What a game!
The last seven minutes after the whistle were worth more than the full 80 minutes. An awesome display of sustained attack versus stubborned and determined defence from both sides.
Sad to say, the rugby gods refused to smile down at the Wallabies when Reece Hodge had the ball for the penalty goal.
Just inches separated an unexpected win and a history of talk in years to come had the unpredictable ball turned the other way round after hitting the goal post.
For the first time in years, the Wallabies fought hard to be on the front foot in the last ten minutes. It reminds me of George Gregan’s famous mantra during his glorious rugby days, “the last ten minutes is championship time”. It is a time when everybody should focus on and put their heart and soul on the line.
This young Wallabies team should be drilled by Dave Rennie to adopt this same mantra. And the captain should speak to the team at the ten minute spot to get more adrenaline flowing before the final whistle.
For the first time in years, it is nice to know that the Wallabies are not sent to the slaughterhouse each time they face the All Blacks across the pond.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is making his mark. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
Coach Dave Rennie has an advantage with this young Wallabies. They are like newly mined raw diamonds which Rennie can cut and tool into whichever form he likes. Coach Rennie is not encumbered with any left-over baggage with this 2020 Wallabies team.
For a change, folks in Oz have something exciting to look forward to in rugby union.
Here are my major observations from the match.
1. James O’Connor had a good game. Showed his experience and varied his tactical play as the game progressed.
2. Nic White, despite my pre-game reservations, also had a good game. He showed the kind of aggression in his running game the Wallabies needed. His pass from the ground that led to a try was phenomenal. Nic had a good kicking game from behind the scrum. Also showed good quick passing behind the scrum.
3. Matt To’omua was a reliable No.12 but he needs to be more judicious with his opportunistic kicking. We are talking about the All Blacks, well known from the fact that once they have the ball from a mistake, their retaliatory punishment is decisive, they made it into an art form.
4. Wingers. It’s been a long while since we see the Wallabies making a deliberate effort to get the ball to the wingers. Its good to see the backline actually creating space for the wingers to give them a chance to run to the touch line.
5. Broken breakdown. The Wallabies at breakdown was awful and amateurish. Losing the ball like schoolboys rugby, this should be fixed before the next game.
6. Line out woes. The Wallabies line-out was still wobbly, and the All Blacks saw it early and capitalised on it. This must be fixed. You can’t afford to lose the ball at line out especially to the All Blacks whose backline on attack is considered the deadliest in the modern game.
7. Defence Wallabies’ defence is impressive. I believe it is a carry-over from the Brumbies players.
The refereeing left much to be desired. For such an important game like the Bledisloe, we would expect a real world-class refereeing.
Yes, yes, I know, one swallow does not make a summer. But all said, get ready with the popcorn and a comfortable armchair for 2020/21 season.
Nick
Guest
Aaron Smith plays for the Highlanders, not the Chiefs. Rennie might have coached him in the U20s I think?
FrancisF
Roar Pro
Double Agent. That is true as you said. The AllBlacks have shown they have this in-built ability and the knack for self-correction after a defeat or after a poor game. A mark of a TRUE champion. It would be great if we can be a “fly on the wall” during their post game analysis to hear what they ate discussing. A retired AB who wants to make an extra buck should write a book just solely on this topic. Having said that, somehow the way this team played against the AB on Sunday, I sense in my bones there is something different about this Wallabies team compared to the earlier Wallabies coached by Robbie Dean and Cheika. I had commented in desperation in Roar many times that Cheika’s game strategy for the Wallabies as being too predictable and one-dimensional at every game (including the frequent infamous tantrums in the Coach box) . And that after 20 minutes of game time, you somehow knew what the AllBlacks needed to do to shut out the Wallabies in the remaining 70 minutes. For 2020, Rennie brings to the Wallabies a wealth of experience on post game analysis of the Allblack’s game and a track record of his unique instinct of understanding the strength and weaknesses of each of his Wallabies player. We saw that with the team mix he put out on Sunday… If not for the Ref’s poor handling of the game, the win was in the grasp of the Wallabies before the 80 minutes. Looking forward: Rennie has 4 chances to tweak the Wallabies against the AB. Three to go as of today. The thing I look forward in the next game is not whether Wallabies will win or lose,but how the boys will executive Rennie’s game plan. This will give us an insight into how Rennie will go about to build this team for the 2023 World Cup. The Bledisloe Cup -1 had the weather especially the wind as a factor which might have askewed our proper analysis of the Wallabies’ capabilities and potential to be a team to beat in any tournament. I really hope the weather next week is perfect so we can make a sober analysis of this Wallabies’ footy potential and Rennie’s war games strategy to tame the deeply talented All Blacks. If Wallabies had to lose in the next fixture in Eden’s Park ( previously known as the Wallabies, Burial Ground) and able to limit the loss to within 10 points, I say the game is on for 2021 . and by then we should see the first sign of the flowering of this new Wallabies team as the team to beat instead of a team readymade for the slaughterhouse. Lets WAS ( wait and see)
Realist271
Guest
I was just glad Rennie held his cool in the coach box and was dignified. Cheika's antics were embarassing and a turn off. Clown indeed.
