It has been nearly an entire year since Australia’s quarter-final exit at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but with only two of the same players from that starting XV retaining their jerseys, coming off the back of a very different Super Rugby competition and with an entirely different coaching set-up at the helm, the Wallabies represent a completely new proposition to previous years.
The All Blacks, headed by a new coach themselves, have also named a formidable team for the upcoming encounter and the media has already acknowledged how eager they will be to atone for their own premature exit from last year’s tournament. They have just six of the same starters from their last Test encounter.
» Bledisloe Game 1 live scores, blog: Follow all the All Blacks vs Wallabies action live
While previous results may not look all that promising for the men in gold, it’s far too early for any naysayers to be dismissing Dave Rennie’s Wallabies.
He may have his work cut out for him in restoring the Wallabies to a household name and to boost their current ranking of seventh in the world, but he comes in with a massive vote of confidence from most fans as a well-credentialled coach with a game plan and strategy much less divisive than the previous regime’s.
Across the Tasman, the new coach Ian Foster (previously the assistant coach to the All Blacks) has faced a far less warm welcome as his position was also contested by Scott Robertson – the coach of the Crusaders, who have won all four competitions they have been involved in under him.
The “out with the old, in with the new” cry was echoed across large portions of New Zealand and so the pressure will definitely be on to perform and silence their own detractors.
But how do the teams actually stack up against each other?
A lot has been made about the two sides and the number of personnel changes each coach has made from their predecessor, but even with those changes, the two coaches have taken fairly unique approaches.
(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
Wallabies (number of Test caps in brackets)
1. James Slipper (96)
2. Folau Fainga’a (12)
3. Taniela Tupou (19)
4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (21)
5. Matt Philip (3)
6. Harry Wilson (0)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (99)
8. Pete Samu (9)
9. Nic White (31)
10. James O’Connor (52)
11. Marika Koroibete (28)
12. Matt To’omua (52)
13. Hunter Paisami (0)
14. Filipo Daugunu (0)
15. Tom Banks (6)
16. Jordan Uelese (9)
17. Scott Sio (63)
18. Allan Alaalatoa (35)
19. Rob Simmons (100)
20. Rob Valetini (1)
21. Jake Gordon (1)
22. Noah Lolesio (0)
23. Reece Hodge (39)
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Total caps: 676
All Blacks
1. Joe Moody (46)
2. Codie Taylor (50)
3. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (35)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (30)
5. Sam Whitelock (117)
6. Shannon Frizell (9)
7. Sam Cane (c) (68)
8. Ardie Savea (44)
9. Aaron Smith (92)
10. Richie Mo’unga (17)
11. George Bridge (9)
12. Jack Goodhue (13)
13. Rieko Ioane (29)
14. Jordie Barrett (17)
15. Damian McKenzie (23)
(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
16. Dane Coles (69)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (13)
18. Nepo Laulala (26)
19. Tupou Vaa’I (0)
20. Hoskins Sotutu (0)
21. TJ Perenara (64)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (43)
23. Caleb Clarke (0)
Total caps: 814
So, other than a whole lot of names and numbers, what does this all mean and what actually stands out?
The most discernible difference upon immediate glance was the placement of the newcomers.
The Wallabies have named four debutants (Wilson, Paisami, Daugunu and Lolesio) for the all-important first fixture of 2020, where New Zealand have named three (Vaa’i, Sotutu and Clarke). The difference, however, is that three of the four Wallabies rookies will be starting the Test match, a demonstration of the faith put into these young men by Rennie.
Conversely, all three of the new All Blacks will be injected off the bench, if at all, for their first Test.
The other striking note of comparison was the experience of all players, not just those on debut.
Despite this crop of All Blacks having played a combined 138 more Test matches than this Wallabies side, it should be noted that nearly half (43.6 per cent) of the Wallabies Test caps come from just three players (Slipper, Hooper and Simmons).
It means that in addition to the four debutants for Australia, it will also only be the second Test match for Valetini and Gordon, the fourth for Philip, seventh for Banks and the tenth for Samu and Uelese. Reassuringly, Rennie has stuck true to his word of rewarding form and not reputation, but it will be interesting to see how this side rises to the occasion with so many players not fully accustomed to the Test match arena.
