There would have been concern in Wallabies camp when penalty-happy French referee Pascal Gauzere was appointed to the Stadio Euganeo clash with Italy this weekend.
He controlled the June series decider against Ireland in front of a record Allianz crowd of 44,085 by pinging the Wallabies in goal-kicking range for Johnny Sexton to land five to Bernard Foley’s three.
It was also the game Gauzere yellow-carded Israel Folau for upending Peter O’Mahony in an aerial clash that saw the Irish skipper taken from the field in a medicab with a concussion.
Gauzere gave so many bewildering decisions that Wallabies coach Michael Cheika invited him to the post-match media conference, which the Frenchman obviously refused.
The referee could well be the elephant in the room in Padua against the worst-performed Tier 1 country in the world.
There are ten in that elite group – New Zealand, South Africa, England, Australia, Ireland, France, Wales, Argentina, Scotland, with Italy just making up the numbers.
The All Blacks are the best-performed in history with a 77.51 per cent winning record, well ahead of South Africa’s 62.09 per cent.
England sits third, with 54.90 per cent, then France at 53.79, Wales at 52.03, Argentina with 51.93, Wallabies at 50.72, Ireland at 44.62, Scotland at 42.90, and Italy dragging the chain with 37.32.
Italy was promoted to the Six-Nations in 2000, where they have been the tournament’s easy beats. In 19 tournaments, they won the wooden spoon 13 times – well ahead of Scotland’s four, and one each for Wales and France.
Italy have won only 12 Six Nations games in 95 matches – seven against Scotland, twice against Wales plus a draw, twice against France, and once against Ireland – but never beaten England.
(Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)
Italy has never beaten the Wallabies in 17 internationals, nor the All Blacks in 13, but they have beaten South Africa once in 14.
For the record, in those 17 clashes, the Wallabies have scored 605 points to Italy’s 244 – a deficit of 361, or an average victory margin of 21 points.
Those stats will amount to nothing if Australia’s renowned ill-discipline gives Gauzere the excuse to blow the pea out of his whistle, and blow the Wallabies off the park in front of a parochial crowd.
It’s an elephant in the room situation alright, and Rugby Australia will have no option but to sack the entire coaching staff immediately if there’s a shock loss.
Vesi Tagoiagea
Roar Rookie
Jeff even if you pick Cheika to ref a game say ab and wallabies while Larkam and Grey running the touchline and Castle as TMO I think they will still come second????????????????????
adastra32
Roar Rookie
And the tactics for this weekend are...boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom…..then damn!, another loss.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Baldrick as tactics coach?
Keith Roberts
Guest
Couldn’t agree more!!!! I just can’t understand why, when almost every rugby follower is saying the same things, mainstream media is never critical of Cheika and his sycophants and keep printing his same drivel.
Utah
Guest
Nic White?? He’d possibly be our best half by now but Cheiks discarded him.
Etepeus
Roar Rookie
Cheikas plan is simple, its rope a dope, let every team beat the Wallabies consistently while playing badly. No one will expect the brilliance of the plan coming together at RWC where the Wallabies will play with sublime skill thus catching all by surprise and winning Australia its 3rd WC. A very cunning plan the rest of us simpletons are just not meant to understand so we dont give it away to the rest of the world. As Cheika keeps telling us he has a plan and these current loses are just being used to make the Wallabies stronger and more resilient, the players nearly blew the whole deal when winning the 2nd half in Salta but Cheika has them all back on plan with the last two games. Castle is in on the plan by setting the subterfuge up that only 3 wins in Europe is a pass when really a fail was always expected to stay on plan. Hanson has fallen for the trap by wanting Cheika to keep his position thinking it's one less team the ABs will have to worry about taking NZs cup. Wales will now be overconfident with a win against Wallabies and more easily fall to the cunning plan when fully implemented in the RWC and the true skills of the Wallabies is shown. A very cunning plan indeed being masterfully executed - please do not share with the rest of the rugby world as we dont want them to start losing to the Wallabies and blow the plan.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
You are right, there are other players who under perform. But their spots are used like a game of musical chairs. Unfortunately, it only seems to be the tahs players who are undroppable.
