There is no excuse for the performance on Saturday night.
Not the weather. Not preparation. And not youth.
43-5 is a national humiliation and the worst loss against New Zealand in Wallaby history. It was not just the margin but the manner of the loss. Out-coached, out-thought, out-skilled.
Noah Lolesio complained last week about not entering the fray in the first Test when it was finally poised. Well Noah, any international 10 must know that short chip kicks and speculative grubbers in your first 20 minutes of Test rugby are a bad idea.
But repeating that bad idea over and over against the All Blacks on the back of 30 per cent possession is unforgivable. It’s not lack of maturity, it’s a lack of discipline.
To be fair to Lolesio, his lack of respect for possession was shared by multiple players. Outside him, Jordan Petaia and Filipo Daugunu showed even less respect for the pill if that’s possible.
And let’s be clear about this – it does not matter if you are 20, 25 or 35. Respect for possession and an appreciation of how poisonous a disrespect can be should be in any rugby player’s DNA. Just ask the All Blacks, many of whom are also very young with few Tests under their belts.
As Sam Cane said in his post-match interview, the All Blacks didn’t really do anything special in the first half of the game. Yet they were 26-nil up at halftime.
When you turn over possession, kick the ball away and throw no-look passes that happens. In fact, some may argue the scoreline flattered the Wallabies.
The lack of leadership from the few senior Australians on the field also must not go unspoken.
It is not enough for Michael Hooper to be all ‘blood and guts’ anymore, if it ever was. Work rate alone does not make an international captain. Did he have a quiet word in Lolesio’s ear or pause at the 15-minute mark to read the riot act to his outside backs? If he did, there was no response.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The same criticisms should be levelled at Nic White. He knows better too. White was arguably even more culpable for not taking charge of the direction of play when it became apparent Lolesio and the baby backs were at best over playing their hand and at worst had lost the plot.
Keep the ball tight, eat up defenders and at least give Lolesio a chance to compose himself and those outside him.
In addition to the senior players, the coaching team must shoulder equal if not more responsibility for what was a national embarrassment.
Never has any coach gone from hero to zero quite so dramatically and quickly.
Yes, the losses of James O’Connor and Matt To’omua were severely damaging. Yes, trying to balance experience and youth is difficult. But Dave Rennie has left himself open to a justifiable savaging from the likes of Alan Jones.
He immediately anointed Hooper as captain, seemingly oblivious to the historical folly of doing so. Playing David Pocock at 8. Losing both Liam Gill and Sean McMahon overseas.
Even Scott Fardy’s decision to pull the plug early on the Wallabies was because he saw no way to fit into a side with both Hooper and Pocock in it. Rennie has not learned the lessons of the past.
His selections are 75 per cent spot on and 25 per cent bizarre. How on earth did Ned Hanigan and Rob Simmons find their way into this squad? Why was Peter Samu discarded completely fresh from a 16-all draw against the All Blacks? Why was Tate McDermott absent for the first two Tests?
Simmons is a brilliant lineout technician but the game has passed him by arguably for five years now. He goes missing in action not for lack of desire but because his body is ten seconds behind the game in 2020.
Ned Hanigan is a club-class Rocky Elsom who on any sensible analysis should not be in the side ahead of a host of Australian backrowers. He tries hard but Hanigan wearing the same jumper as Owen Finnegan, Matt Cockbain, Elsom and Scott Fardy is comical.
And then there was Saturday night. From kick-off to full time, the All Blacks signalled an intent to attack the short side. Over and over they went there in the first 20 minutes with massive gains.
Somehow, the Wallabies held on at 7-nil down. Yet nothing at all was done to fix what would ultimately be Australia’s major weakness. Where was the Wallaby blindside flanker defending? It sure wasn’t on the blindside!
Was Noah Lolesio defending at fullback designed to protect him? If so, didn’t it do the opposite and why was it necessary in the first place? Is Lolesio already the Quade Cooper of the 2020s?
The likes of Phil Kearns also need to learn that talking up the national team prematurely does so much harm. Predicting a Wallaby win in the Sydney papers after a comprehensive beating the week before isn’t smart.
Be quiet Phil. Please. The premature ejaculation of overconfidence and bravado does nobody any good.
It is now apparent that the 16-all draw in New Zealand was an anomaly. The Wallabies caught the All Blacks sleeping.
Where Dave Rennie goes from here is hard to say. There is but one week to recover from the worst loss against the All Blacks in Australian history.
The only obvious positives from the match were the performances of Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Matt Philip.
Matt To’omua is out until 2021. James O’Connor won’t be back next week. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is probably out too. There is nothing to lose. So why not really give youth a chance to change the guard?
Hanigan and Simmons must be retired permanently. Hooper rested. A backrow of Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Samu should start with Isi Naisarani on the bench ready to come on with Tongan Thor and Trevor Hosea at the 55-minute mark.
The riot act must be read to Lolesio and Daugunu especially setting out the difference between attack and irresponsible adventurism. Both deserve one more chance, just one, to pull their socks up.
