It was a rough-ish weekend for our national teams here in Australia.
The Socceroos left it until literally the last minute to find an equaliser against Korea, while at the same time, the Australian men’s cricket team were going to extraordinary lengths to prove that their terrible shot selection and match awareness could indeed be utilised in the innovative new international format of two-hours-of-rain-and-ten-overs-a-side.
Then on Sunday morning, the women’s side (and why, oh why can’t we just keep calling them the Southern Stars?) had their first loss of the World Twenty20 marred by the sickening fielding collision between wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy and opening bowler Megan Schutt. At the time of writing, the results of scans were still being waited on, to determine whether Healy can take her place behind the stumps in Friday morning’s semi-final against hosts, the West Indies.
So in between that, and even ignoring their 2018 form for just a minute, it probably wasn’t such a surprise to see the Wallabies turn in a convincingly unconvincing 26-7 win over Italy in Padua.
In many ways, the match was the perfect illustration of Wallabies wins in 2018 – with the obvious exception being the quality showing over Ireland in the first Test of the year back in June (which now seems like so much longer ago than just five months).
There were some really good signs, no doubt. There were some really ordinary signs, too, sadly. There always are.
Yet despite that, the Wallabies never really looked in danger of losing the game once they got out to the 14-0 lead they took into halftime. Italy are an honest side, a gutsy one even, but perhaps the most damning thing to say about the Azzurri is that they’re even more limited than the Wallabies.
Up front, it was great to see Taniela Tupou have the same kind of impact at the start of the game that we’ve become used to him bringing off the bench. And behind him, it’s genuinely heartening to think of how much Izack Rodda has developed as a Test lock in little more than twelve months.
I can still recall a humble Rodda telling me at the start of the 2016 NRC season that he just wanted to spend as much time learning off then Queensland Country teammate, and now Reds coach, Brad Thorn. So well and so quickly did he rise through the ranks that Rodda didn’t play much of the 2017 NRC; he was already a Wallaby.
To see him wreaking all kinds of havoc on the Italian lineout was wonderful to see, but he’s been one of the few Wallabies who have actually improved as 2018 has gone on. At the start of the year, at the start of the Rugby Championship even, Adam Coleman’s second-row partner was a discussion worth having.
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Now it’s not even a contest.
Matt Toomua was serviceable at flyhalf, and Wallabies fans can probably rest somewhat easier in knowing that finally an alternate to Bernard Foley has been found. Mind you, for much of the first half, Foley spent so much time at first receiver that it was hard to see what the point of Toomua being named at – and wearing – no.10 was.
Further out, Samu Kerevi was incredible, and a deserving player of the match. Since his return from injury, Kerevi has been the consistent attack-straightener, line-bender, and tackle-buster in a Wallabies backline that remains more guilty of overplaying its hand than a glove retailer desperate for a sale.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
And though the inclusion of Adam Ashley-Cooper was rightly questioned, he also put in a performance that showed he does still have a bit to offer the Wallabies.
In fact, of those three players, I have to agree with the suggestion made on thee pages on Sunday afternoon that Toomua, Kerevi, and Ashley-Cooper are probably the in-form Wallabies backs. And while I don’t think he’ll do it, I think Michael Cheika could do a lot worse than play that trio as a very direct 10-12-13 midfield unit against England at headquarters this weekend.
And this perhaps is the biggest takeaway from the Italy win: there were, once again, more awkward questions raised than definitive resolutions found.
Japan’s pack were surprisingly effective at asking questions of England on Saturday, but is the Wallabies’ good enough and disciplined enough to pick up that baton? Are they going to be smart enough technically to not present the kind of scrum picture at Twickenham that Pascal Gauzere guessed his way through in Padua?
What is the best attack to counter the likely English rush defence? And have we seen it in 2018?
This final Test of the year, as a result of everything else that has come before it, be the Wallabies’ biggest Test this season. Results over the last fortnight has seen a definitive top four – Ireland, England, New Zealand and South Africa, in no particular order – emerge in the international game, and this is the last chance the Wallabies will get before next July to see how close (or otherwise) they are to that pack.
Worryingly, and curiously, who Cheika will pick to answer that challenge is both the $64 question and anyone’s guess.
John Wagner
Roar Rookie
G'day Sheek, As an Aussie, I could not agree more with you about the disgraceful treatment handed out by the ARU to Robbie Deans. They were acting on the "rantings" of such "experts" as Greg Martin & Co.! Despite a few puzzling selections (don't we all make them? -- esp. Cheika now), Deans was a very good coach who really had the interests of the Wallabies at heart. (I believe he often spent additional time coaching individuals on some fundamentals etc. that should have been rectified at schoolboy level) The way he was treated has ensured that no decent overseas coach (such as Joe Schmidt) would ever apply for the Wallaby job !! Thanks Marto !! We would have beaten the Brisish & Irish Lions 2 - 1 had first-choice goal kicker, Leal'ilfano, not been injured so early in the first Test, and had his replacement, Beale, not slipped over when taking that kick. At least Deans had a PLAN ! Does Cheika and his staff ??
Aussieinexile
Roar Rookie
For the first time in many years I am not attending Twickenham to watch the Wallabies it hurts but they have been extremely disappointing in more ways than one. Cheika's comments leave much to be desired, it seems to me they are just flying from the seat of their pants. Sometimes instead of looking at the best candidate they appoint one who feels that he is entitled just because he is part of the establishment. I am off to watch Japan v Russia which is a bit more exciting and the coaches would have done their home work.
