Let's focus on the moments between the madness for the Wallabies

Taking the points on offer to produce scoreboard pressure. Keeping the refs honest (that’s four infringements now sir, is the next one a card?). Inspiring the players around him. Being engaging, charismatic, having some banter; representing Aussie rugby as a player the fans can admire and respect. We know we get none of these with Hooper. He’s the Michael Clarke of Rugby. He’s not dating the bimbo, driving a Lamborghini, or getting sleeve Tatts but the hair flicks and corporate speak isn’t far off. Cringe.

McReight or Liam Wright; or McMahon… just completely over Hooper who I don’t rate at all. Lacks impact.

All fair Russ, but ‘Breakdown accuracy’? I prefer to call it ‘letting big men run alone’.

Spot on. The first test or two are always hard to watch in parts.

I think it’s less about Tupou than about what the options are for the team. We get a better return for Tupou’s dominance at the end than at the start, so we’re better off using him there. When AAA is not the other choice, maybe it will be different, but until then their relative strengths means the team is better off with AAA to start.

Nice contribution Russ. Aus rugby seems to have done a 180 were we are now producing better forwards than backs. It used to be our backs were always sensational with a “solid” forward pack. I think TT needs to improve his defense consistency if he is to be a true starter or 80 minute player. He does have a propensity to miss a few first up tackles. The impotence of our backline is a real worry. With the exception of the odd MK run there is zero penetration or line breaking play. This starts at 9, we need an attacking 9 who can run putting the defense in two minds, rather than someone who is merely a distributor.

Very good first article, Russ. Thanks. You make a lot of good points, such as "Breakdown accuracy was poor and almost cost the Wallabies the match." This area alone brought up to a high standard will provide a critical platform to score off.

"Two truly second rate sides in a meaningless series." Need to add "imo" to that sentence, D. Won't comment further as I don't know what your level of expertise is, or how much rugby you have played/coached.

This is a great perspective

I like this take, but there’s two things I see a little differently. I agree Banks looks like he’s struggling with the reduced time and space of Test rugby, but I think he need a bit more time to adjust. At the moment I think he’s adequate, and could be good. And I don’t thing Tupou should start. That’s not a question of ‘best’ - it’s more that his relative overmatch is higher at the end of the game than the start. Subbing him in earlier wouldn’t hurt, but he should definitely be the finisher.

I think this is going to be a bit of a mental shift for AU rugby if DR can get his way. NZ rugby sends players back to club land rugby to develop the weak parts of their game with the view that it will make them better All Blacks when they need them. In AU we tend to pick potential players and we exploit their strengths to death while ingnoring the obvious holes of the players game. I think sending them away to improve sends the right messages to players and coaches at all levels and will return results at the right time.

From what appears to be more of a 'glass half empty' attitude, what are the traits that make a good captain, Jimbo?

Agreed Jez, pushing the barrow of players coming on late in the game, fired up from sitting on the bench, and knowing they only have maybe 20 minutes to play against a tiring opposition does not make them starters. It does not mean they're going to win you the game from the beginning. They're doing what's expected of them.

Russ the key for me which you left out was composure and to change the plan on the run to bring us back in the game. When was the last time we had seen that from a wallaby side. Now is not the the time to chop and change, give the same side another start. Experiment in game three. Winning is a habit even against a French b side who gave a lesson in how to play test rugby. So far we are getting opposition we need to expose our decencies. I’d rather get some homework to work on after playing these guys rather than a bashing first up by darkness over the ditch. We overplayed our hand in the first half, trying to play to much in our own half. Our back three put us pressure which exposed our poor skills level across the team when under stress. Each time the French got into our half they took points, great lessons learnt. I know what roarers will say Korobeti was brilliant at times, Wright, Banks looked dangerous but when all three had to work as a unit at the back they were poor. They have some worked to do around communication, kicking and when to counter attack. Another poor night might see a big name back or two drift out of the side all together. Flash Gordon, Toomua, Slipper will be better for the run after a long lay off. Timing is key and they looked a little short of a gallop the other night. Valentini maybe he put to much pressure on himself he had a mixed game but the other back rowers killed it. Noah LL, I think this series is make or break for him so let’s give him more time in the saddle, Joc can comeback and play in game three. Boy our front row stocks look pretty good with Thor and Bell. They are the future but right now no rush. Let’s be patient , give the current squad another crack, this time to putting on a descent score against a technically good b side. That’s what I want to see now more growth and the ability to fix mistakes and to take these guys to the sword.