The Hock
Roar Rookie
The bottom line for the wallabies is that they have an undeniable cultural problem within the team. It’s obvious. Playing crap rugby, getting beaten by other teams playing arguably worse. No ones enjoying themselves. Cheika’s arrogance has created this toxic culture, this is obvious too. I spoke to a relative of Sam Carter just around the time he was being given the standard Cheika treatment of in/out, in/out and then sky rocketed. They said that the wallabies culture was toxic, Cheika had his favourites and treated everyone else with disdain. This was a couple of years ago. Would seem to be a reasonable accurate assessment given what’s before us now. I can’t believe myself but I’m actually hoping to lose to Italy to end this nightmare.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Yep, we need a clean out of the coaching staff. They’ve had three years to develop this side and to think they can now turn a side around who’s form is so terrible is beyond comprehension. A total clean out is required, not one coach can remain.
ruckin oaf
Guest
"why do you then have to show your anti-Tah bias" Maybe because they've been watching the Wallabies for the last couple o years and are just trying to correct the pro-Tah bias that's been an issue.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Italy start favourites surely?
Bleedsgreenand gold
Roar Rookie
I recall there was an article in the courier mail in Brisbane that hinted at some discord in the team after the win in Salta
jack
Roar Rookie
Umm, I made a comment some time ago, from my source, that Cheika had lost the confidence of the players, and got slammed , so I don't really comment about that any more, but actually, now that you mention it too, I did hear that from a very good source
Olly
Roar Rookie
Hello Wally, To me it is clear that there is a divide in the team. Prime example is seeing Matt Toomua react to being taken from the field against Argentina when Beale outside him was catching the ball with his head that game. And agree that it is comical hearing Hooper, coaches, Beale talk about the improvements are more important then the win and on the other hand, Pocock, Genia, Toomua in the same week say winning is what is important.
RahRah
Roar Rookie
Same same! However if we are to take the long term view, then a loss in the short term is worth the immediate pain.
Wally
Guest
Sorry Dally. Not on here mate. RA social media scribes read this stuff and we all know what happened to Gill and Higgers for speaking up!
Jamie
Guest
Add Timu, Timani, Jones ,BPA , Horwill, Mowen, Ruan Smith , JP Smith, Korcyck, Scott Young, Kibble, Hockings, Tom Wright, Sorovi, Paia,aua, Daugunu, Perese, Banks, Powell, McDermott ,Tomane, Stewart, CFS, to that list.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I remember when Crockett had trouble with a scrum on the Black goalline against Italy years ago and the Azzurri were pressing for the win. There were howls of disappointment that Italy did not get up for the win. You never know what to expect in test rugby. It can come from anywhere, that unexpected opposition. Go easy David. I am just hoping for a prideful display and any win will do. I do pray we see some of the future on display. But if Italy win it will maybe actually do some good. In a perverse way it will stir the top end to actually make these holistic changes we all need to see And David. Thanks for still having the gumption to keep writing for us uneducated lot here
Roger
Guest
When their is a Cheika loss their is always one scapegoat ( Never a Waratah) I`ll pick his team now. 1 Sio 2 Latu 3 Kepu 4 Coleman 5 Simmons 6 Dempsey 7 Hooper 8 Pocock 9 Genia 10 Foley 11 Nauivalu 12 Beale 13 AAC 14 DHP 15 Folau 16 TPN 17 AAA 18 THOR 19 Rodda 20 Hanigan 21 Phipps 22 Toomua 23 Petaia
Phil
Guest
Jez,while I totally agree with what you say regarding David blaming the ref before the game,why do you then have to show your anti-Tah bias?Are these the only players out of form,giving away penalties etc?I also would not have Phipps in the team,but he didn't even get on the field last weekend.It's a bit like the DIY player ratings where some people even rated Phipps when he had no game time.