Richv
Roar Rookie
Agree. Keep doing the same thing but expecting different results is a losers game.
sheek
Guest
Hoy, I don't know if I agree with your assessment of Deans, partly because I don't care to remember the past decade & a half with much alacrity! What I do know is that Eddie Jones & Gary Flowers poisoned the Wallabies coaching chalice, & that poisoned chalice has been handed in turn on to John Connolly, Robbie Deans, Ewen McKenzie & Michael Cheika. Meanwhile, the poisoned CEO chalice has been handed on from Flowers to John O'Neill (mkII), Bill Pulver & now Raelene Castle. Not to mention the poisoned chairman chalice but the only two I can think of are Mike Hawker & Cameron Clyne. Too much poison through our domestic structures & systems to expect any miracles anytime soon.
sheek
Guest
You're assuming we've matured from the Robbie Deans fiasco. The xenophobic rant against Deans being a Kiwi coaching the Wallabies eventually undermined any effectiveness he might have achieved. It was a disgraceful episode in our rugby history. I'm not sure the Aussie rugby fan has matured much in five years. Just become more desperate.....
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Fionn, no mate, I do not speak Russian. Very basic Russian. The main problem being is that with my work as a freelance consultant in water resources engineering, my contracts are generally 2, 3, 6 months inputs and I am away from home regularly. I used to learn Russian but always got interrupted and so gave it up as getting nowhere due to the work. Might take it up when I retire. But I do not want to retire. Mate, the old soviet system and the threat of Gulags, etc., made people in the USSR very wary. Even when I came here, my partner did not know what her next door neighbour's husbands did and yet they would talk daily. Did not ask and mind one's own business!!
Hertryk
Roar Rookie
John isn't Kafe - I love to hear the sound of my own voice, employed to be the you beaut super humdinger never to be repeated analyst? -
Englishbob
Guest
Looking forward to this weekend, the bookies up here have England about 8 point favourite which I'd struggle to argue with. One point is that England have become a tough defensive unit but with the injuries (no excuses offered, every team has them) they've got, they're playing a more conservative game plan based on attrition, if the wallabies were to get a two score lead in the first half I don't know if the likely england line up has the firepower to overturn that. If the weather is bad I'm expecting a non-classic game, I hope this stomach bug doesn't rob Australia of any of its starters or it may then get out of hand.
Exile
Roar Rookie
I desperately want the Wallabies win on Saturday but I just can't see it. I remember watching a documentary a couple of years ago about the 1984 grand slam side. I can't remember the player interviewed but he said Alan Jones had built their confidence through a systematic analysis of why they would win; he had shown all areas were stronger than the opposition (Scotland, I think) -scrum, second row, back row, line out, breakdown, fly and scrum half, backline -and that, if even a close to potential performance, they would win - and they did. Imagine doing that today for the Wallabies team facing England: scrum -parity at best, but beaten by Italy, second row -Coleman underpar, Rodda one good game, lineout -poor all year, Pooper and Dempsey - enough said, the rest is seriously undepar unless he plays as others have said -Toomua at 10, Kerevi at 12, AAC at 13 and there is some attacking the line. Beale and Foley should be dropped
Rugby wizard
Guest
They have never won a under 20 world cup,they came close losing too the all blacks,I think Nucifora was the coach back in 2010.
Ian Brown
Roar Pro
Regarding a lot of the views re the "coaching" staff and associated performances of the Wallabies. The main concern is that the gap is closing between 2 of the southern teams and 4/5 of the northern teams but that gap is widening when it comes to the Wallabies. The Wallabies will be grouped with Scotland, Argentina and France in "rankings" 6 to 9 for the future until a long term overhaul has taken place and hopefully the results will take the team up in the rankings. Now lets not worry about the current "coaches" taking the Wallabies to the RWC as RA can't afford to replace them and anyway who would want the job, either working with MC or the top job. Finally can we stop referring to MC as the coach, he is a motivator. Larkham like many gifted players who would see things when he played that only he could see has not and will not be able to transition to a highly successful coach. Like Warne and Andrew Johns their talent is so rare and can't be explained or passed onto others as they themselves have difficulty explaining it.
CUW
Roar Rookie
Anything is possible in knockout rugger Noone even thought japan could beat Saffas. And then there are the all powerful referees - in whose hands and moth lies the fate of many. Am sure everyone has seen the plethora of mistakes that have been made in these few matches by refs who unless run over by a bus will officiate at the RWC. so anything is possible at a world cup :)
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Most worrying story of the week for an England fan. Jones has just informed everyone that the team are in for a 'painful week' in training. I'm all for preparing for the RWC, but I would quite like to beat the Aussies. Lots of reports that he beasted them during the last 6N.
Funbus
Guest
??? Australia have never won the under-20 RWC.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Brett. Its all becoming a little to predictable now, isnt it?
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
Who's going to do New Zealand?
jeznez
Roar Guru
Two more than the minimum. That's some out of the box thinking Brett - I like it!
Brett McKay
Expert
Remind me how many Tests James Horwill has played, Jez.... ?
Jimbo81
Guest
It was Phil Mooney’s under 20’s World Cup winning team. O’Connor. Beale. Cooper. Genia. Horwill. Gill. Faingaa. Pocock.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Not sure how much notice is required to be given, all I know is that clubs must release players called upon in the official window which this weekend is. I don't think Cheika is even thinking of him though, he seems pretty happy with Hanigan and Samu. I'm unsure which he'll start and which he'll bench. I can just about imagine him starting Samu as a straight swap for Pocock which he has done already this year and then he needs to decide if he wants to bolster the lineout or the forward ball running.