McDermott has to come into the starting side for White, who opened the season with two classy halves of football but has now played four consecutive stinkers. As soon as McDermott entered the game, there was go-forward and distribution at speed.
Australia lost to New Zealand 43 to 6 in 1996 and went on to win Bill in 1999. England lost to the Wallabies in 1998 on the ‘Tour of Hell’ by 76 points to nil and went on to win a World Cup in 2003. Even the Boks lost 57-0 to New Zealand in 2017.
All is not lost but if we are changing the guard, let’s do it properly as there is little more to lose and much to gain.
Mukhtar
Guest
I'm a novice rugby fan. I am biased in my view towards Aussie 7s, since the days when Pocock was the poacher supreme. Still, Hooper's work-rate is un-doubtable, but how dominant are the tackles? Should coaches employ schemes where the WB backrow hunts in packs, like the Boks. More than Hooper himself, I wonder if its untenable to play him because the #6, #8 are not destructive enough. I see this as a balance issue in the back-row. If the WBs play Hooper, they need a couple of Vermeulens or PSdTs. Mr. Rennie needs to find a quality back-row soon. As long as quality teams have quick ruck ball, there is no stopping the pain of defeats. Hooper should be mentoring the next-gen while he plays out his final games in the WB jersey. Thank you for your consideration.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
What can we do? We can walk away and watch other forms of entertainment that are, dare I say it, entertaining.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Rennie's talking about his tenure, he's not talking about the last 20 years. We can only be patient with what he controls as he's starting from not a whole lot and it'll take time as he builds the side. But in saying that, RA have continuously screwed up rugby in this country since 03 and so this is all of their own making. As fans, sadly, what else can we do but watch and hope? Regardless, the Wallabies are in better hands now than they were under Cheika so that's a bonus.
Armchair Halfback
Roar Rookie
Good point, when you're relying on Ned Hanigan and Rob Simmons, you know you're in trouble! Also Lolesio had only played one game in about 3 months so he was very rusty. For sheer game time, the young lad playing for Eastwood would have been a better choice! Petaia was the best Wallabies back and Paisami tried manfully when he came on as a sub....
Loosey
Roar Rookie
Along with scrum penalties, one of the great mysteries in rugby.
Loosey
Roar Rookie
1. No they cannot. Four games in a 6 weeks knowing there was a good chance we were going to get spanked is not great for fans. I know there weren’t a lot of choices due to the disrupted season but I dare say that it was a money decision rather than a quality of game decision. Anyone who watched SR AU vs SR AR would not make the mistake of presuming Australia were up to the challenge. 2. I agree on Hooper. It must be pretty disheartening for aspiring 7s to know that they are unlikely to dislodge him from that position. That is not in the spirit of competition. As for his captaincy, I see him trying his guts out (consistently topping the tackle count) but I don’t know exactly what he says on the field as we can’t always pick it up. Suffice to say that it’s not enough/not working because Australia folded like a pack of cards in the first half and heads dropped. White’s half time commentary seemed like he/they were somewhat in denial. 3. You are giving AJ the time of day. I wouldn’t give him the steam off my p155. I see your point about Kearns but he’s doing that job so he doesn’t meddle with RA isn’t he? Of course he’s going to talk up the WBs, that’s his job! How else will he get us to tune in? 4. Small mercy - yes. Look forward to more generosity from the ABs this week. :silly: I still countenance patience for the WBs and Rennie. No one seriously believes this was going to be an overnight job do they? It is fun debating how it should be done though, eh?
Denden
Guest
Scott Fardy didn't give up on the Wallabies. Cheika simply stopped picking him in 2016 for no apparent reason.
MaxP
Roar Rookie
I’ve long been a Hooper fan, so I’m not looking at this with an ingrained bias. But I don’t think his form warrants it despite the stats looking good. Given the way he plays, he naturally cedes the advantage in the tight. Previously I felt this was offset by the positive work he did wider, particularly with his running game. I’m not seeing this impact and I see the Wallabies desperately need a hard on the ball flanker. I would start McReight and see what happens.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@MaxP I don't agree with you on Hooper's form. He's playing quite well and is clearly Australia's best no 7 now Pocock has retired. But he never was a world class no 7 imo and always Australia's 2nd best behind Pocock. But why do people forget Hooper has always been a crap captain? Why did you expect that to change in 2020? He either doesn't give direction to players, or the team, on the field or else no one listens to him. Either way he's useless for that and he often makes poor on field decisions. But what other options do WBs presently have for captain? I'd make AAA captain but keep Hooper in the run on team. Toomua is another captain option but he's out for 2020 now. Wright is too young and not even in the team. DHP is too slow for a Test FB imo. Simmons should not be in the squad.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Ben Absurd to be blaming Nic White imo. It's the captains role to be advising and giving instructions to players on the field. And it's a role Hooper has always been useless at. In the 3 games so far White has been the WBs best player imo - along with Wilson. Totally unreasonable of you to expect him to turn around a whole team performance when he was battling behind a smashed pack with 20% possession.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@wre01 yeah I agree with you about Simmons, Hanigan and Hooper's captainsy. Selectors didn't have much choice though with Simmons and Hooper. Hanigan was in for his lineout skills so I can see the argument, but he offered nothing there either. He's a decent provincial player at best - still nowhere near Test standard imo. Tries hard but is lamely ineffective in most of his efforts I think you're too hard on White though. As captain it was Hoopers role to give Lolesio some quiet instruction but he's never provided that to anyone as captain, so now surprise he was useless there again. And there was little White could do with so little possession behind a smashed pack. What other options do WBs have as captain? I thought Wilson was WBs best player with Slipper, Koroibete and BPA. And yes, I agree with you Hosea should be given a debut with Hanigan and Simmons not in the 23. Samu and Wright back in. Simone, Daugunu and Lolesio also given a rest.
