If the Wallabies were in a mess mentally last season, then surely now’s the time to head to Eden Park with a bit of swagger, ready to make the most of the Perth pasting.
Australia’s victory over the All Blacks last Saturday was certainly against the odds, but it was the manner in which they overpowered the Kiwis that was most stunning.
Of course Scott Barrett’s red card just before half time was a huge factor in the Wallabies’ 47-26 triumph, however Australia’s direct attack and ball retention – they held possession for more than 70 per cent of the first half – showed much more poise and precision than most thought they were capable of against the world’s top team.
Wallabies players were elated at full time, producing just their eighth win in 46 Tests against New Zealand since the 2003 World Cup and their best victory over the All Blacks in over a decade.
Aussie rugby fans were rightfully buzzing, too. It was a triumph that was hard-earned, as they all are against the Kiwis. It was one full of pride and application. It was one that filled many dispirited Wallabies fans with hope that World Cup success isn’t fanciful.
The Wallabies’ scrum and lineout were efficient. They banged away at the All Blacks’ defence, persisting mostly in close with just one or two passes off the ruck. They got whacked plenty of times, but rarely lost patience. Remarkably, the Wallabies – who had been bullied by the All Blacks for so many recent Tests – believed they could wear them down.
Remarkably, it worked.
Samu Kerevi’s leg-pumping runs were pivotal, proving his midfield toughness is crucial to the Wallabies at the World Cup. His momentum-shifting bursts were also cause for a touch of regret given his departure to Japan’s Top League at the end of the year.
There were some classy touches amongst the Wallabies’ six tries, but Kurtley Beale’s direct and perfectly timed final try in which he burst onto the ball from quick ruck recycling probably best summed up Australia’s proficiency.
Plus, it was a victory achieved without David Pocock and Israel Folau.
So can the Wallabies back it up at Eden Park in Auckland, where they haven’t won since 1986?
(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Australia’s mindset should be a far cry from ten months ago after they had won just two out of six Rugby Championship matches. At the end of a deflating few months for the Wallabies, which included a loss to Argentina on the Gold Coast and two heavy losses to New Zealand, Michael Cheika conceded that social media sledging was having a detrimental effect on his squad.
The Wallabies were struggling to cope with criticism, according to Cheika, and that was holding them back on the field.
“I’m not really up on social media or media, I don’t really read a lot of it, but players do, you know, they read all that stuff,” Cheika told the Fox Rugby Podcast last October following a 45-34 win over Argentina, thanks to an epic second-half comeback.
“It gets in their head and it hasn’t been going great and so they don’t think they’re great and then as soon as something happens in the game, negative, which it did early on, you start to get a bit narrow in your view and you start to fear failing – as opposed to going out there to do what you need to do to perform. And then as a consequence, win.”
So given the tables have turned and the Wallabies have justifiably been lauded for their performance in Perth last weekend, will they translate that into an equally aggressive and relentless mindset tomorrow night?
If negativity was in their heads after a tough trot, it can work in the other direction, right? They should be able to thrive with a confidence and freedom – a bit of swagger – generated from such a compelling win in Perth.
Nic White. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
It’s as intimidating a task as there is in world rugby, going to Eden Park to take on the All Blacks. South Africa’s win last year and draw last month both came in Wellington.
When was the last time the All Blacks lost two Tests in a row? It was leading into the 2011 World Cup when the Sir Graham Henry-coached All Blacks were beaten by the Boks in Port Elizabeth and Wallabies in Brisbane. If they lose on Saturday, the All Blacks will also lose their No.1 ranking and may slide a fair way depending on the result of the England-Wales clash.
The All Blacks will hit back hard. However, they have some psychological frailties that have the potential to hold them back.
Steve Hansen is sticking with Richie Mo’unga at five-eighth and Beauden Barrett at fullback, which hasn’t impressed everyone. Wingers Rieko Ioane and Ben Smith, who is said to be still struggling with a hamstring injury, have made way for Sevu Reece and George Bridge.
Sonny Bill Williams, who hasn’t played much top-level rugby in the last few months, is back at No.12. Nepo Laulala comes in for Owen Franks at tighthead prop, while Patrick Tuipulotu will start at lock in place of the suspended Scott Barrett.
The Wallabies are more settled, having only made the one change to their starting side with lock Adam Coleman coming in for the injured Rory Arnold. Once again, Pocock won’t play as he’s not fully fit from his calf injury.
Possession is crucial. New Zealand scored four tries with about 30 per cent of the ball, while Australia bagged six tries from about 70 per cent possession. The All Blacks were pretty effective in attack given they were starved of the ball and were a man down in the second stanza.
It will be intriguing to watch how the Wallabies perform on the back of a physically dominant and disciplined display in Perth. The blueprint is in to disrupt the All Blacks and get them flustered.
The question was asked after last week whether the Wallabies would’ve had the firepower to finish the job against 15 men, and they can prove they were in control by flexing their muscle in Auckland.
If they can get the job done with a swagger, they can arrive in Japan next month with a helluva strut.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Great forecasting
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
"If the ABs win tonight’s match they don’t win the trophy, they retain it." Hate having to repeat myself. :silly:
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Would have won it anyway
piru
Roar Rookie
I liked Invictus. Sure the rugby itself was a bit rubbish but overall the movie was good I thought
piru
Roar Rookie
Well, Hatchet, there's a hell of a lot more to being an effective defender at fullback than just being able to tackle.
piru
Roar Rookie
Neil I think as long as the nh and sh are as siloed as they are, the ranks are never going to be of much value. Carrying on from your points re Wales' recent run and wallabies recent rubbishness- should the All Blacks recent record not mean one draw and a loss have such a dramatic impact?