Double Agent
Guest
Let's not get too carried away. Let's not forget the Wallabies slaughtered them in Perth last year then got annihilated a week later. I'm impressed - even excited - but I've been burnt too many times to get hopes too high.
Ai Ruisheng
Guest
Having watched the match with Kiwi and Oz commentary it is clear that the Kiwis acknowledge errors both ways while ours see only our own misfortunes. At least one of our men back-tracked in the after-match comments and admitted that the Wallaby backline was offside most of the day. I do miss Buddha correcting Bray's foolish mistakes. Bray is fine if we are getting slaughtered but always complains about referees when we get close to the Kiwis. The worst mistake was made by our own linesman so settle down fellas. The loose forwards were immense and Ioane's forcings have always been an accident waiting to happen. In fact, I believe he has dropped the ball at least twice before and been awarded the try. PS Kearns is no better as a scrum coach than a commentator.
Mielie
Guest
Yes, please, we no longer want to hear from all the Cricket score pessimists ever again. Very well done the Wallabies. Very well done coach Rennie,
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
The best part about the game; and it has been mentioned elsewhere. People are talking about the game and not about the administrators or about who's going to hell. May next week bring more of the same, except maybe how the Wallabies have won this time.
Phil jackson
Guest
Early days just yet to be commenting on Dave Rennies impact on the Wallabies status. The squad is far different in structure than that of last season. The addition of more Queensland Reds players have added a certain determination to the squad. This young brigade of players who have gradually built in confidence over the past season is just what the Wallabies needed. The old adage that " when the Reds go well it follows that the Wallabies get better " I hope this continues. Both sides gave the impression that they are yet to gel.
FrancisF
Roar Pro
SW, I agree. I too had doubts about JOC starting at 10. Including Nic White at 9 after his lacklustre performance in the Super Rugby final for the Brumbies against the Queensland Reds. But I am happy both of them proved me wrong. And that means its good for the Wallabies. My guess is Coach Rennie had them as part of the jigsaw puzzle pieces in his overall strategy to take on the AllBlacks, after all he coached Aaron Smith at 9 for the Chiefs. And it worked.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
Thanks for this article FF. I had and still have reservations about JOC at 10 but he played very well yesterday, his defensive organisation was very important and his role in the first Oz try was critical - it took a very fine finish from Koroibete but it needed the pinpoint timing, pace and accuracy of JOC's lead-up.
watcher
Guest
ing What Rennie has shown throughout his Coaching career is the ability to get his teams performing soon after his taking over. You guys have a good Coach there and it our loss due to the arrogance of the NZRU. My choice for AB Coach was either Rennie or Robertson. Since 2003-2019 the ABs have essentially been under the same regime with Henry and Hansen. They in turn were lucky in having Wayne Smith for a good period of that. All had extensive Coaching experience inside and outside of NZ. Foster doesn't have that experience, and really his Super Rugby Coaching is underwhelming. Coaching is also made easier when you have the players they did, starting with McCaw and Carter, but the list goes on. My prediction is that you guys are going to win the Bledisloe, maybe not this year, but within the next two years.