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Opinion

Don’t panic Dave, reasonable Wallabies fans can see what you are trying to do

7th September, 2021
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7th September, 2021
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Dave Rennie looked even less deadpan than usual during the Wallabies 38-21 defeat to the All Blacks on Sunday – in fact he looked like he was going to bust a foo-foo valve every time one of his players made a mistake.

The pressure showed on the park as well, with the frustration showing among the players when something went wrong.

That’s okay though, the frustration indicates a team that was for the most part desperately trying to make amends for what was an insipid performance a couple of weeks earlier in Bledisloe 2, where the scoreline was a record 57-14 to the men in black.

We didn’t see nearly as many instances of players jogging or walking to where they needed to be on the park when they should have been sprinting, which to put it politely really got on my goat during Game 2.

There was only one clear instance where a non-fatigued defender didn’t make the effort he should have to scramble in defence. I’m not going to name names, but it highlights a home truth that all rugby players should have drilled into them from the first time they pick up a ball: it doesn’t matter how skilful or strong you are if you are on the wrong part of the park when those abilities are needed.

The fact is the All Blacks were just better, in particular Noah Lolesio’s game management was exposed in the toughest of Tests, but he is only 21 years old and is playing in a new inside back and midfield combination.

In contrast, 30-year-old Kiwi star Beauden Barrett had far more experience around him. What did any reasonable Wallabies fan seriously think was going to happen in the face of such a disparity in experience and cohesion?

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Beauden Barrett was left feeling sore and sorry against the All Blacks.

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Lolesio has x-factor, which Rennie clearly wants to nurture, and is a true competitor so will grow as a result of the experience, though I wonder whether a bit of time on the bench without so much pressure and to reflect, might do him some good.

James O’Connor was due back into camp this week but if he can’t play this weekend, Reece Hodge is a capable replacement at 10, who deserves a start after loyally serving as Mr Fix-it from the bench.

Michael Hooper again showed why his opposite number, Dalton Papalii, as a new All Black in 2018 described the Aussie captain as his favourite player for his “relentless effort off the ball”. Perhaps more than anything this highlights the importance placed on work ethic in the most professional rugby culture on Earth.

Another shining example of work ethic is Samu Kerevi, whose first game in gold since 2019 involved an epic effort of 23 runs for 97 metres, as well as a 90-yard chase of David Havili after his intercept, almost running the All Black down. That a 108 kg man can almost run down an opponent 20kg lighter in the 61st minute, when he had already run so much during the game, reminds us of the epic athlete that Australian rugby has been missing in Kerevi.

One thing Kerevi might do to get his side a quick incremental improvement is to be wary that his big personal presence and ‘lead from the front’ attitude doesn’t result in the young players either side of him having the confidence to speak up and lead when necessary, especially the 10, who is supposed to be steering the attack.

Having an experienced player like Kerevi outside him could be the international making of a young player like Lolesio, but Kerevi needs to allow him to make the attacking decisions and it is hard for Lolesio to do that when Kerevi is usually the first to get his hands on the ball.

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Samu Kerevi of Australia is tackled

Samu Kerevi. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

It would also be great to see Kerevi use that excellent high kick to the corner that he used to do from about 30 to 40 metres out, which invariably leads to the opposition winger kicking the ball out and giving the Wallabies an attacking lineout close to the line.

Rennie pointed out that there wasn’t enough kicking from his charges, so Kerevi’s contribution in that department would be invaluable.

Intercepts have happened five times now against the All Blacks, which indicates that it is a team-wide skill/decision-making issue that needs to be addressed.

I’m pretty sure both the international and Super Rugby coaches will be all over whatever needs to be done to correct the issue from now on, so they’ll get there, probably after giving up a few more, but at least it means that the Wallabies are attempting to play positive rugby.

Perhaps whatever drills they need to do to address the issue could also improve the Aussies’ own collective ability to score intercept tries?

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The only shift in thinking that Rennie might need to make is to understand that he is not building a provincial rugby team, where a lot more leeway is given for player development. As an international coach he will be expected to get a decent win ratio well before the 2023 World Cup, which might mean shifting the balance of his starting selections towards proven experience in the short term, while developing the young players with all their potential from the bench and in Super Rugby.

All in all though, Deadpan Dave can afford to keep his foo-foo valve intact, there was definite progress from Game 2 to Game 3 and in particular the on-field work ethic, which is the foundation for all success in rugby, improved dramatically for most of the team.

Keep at it Wallabies.

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