Looking into the numbers further shows that the New Zealand starting team boasts 171 more Test caps and that it’s really only Simmons’ involvement off the bench that balances the contrast out more in the Wallabies favour.
A lot has been made of Australia’s depth at prop and how the set piece could effectively be used as a weapon against the All Blacks, but there are two areas that stick out more where the best clashes should occur.
The back row for Australia looks a thing of beauty and they have no harder task than tackling the Herculean efforts of new skipper Cane and one of the most dynamic (offensively and defensively) 6/8 combinations of Frizell and Savea.
However, the Wallabies are fighting fire with fire and have the soon-to-be Test centurion Hooper, one of the hardest-working players in world rugby, in between the line-bending, tackle-breaking, heavy-hitting duo of Wilson and Samu.
(Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It’s easily the most excited I’ve been for a back row battle between these two great teams.
The other key area is the play-making axis. While Smith may be the best scrumhalf in the world and Mo’unga has proven to be the form 10, it’s the 9-10-12 combination of White, O’Connor and To’omua that actually matches up with their opposites in terms of experience and even boasts a few years and Test caps on them.
With two new coaches, no one knows exactly what the game plan will be from either side, especially with the late pullout from Beauden Barrett at fullback. No matter the style chosen though, it’s this lynchpin of attack from both sides that should have all eyes glued as it will be the make or break as to how well the exciting backs outside them inject into the match.
There’s clearly plenty to be excited about and rugby fans will have had this often-changing date and time circled in their calendars as Test match rugby in the southern hemisphere resumes.
No matter the preconceptions you have on the result, this match will be huge and an impressive spectacle is practically guaranteed from both of these new sides.
What better way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon than to break out your stubby-cooler, dust off your tongs, fire up the Weber (not Brad) and tune in for the next instalment of the Bledisloe Cup?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Yea, phone and tv don’t talk to each other very well, so have to use chrome cast.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Blinkey, I like it! Hail to "She who must be obeyed and feeds the Galah". LoL
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Its great that coach Rennie actually looks at his opposition, location, weather and formulates a plan rather than the previous coach’s sole idea of “run, rabbit, run”. There was a time during the 2017 mid-year games where the WB had B.Foley kicking lovely up-n-unders for IzzyF to catch and score but this was really a carbon copy of the main tactic in RL of bombs right on the opponents goal-line and force errors. Hope springs eternal in my Green n Gold heart and I started to believe that M.Cheika had finally cottoned onto the major reason on why the Poms belted us 3-zip in their 2016 tour. They used quality kicks as a pressure tactic while WB eshewed field kicks or used poor kicks at a last resort. But sadly nope! Most were either belt the pill as far as possible (40m max for Foley) up the middle or poorly executed up-n-unders with not a chaser in sight. I’ve been saying this for years and years, a team has to be switched on and act as a unit when a kick is happening. In short; plans and communication must be worked out prior to the game. Also have 2-3 kickers to confuzzle the opposition and coach the life out of them on how to put up wobbly spiral kicks that land on a button. For short kicks, designated chasers must know to whom the kick is aimed at and said chasers arrive to either contest for the ball or pounce like rabid dogs as the opposition catcher lands on the ground. Now THAT is pressure and teams get rewarded if its done well. Look at England under Eddie Jones, who have torn the WB to pieces in tour games with kicks aimed at short backs such as Foley or hot-n-cold players like K.Beale. For long kicks, keep your defensive line in order and move up as one. Do not offer holes to fast returners like BBBBBBB or DMac who will cut you to pieces if you do. Sounds easy from a chair pumping onto a kb, but that’s why the coaches get paid Megabucks and all I get is the occasional thumbs-up on the Roar. :silly:
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
That is so true Carlos and it is in the scrum where the Wallabies may hold an advantage over the All Blacks. i have not been that impressed with the ABs work in the scrum, although to be fair that was now a year ago and under a different coach. And that is what adds extra interest to this match, besides the debutant players, that 1)none of us have seen international rugby since the pandemic first struck and 2)both teams are with a new coach and possibly new styles of play. Adds up to what should be an enjoyable match to watch.
Bruce Peters
Roar Rookie
Yeah.. I saw that. Doing the team talk for the ABs again :happy:
Blinky Bill
Roar Rookie
Thanks TF. My understanding is that Ch10 will only give me tests with the Wallabies. I want to see if watching other internationals on Kayo is to my liking or not. As of yesterday I'm on a 2 week free trial basis, which I thought was decent of them. If their service is worthwhile I will then sign-up.