Chivas
Roar Rookie
And numpty, I don’t agree with StillMissIt much, but on this one, you seem to be clutching at straws in a vain effort to be relevant which seems to be tied in to your dignity. Regardless of your dictionary term... it is aggressive and confrontational language to tell someone to pull their head in, so mind your own words and maybe others might or might not mind theirs. Your own actions carry far more weight and are far more effective than preaching to someone you are debating with.
Jerry Graham
Guest
Yep, they took their chances well as good teams do.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
FYI, bring back Buck was because the AB’s had never lost a game under Bucks captaincy. How long was it before they did after being replaced by Zinzan, who most agreed was neither the leader nor player he was replacing. In fact he was as flaky as Mo’unga compared to Dan Carter in his prime. Sure Zinzan not on to leave his mark, but it wasn’t with the immediacy you claim. Second thing apart from the Auckland cheerleaders who were clamouring for Zinzan, who were this they that wanted him there earlier… no doubt the same they that wanted Bernie McCahill. Super rugby now transitions players straight into tests, but when you are arguing with Australian posters about the quality of their players or arguing against introducing new AB players you often throw up how SR is not a measure for tests. Must apply differently to those who need to backfill the positions of legends I am guessing. Also pretty certain Cane had McCaws position wrapped up, before he broke his neck. Pretty sure Crotty has Smith’s position when he’s not injured and guess what we have two players vying for Carters position… because we never had that when Cruden and Barrett were there did we… and neither of them you would put your house on to sort a pressure goal aka Dan Carter. Point I as making is simply, NZ doesn’t have some magic pipeline from which we produce the next greatest test ready player. We have who we have and whether you admit to it or not, they are not equal or like for like replacements with once in a generation players and may not even be the best players in their positions in the world, but they are not the journeymen of years past. Everything come to an end Tman, look at Auckland and the blues. How proud and invincible were they and their fans. It used to be ABs are strong when Auckland is strong… think that’s been put to bed as a pile of bs over the last decade. Maybe the belief that the ABs will remain virtually unchallenged as the number one team in the world and won’t drop off a bit relative to other international also needs to be considered in the light of day.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
The clown has always been a clown... widely recognised now on the Roar.. and something i pointed out in 2015 - this vast improvement in the Wallabies must be attributed to his two new buddies .... and our pm is the nicest most empathetic knowledgeable lady in the whole wide world.... hold on , she is a politician... scratch that :)
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
No I don't think it should be decided by a points differential. If the ABs win tonight's match they don't win the trophy, they retain it. They won it several years ago. If the challenger is the better team then they will win it outright without relying on some flimsy count back. But I'm not sure why you restricted your question to World Cup years. A three match series can be drawn as well.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Yes the Wallabies were lucky in a way on those 2 occasions. In both cases the ABs' reactions opened the door - the attempted intercept left ALB out of position and the bobble of the ball in Arnold's hands drew Ben Smith in off the wing and allowed Salakaia-Loto a free run to the line. But in both cases the Wallaby response was great. And that almost clinical response is something that should be encouraging Wallaby supporters.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
So what does your crystal ball say Connor, or is that broken too?
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
HAHAHA Swede, nice one!!Lol. Well in a local pubs sweepstake, Iv'e gone for an AB win,(naturally).with a scoreline of 33 -16. Why that particular scoreline, mate? Well, it's 33 years since the Wallaby has won at the 'Garden of Eden', & 16 years since they last, ' leased' a loan on the Bledisloe. Lol.Cheers.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
numpty: SM=Social Media or sadomasochist Take your pick they both do the same?
Sage
Roar Rookie
That’s what I’m expecting Mr Bus
taylorman
Roar Guru
It is all relative. Guys like Thorne Blackadder Randall werent dominating their opposition. Until now most have been. When we lost a lot of players in 2011 many stepped straight in and stood up- Retallick, Savea and several others. No new player since 2015 is considered world best. Standards have dropped- relatively speaking, whether you admist it or not. And yes I do expect hem to immediately step up. Thats what Super rugby and building depth in a squad is for. And Zinzan was wanted at 8 far sooner than he finally got the position. Thats what started the bring back buck thing. But that didnt last long because Zinzan became an all round better number 8. And it didnt take him four years after getting selected at 8 to do so. I think they'll turn up tonight but if theyre claiming last weeks effort was about attitude...how has that been allowed to happen?
Popeye
Guest
Sitzpinkler comes to mind!
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Got it from the Roon ba forum: 10-Mar-1990 Queensland Country 21-22 Soviet Union [at Townsville] 14-Mar-1990 North Queensland 10-25 Soviet Union [at Cairns] 18-Mar-1990 Queensland B 40-17 Soviet Union [at Brisbane] 21-Mar-1990 Canberra Kookaburras 44- 6 Soviet Union [at Canberra] 25-Mar-1990 Queensland 26-10 Soviet Union [at Brisbane] 28-Mar-1990 Sydney 35- 4 Soviet Union [at Sydney
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
Bro...this ain’t it. Take a lap for using “poxy” and another for saying “we” in reference to the ABs.