The Wallabies have finished bottom of the Tri-Nations ladder after being held to a second straight draw against Argentina in their final Test of 2020.
Dave Rennie concedes the Wallabies have “a long way to go” after a year that started so promisingly.
The Wallabies and Pumas finished deadlocked at 16-16 on Saturday night after fullback Reece Hodge missed with a long-range last-minute penalty goal attempt for the third time in three stalemates in 2020.
Hodge also had the chance to boot Australia to victory with three minutes to go in their 15-15 draw with the Pumas two weeks ago in Newcastle.
The cursed star also struck the upright with an after-the-siren shot in the Wallabies’ season-opening 16-16 draw with the All Blacks in Wellington in October.
He could only hang his head in despair after his latest miss in driving rain at Bankwest Stadium.
“I feel a bit sorry for him,” coach Rennie said.
“He’s kicked well and there weren’t many lining up to make that shot. It would have been nice if he’d kicked that, but it is what it is.”
It was another cruel finish for Hodge, who has otherwise been among Australia’s best during a six-Test campaign that yielded just one win to go with two losses and the three draws.
Had Hodge not slotted three earlier penalty goals plus a pressure conversion from out wide 12 minutes from fulltime to tie the scores up, the Wallabies would have lost.
“We’ve got a long way to go. We’re going to get a lot better,” Rennie said.
“There’s no lack of heart, no lack of effort but we’ve got to be way more clinical.”
The Pumas, roundly written off after last week’s 38-0 drubbing at the hands of New Zealand and then having inspirational skipper Pablo Matera and two teammates stood down for disciplinary reasons, looked like keeping the Wallabies try-less for the second game running.
“It’s a hollow feeling,” said Wallabies captain Michael Hooper.
“It’s very disappointing.”
Rennie said pre-game he’d settle for the Wallabies winning ugly to finish the year off on a high.
Instead, they almost suffered one of the ugliest losses in history, against a depleted Pumas outfit who endured several sleepless nights while dealing with the fallout from the Matera affair.
The Wallabies only salvaged a draw after fighting back from ten points down while playing the last 20 minutes with 14 men following the red carding of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto for dangerous contact to Santiago Grondona’s head in a tackle gone wrong.
“We showed a lot of character tonight,” Rennie said.
“We’re a work in progress.
“We made dumb some errors and got punished for it.
“There are obviously areas we know we need to be better. We won one out of six, if you look at it from that perspective.
“So it’s disappointing but we’ve got an understanding of where we’re at.
“You’ve got to convert one of those opportunities and it’s a different result.”
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Tupou carried Hooper, ball and all, over the line for the Wallabies only try. Why would Rennie play 6xA's ahead of Tupou?
james
Guest
I get this but..... this is the Wallabies not a bunch of U17 playing their first internationals. Surely, the players are meant to know how to play by now and it is about learning to play as a unit . J O'C made the comments elsewhere “It’s hard because you guys don’t get to see the efforts we put into training and how we’re making gains,” O'Connor said. “Guys who had - not no idea - but literally are just playing off pure instincts, they are learning how to create an extra number, how to play the short side, how to run, where we build pressure. Isnt this basic stuff ? Why are they playing from pure instinct ? Why are they learning to create an extra number or how to play the short side ? They are Wallabies not U10s
AJ
Guest
I'm willing to go the journey but not alot has changed. We're too soft. Australia were bullied until the bench came on. Liked that we started playing smarter in the wet and using Hodge's boot.
Blinky Bill
Roar Rookie
Definitely not enough acknowledgement to the Pumas team, staff and supporters, as blokes like me are busy mentally beating themselves up over opportunities lost for their own team.
Cheika_Mate
Roar Rookie
Another season done and dusted. Hopefully all squad players will be given homework over the short summer on areas they must individually work as our skill levels have been shown to be poor. I’m hoping Rennie puts the squeeze on Rebels coach Wessels as where to play Hodge and Toomua. Rennie sees potential in Hodge at 10, we know he can fill any position so start at ten for the Rebels. To speed up his apprenticeship, Toomau plays 12 build confidence and combos. That leave poor old Deegan again making the numbers. Will also be interesting to see what happens at the reds. I rate current 12 Stewart and I still think Pasami is still a 13. I’m not tipping the current wallaby centre pairing to start to many games at the reds unless Stewart is injured. And look full credit to Argentina through all hardship they came to these shores to play and deserve 2nd place in our rugby tri nation chook raffle. A well prepared passionate team, hoping some lessons learned by the Wobblies.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The Wallas actually did pretty well to salvage a draw, after the bone headed red card thought we were toast. Argies really should have gone on and won it. That shows ticker to hang in there despite being outplayed most of the night. Positives - scrum, lineout , defence ( mostly ) and Valetini off bench Negatives - skipper ignoring points, not adapting to conditions, Petaia aimless kicking, ball handling ( Argies much better in tough conditions ), ill discipline- what was Loto thinking, inability to win another tight game and lastly, we got monstered physically in the tackle, what we would give for a Marcos Kremer. Wilson, Ned and Simmons just not up to it last night. I feel for Hodge as he never lets us down as a player however he has the yips with these long range shots. Nic White can hit them long, give him a crack now. Newcastle definitely like a loss whereas last night felt like a decent draw. We were outplayed most of the night in conditions which suit the Argies much more than us. Finally Rennie needs to seriously consider a new skipper ( don’t think he will ). Hooper is a fine player however a poor captain. It’s rinse and repeat each post match press conference and a new voice is needed. If Rennie wants to make his mark, he has to make the big call with next World Cup in mind.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
Argies could claim the same, had the officiating been better they'd have probably won the the game.