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The Wallabies’ performance at the end of Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup opener reminded me of the Waratahs this year. A lot of times they would play good rugby in the last 20 minutes of a game where they weren’t really in it and throwing caution to the wind because the result was beyond their reach.
But I think they can take confidence from that because when they look to back themselves and play the way they want to play without restraint, they produced some really good rugby.
I was impressed with Tom Banks’ second try when Noah Lolesio saw there was space in behind and put the grubber in.
Moments like that are big for me because it shows, regardless of the situation and the moment, they are playing what they see, making decisions based on what the opposition is giving them and executing.
Individual moments like that are a good indicator of what they can do. Now I would like to see it when the game isn’t already lost but still in the balance – that’s when we need to be strong enough to back ourselves to execute under pressure like that.
I was also really impressed with Robby Valetini. He’s copped some criticism for his performances in the first team, but I thought he stepped up.
He was physical in his carry and defence and played the role that people were hoping he would, as an enforcer with that physicality.
(Photo by Getty Images)
Andrew Kellaway was really good defensively and with ball in hand. And it was good to see Banksy play well.
I was hoping he would be someone who really steps up. For me, he looks like he’s still searching for that performance to really cement himself in that position. He had a little bit of a shaky start, but he really worked his way into the game.
Matt To’omua made a big difference off the bench, adding composure and leadership in the midfield. I’d stick with Hunter Paisami from the start at No. 12, though. His first 40 minutes were as good as anyone on the field.
When the All Blacks stepped up a bit, it wasn’t just him as an individual, but the entire team went into their shell a bit and it probably stood out most with him because he was so good in the first half.
When it comes to the intercept pass, watching on TV I didn’t see Richie Mo’unga either. When Hunter threw that ball I was thinking ‘Jordie Petaia is getting this ball in space’. But Richie popped out of nowhere.
You look at it from a performance perspective and it goes down as a poor decision because Richie scores that try and the All Blacks get on a roll for the next 15-20 minutes – but other than that moment he was very good.
As for changes for Saturday, Marika Koroibete has to come back in. Andrew Kellaway and Jordie went really well but Marika, along with Michael Hooper, is one of the best two players in the team.
Leaving him out for the discipline issue was the right call. I was really proud of Dave Rennie because when your best player is the one getting in trouble, more often than not you see the rules bent for it. I’ve been part of teams where rules have been bent for your best players and it doesn’t set a good example for the squad or the culture.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Jordie Uelese get a start either, just because he’s a bigger body and bigger physical presence.
I read Nic White is available for selection. I think Tate McDermott has been very good when starting the last couple of games, but maybe Whitey on the bench to play a similar role to Matt To’omua where he comes on with some experience and leadership and a bit spark as well would make a difference.
‘There levels to this game’
Noah Lolesio has received some criticism for missing five of his kicks. As a young kid, maybe it was a little bit of pressure that got to him, but I’d say it as more the conditions than anything else. It looked like it was difficult to kick and Mo’unga missed a couple in the second half.
Players will never look at the team’s kickers and blame them. I’ve read the narrative that he left 12 points out there and the game would have been in the balance. It never works like that because each individual moment in games affect the outcome.
If he’s kicking all his kicks, that might change a decision that the teams later make. Who’s to say if he’s making those kicks they take Mo’unga off or Aaron Smith off, or the All Blacks would make so many substitutions?
Tate McDermott feeds the scrum for the Wallabies. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
For a young guy starting out you have to realise there are levels to the game.
The team obviously played well against the French, won the series, and you take confidence from that. But playing against the All Blacks in the Bledisloe and rugby Championship is just a massive step up.
When you’re up against the best team in the last 15 years it’s about concentrating on your process and in that moment doing what’s worked for you over the course of that French series and course of the year.
If you find consistency that’s when you find your feet at Test rugby level against teams like the All Blacks. You don’t get away with simple errors that you might get away with against the French for example.
Our young halves, Noah and Tate, don’t have far to look for inspiration – just across the field at Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga.
I got asked on a podcast who I would choose between Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett as the All Blacks’ No.10 and I opted for Barrett. I was wrong and I’ve changed my mind.
I said I thought Richie has been the best player in Super Rugby for the last five years. I genuinely believe that, and he will go down as one of the best Super Rugby players ever.
My thinking was that he is probably still searching for consistency at Test level whereas we’ve seen it from Beauden Barrett. But Richie just continues to get better and better.
He was unbelievable on Saturday night. He makes the game look so easy, but he also has a calming influence on those around him, very much like Dan Carter did.
They seem to have all the time in the world to control and manipulate the defence and attack, marshal the guys inside and out, make the right decisions and kick their goals. He’s a phenomenal player and it’s his jersey to lose now.
When Dan Carter was playing, Beauden would come off the bench and have an amazing impact and influence. Perhaps he’s moving back to that role, or he goes back to fullback.
It’s funny – Carter was there for 10 years and probably one of the best players to ever play in any position. Beauden comes in for a few years, gets world rugby player of the year for two of them and then Richie comes along . It shows how spoilt they are for 10s.
And Tate McDermott can learn a lot from Smith, who brought up 100 Tests on Saturday.
The best halfback I saw play was Fourie du Preez for the Springboks and Aaron would be right there next to him.
It’s remarkable how consistent he’s been over the course of those 100 games.
You look back to when he first played for the All Blacks in 2012, he transformed that team because of his ability to get to the breakdown quickly and move the ball and have an excellent pass.
He turned them into a slick machine that could play at a tempo and pace that most teams couldn’t stick with. To have that level of consistency, to be that elite over the last 10 years, is incredible.
He can be a bit a chirpy, he’s loud, but he’s just a competitor, loves to get in and amongst everything. I loved playing against him because he brings the best out of you,
You can’t help but take something from the greats, just being out there you learn. I was the same against du Preez. How they cope with pressure, what they do in difficult situations, how they play their part in wrestling back momentum.
You’re out there competing to win but you’re also soaking up all that information and knowledge.
‘Play without fear and have a go’
Both teams will be better for the first hit out when they meet against on Saturday back at Eden Park.
The key for the Wallabies is to take that momentum from the last 20 minutes and take confidence knowing we can play some good footy against one of the best teams in the world and score points.
I thought the All Blacks defended really well, they put a lot of pressure with line speed when we played the balls out back to push up on the outside.
A couple of times we got them on the edge but if we can take confidence from the fact we found space and found opportunities, especially in the last 20 or 30, we can take that momentum and play without fear and have a go. If we do that we can give ourselves a chance.
The All Blacks will be better as well.