Im hoping for a ABs massive win now because of this terds comments When will he learn. What a lemon... https://www.rugbypass.com/news/we-got-the-better-coach-ra-chairmans-barb-at-ian-foster/
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Blinky. I cancelled my Foxtel ages ago and just cancelled my Kayo after the SR-Au final. It grates my gears that to watch rugby, I have to be ploughing my hard-earned into Lord Palpatine’s empire of RWNJ BS. The only games I will miss are the English Rugby premiership and I can live without that. As for your comment, you do know that Channel 10 and their HD 1 are showing the match live on tv. I’m not sure of 10’s coverage out of the big cities but if you have ch 10 or 1 in your area, then why bother paying dosh to listen to Kearn’s whinging about the Kiwi ref or The Mouth Kafer extolling his supreme knowledge on the proles. I would rather drink Yenda than listen to those clowns. I forgot to add (hence this edit) that Ch 72 shows some cracker Shute Shield matches on Sat afternoons also. Sadly this year I have had to miss all of Southern districts home games due to work commitments but the magical RECORD button at least gives me a game to watch. So go FTA and you can get some good rugger to sate your thirst. :stoked:
Chrome cast???
Blinky Bill
Roar Rookie
Thanks for Kayo info mate. Likewise with me on Foxtel. Sorry to hear you're feeling nervous about playing our boys :happy: (yes!!!!!) TBH I am channeling Coach Rennie & feeling quite relaxed about it all. Good luck to your AB's. :thumbup:
Blinky Bill
Roar Rookie
Spot on mate. We definitely need some positivity, that's for sure. Speaking of which, now that I've done my chores to please the good lady, she's happy & 100% onboard with me spending a couple of hours in front of our big screen yelling & carrying-on like a galah. So at 1.30 I'll switch on my Kayo apple TV app, and sit around scoffing mashed peas & pies, swigging a cold one and listening to the pre-test interviews, opinions & build-up prior to 2pm kick off. CARN THE WALLABIES!!!!!!!
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Kayo works pretty well, I use a chrome cast to put it in the tv, so have killed the Foxtel subscription and never looked back. I’ve been enjoying reading the thoughts of others. I’m nervous now, as a Kiwi, because the Wallabies have largely been written off, and that’s when they are the most dangerous (cough...Perth ...cough). Not long now...
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
The first scrum, with Tupou and Moody should be fun.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
And, BB, to add to “ TBH I’m enjoying reading the thoughts of others for this test,” I’m enjoying reading a fair amount of positive or at least hopeful comments about the Wallabies. And it’s good to read so many just looking forward to a good game. Tribalism can return when “normality” returns.
RahRah
Roar Rookie
Hi Mitch, thanks for the article. I’m probably in the minority but I am not excited at all about 9, 10 and 12. I don’t think that any of them bring any X factor to the game - rather a “safe” selection strategy instead. Anyway I’m looking forward to Gen next and a more positive and happy place for our wallabies and us long suffering fans.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I’d like to have JP on the bench even more now. Add AAA and Uelese and our bench scrum could get on top.
Blinky Bill
Roar Rookie
P.S. I have just signed up with Kayo to watch the Test, and fingers crossed it’s going to prove a winner.
Blinky Bill
Roar Rookie
TBH I'm enjoying reading the thoughts of others for this test. My feeling is that Oz Rugby has really taken a beating over the last few years and is hurting, & this bloody Covid business was the last thing it needed. All I am looking for today, is to see if our blokes look like they're on the right track to becoming a pretty decent Rugby side. I am keen to see if what looks like a cool & calm customer in Coach Rennie, produces better decision making on the paddock whether it's rain, shine or blowing a gale. Now .... COME ON WALLABIES!!!!
Ben
Guest
Laulala. Out for personal reasons.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Penalties will be vital . Very interesting. We have Tupou, Paisami, Dauguna, Loto and Hooper who give a lot away. There will be a lot of pressure on our line out . Loto is not a lock. My tips. . JOC , Toomua and Hooper will be tested in defence . . Dauguna and Koreibeti will field a lot of kicks. . Banks will have a lot to do fielding balls and on last ditch defence. . They will go around Paisami with speed.