Don
Roar Rookie
You criticise the selection of Pocock with Hooper but then in your own side for this weekend you want McReight with Samu and Wilson? So that gives us no loose forwards who are line out targets and, because you are removing Simmons as well, you have removed the best LO target we have and replaced him with another debutante? So we go into a test with just 2 LO targets? You need Naisrani as a 3rd.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Patience? What else have Wallabies supporters shown for more than a decade? 18 year olds have never seen them win a Bledisloe Cup. 21 year olds haven't seen them win a World Cup. If RA find it acceptable to defer any improvements for four years because we are build to the next RWC" then they are kidding themselves. They have had almost 2 decades of "rebuilding". Stone masons build monasteries faster. Another four years and they will get $0 from the broadcast deal because no one will be watching.
You need to do some handstands mate :silly:
wre01
Roar Guru
Loosey Great to see engagement with the article and wanted to respond. 1. Australian Rugby can’t afford too many more days like yesterday. Financially or otherwise. Is that unfair on Rennie and his young team. Yes. 2. Hooper’s presence in the back row has unbalanced the pack for too many years. He was not the best 7 in Australia when Pocock was fit. He is not the best 7 now. Keeping him there continues to cause problems on and off the field. Alternatives at captain AAA, McReight, Toomua or JOC. My pick would be McReight. 3. I care little for Alan Jones but yesterday’s performance gave him oxygen. And Kearns is a very powerful/ prominent figure in rugby running the campaign for RWC 2027. To say ‘who cares’ misses the point. 4. Lolesio scoring on debut is about the only good thing you could say about his first Test. It is not a positive but a small mercy.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Also please - Hooper is not a Captain. For as long as my backside points towards the ground, he will never be a Captain. He is not good enough - not able to think and intelligently dissect a game on the move.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Best summation I have read for a long time. When Hooper was made captain and Simmons placed on the bench and then Hanigan picked for the 2nd test - my words were same old, same old. Here in Bishkek, I have a beer with a couple of English, Welsh and Irish mates who stated after the 1st Bledisloe, Australia moving along nicely. I said wait as I expect the same old, same old. And I was proven correct. Samu dumped - why, Hanigan selected - why (too many failures - soft), Simmons on the bench (he is a meaow - wall flower). This weekend in addition to points in the article, which are spot on, there were three other things missing - heart, guts and pride. And please - Australia's offiical Wallaby colours are Gold and Green - full Gold jersey with Green Collar and Green Shorts. If you want an indigenous jersey, which I believe is not needed, make it from Gold and Green - not Green and White. Keep the pride.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I posted this elsewhere but it has relevance here too. The lack of depth we have is relative to our lack of experience. There is no doubt we are growing players with skill and ability for the future and so developing our stocks. But the key issue is we are missing so much experience. Think of all the Aussie players who are overseas who have been lost to Aus rugby and are/were in their primes (e.g. Gill, Kerevi, McMahon, Arnold etc.) who could have bolstered and mentored the side as we brought in the youth. The ABs have been able to bring in Clark, Sotutu etc and put them into a side with experienced leaders playing well in their positions. Other than JOC, Toomua and Slipper Australia dearly lacks that. Sure, Simmons has 100 caps but his leadership and form is terrible. Hooper is a good player but not a leader imo. After them there’s really no one else. The answer? This team is so young and raw, Rennie is right when he says it’ll take time and we need to be patient. But I think the nature of the loss stings, we really didn’t show anything after playing really poorly in Auckland and then were limp last night. Next Saturday there must be some fight shown and a rebound but in saying all that, I almost wish to fast forward this year because rebuilds take time and they’re not pretty straight away. I just dearly hope that soon we can see the Bledisloe return to our shores and some respect for rugby in this country from our international opponents. It’s been pretty bloody miserable the last 5 years - let alone since 03.
Mike
Roar Rookie
His work rate and stats, as well as what we actually see on the field, shows that he is in reasonably good form, and I would dispute that there are any obviously better players available. We have about five backrowers of reasonable standard at present, which is barely enough when you consider the likely injury toll of a season, but in my view Hooper would likely be the first picked anyway. That doesn't mean he's a world beater by any means, just a reflection of the reality of Australian rugby ATM. In any case, dumping a player of his experience at this level would only compound the error which saw us go into a Bledisloe test with a 10, 12 and 13 with only 6 test caps between them.