.
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
"No back in either Wales, or the Wallabies, could beat Usain Bolt over the 100 even if the Jamaican gave them 30m start, yet defending backs were constantly cutting down opponents well short of the advantage line." Maybe because the first pass from the ruck is at 45 degrees, generally 10 metres backwards
FunBus
Roar Rookie
'Possession and territory stats of 56% & 59% are no longer considered to be a guarantee of a comfortable lead under normal circumstances.' Exactly right. It can mean 'dominance' but increasingly it means recycling again and again, phase after phase, and bashing heads against a dominant defence for no gain. The ABs are often 'behind' in the possession and even territory statistics.
Uncle Eric
Guest
My two bobs worth Advrider oz Time to bite the bullet. Tick, but how? Genia standing off a ruck to let Tipuric turnover. Rest him. Tick Beale running sideways all game. Bench him. No drop him. Hooper poor decisions. Bench him. Like Beale, simply not up to it. Hannigan. Lying on ruck and not attempting to move. Drop him. For evermore. Pocock to Captain and 7. Big tick. Toomua to 12. Hmm. Maddocks to wing. Unproven at test level Find a decent and monster 8. Dracula, Frankenstein (no, he's already playing for the ABs), anyone seen any werewolves around? Attack was clueless. Tick Defence was better but at the expense of attack? Small tick Replace entire coaching stuff but only if given 5 year contracts to build to 2023 RWC. This one is gone. Need to go now in any event. Replace RA board and CEO with knowledgeable, capable and visionary people. Very big tick. It's becoming abundantly clear that RA has neither the willingness or the capacity to make significant, much needed changes. The future looks very bleak for Rugby in Australia.
Dan in Devon
Guest
David has quite grasped that concept yet - this is a team made in Cheika’s image. His valiant defence of Cheika is part of the problem with Australian rugby. And Ned Hannigan? What is he even doing in the team, yet alone on the ground giving away an obvious penalty. Paul O’Connell was savaging of Hannigan on the BBC telecast.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I don't think he could have pulled out. He jumped to charge down, landed on one foot, off balance, and couldn't pull up. Would have been really harsh to card that one.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Spot on, Cliff Bishkek. But this conversation goes around and around and has for three full years. The results are terrible. The same selection result in the same mistakes. But Cheika remains, defiant. Hooper remains captain though clueless. The best 7 in the world wasted at 8. Foley and Beale are the weakest 10/12 combo in tier one. No team can beat the ABs with Foley at 10. Without Genia and Pocock, the team would drop out of the top 10. With Hooper, Foley and Beale, they won’t make the top 5. But we’re wasting our time. Cheika’s going nowhere. He’s taking the Wallabies on a death march through the RWC19. And then he’ll be gone and no doubt with some corny ‘I did it my way’ spiel. I just don’t get up to watch Wallaby games anymore. Just infuriating. Richmond have given me a premiership. Storm always impress. The state of origin is great theatre. Can’t get into the soccer though...
Thanks Cliff, yeah in that last 2 minutes there were so many things that went right for SA. It seems almost that fate decided that match. From the 63min55 sec clock correction by Nigel Owens, to the turnover oenalty won by Louw, to the fortuitous stepping out by the french player, which was literally a second before the game was up, to winning four line outs, two more penalties and the final try. Had to be said though, the french infringed heavily in the mauls the last two minutes. So they really have themselves to blame after banishing fate.
Willie has also had little opportunity this match, and against England Damian Willemse was still a bit green
I am not sure what the issue is Peter, they do seem very disjinted at times. I do notice though that Pollard has a tendency to throw interceptable passes and Kriel doesn't read the game as well as he should, times when he should pass he doesn't, he mostly tends to go to ground. I understand you don't want willy nilly passing, but you need to read the lines the support runners are running. It also has to be said Faf kicks too much, which reduces our attacking opportunities. Unfortunately I don't know how much freedom the players have and how much is gameplan.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Selector, I know modern Rugby and I will not consider the concept of Hooper in the 15 metre channel irrespective of directives. We need a proper No. 8 and a No. 6 and we should be building towards that - but our Coach does not deliver or give any consideration to that. Hooper gets bounced in tackles irrespective of top tackler against Wales. I am not interested in the aspect of Cheika's game plan and positioning of Hooper or this so called modern rugby and positioning of the No. 7. A Rugby Team needs a balanced pack and we do not have one. And as for the John Eales Medal, I am never in favour of any award that is picked by the "teammates". Pocock this year has probably been an accurate assessment. Hooper in the last two years, in my opinion, was not.
Mike
Guest
Watched both games live. Assessing the outcome of each was like comparing a Fiat to a Ferrari. In short, the Wallabies played dumb football. Worse still, I couldn't get to sleep!!
Kane
Roar Guru
Regardless of what Halfpenny did that was a penalty. It was late with the shoulder, he could've pulled out or at least lessened the contact.
GusTee
Roar Pro
I don't think that we can fairly lay this one at the door of the ref. It simply is time for RU to face the big CCC. Clyne, Castle and Cheika must go. The rugby HQ landscape must then be staffed with those who genuinely know and understand rugby union and who have the right business acumen. The time has come.
Selector
Guest
Cliff BISHKEK, Im not sure you had it. Show a little bit more understanding then to simply say the 7 should be fiirst to the ruck. If you have a look at the Defensive set up that the wallabies are using , you could do yourself a huge favor and understand modern rugby. Hooper has been told to defend in the 15 metre channel obviously. Pocock defends on the other side. Withour doubt he is the best jackal in the team, but as a loosey in attack Hooper is in front. Yesterday Hooper was the top tackler followed by AAA then Pocock. All this bias against Hooper is just lazy arm chair spectators , including the journalist that write this stuff. Do some homework. Pocock wont the John eales medal this year but this has been after Hooper had already won two. ( and he is younger).
Pete Dossinger
Guest
Corne, SA backs especially 9,10, 12, 13 and 15 are individually all great players with 11 and 14 speedsters. Yet there was a serious lack of cohesion for first 70 minutes. Does Rassie have enough time with them or are there also coaching deficiencies in Bok camp?
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Corne, congratulations. I did not watch it but on the comments, I do feel for the French. Last minute!!!
MacMasoe
Roar Rookie
Dmac would be a flyweight but plays with heart and hits holes better than the Wallabies forwards and centers....funny that, they guy has no fear even though he's probably under 80kgs lol smallest guy in t he stadium.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Gatland is not available until after RWC 2019 I believe. I very much doubt he'd want to take on the job anyway.
Akari
Roar Rookie
I also have no problems with Hooper going for the try option on both occasions and it's also unfair to point the finger at Hooper IMO if no one from amongst the leadership group raised an objection in at least one of them. They seemed to rightly believe they could score a try.
Akari
Roar Rookie
The SH teams must have been suffering from the same acute affliction as even the ABs were dire themselves (IMO anyway).