Tim Horan has hailed the improved Wallabies’ forward pack for restoring order but warned a different test will truly reveal their progress after back-to-back victories over world champions South Africa.
The former Wallabies centre watched alongside nearly 40,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday evening, marvelling as Australia again overpowered the Springboks in a 30-17 Rugby Championship win.
It backed up their 28-26 victory on the Gold Coast six days earlier and saw Wallabies jump two more spots to No. 3 in the world after starting last week in seventh.
The back-to-back wins are the first for the side since 2019 and under new coach Dave Rennie, coming after a comprehensive trio of losses to New Zealand.
“Two years out from the World Cup, you need to put a stake in the ground,” Horan told AAP.
“Rugby fans aren’t that patient, they want results now, which is why last night was very important.
“Finally, there seems to be depth in every position.
“It’s exciting times and people say ‘don’t get carried away’, well you have to enjoy your wins and appreciate how hard they are.
“We needed that and now, ranked third in the world … third or fourth is probably fair at the moment. We definitely weren’t seventh or eighth.”
Ball-running prop Taniela Tupou was a sensation in just his second start in eight Tests this year.
He helped set up three tries with strong carries and a brilliant no-look pass Horan himself would have been proud of in an incredible 78-minute shift.
Horan said it proved Tupou should no longer be used a bench weapon and was more evidence of the side’s forward pack moving the needle under Rennie’s reign.
“The physicality of our forward pack, that’s been the big improvement of this side.
“It was very good in the first game and we doubled down last night,” he said.
“You’ve got depth and their physicality, skill level and ability to adapt their game. They’ve taken it to a new level.”
The Wallabies flew to Townsville on Sunday ahead of Saturday’s date with Argentina before a Gold Coast rematch a week later to complete the Rugby Championship.
Mario Ledesma’s men will play far more expansively than the Springboks, whose desire to operate without the ball was exploited by Quade Cooper’s clever kicking game on Saturday.
The Pumas drew twice with the Wallabies last season while the Springboks, despite their lofty status, have beaten Australia just once in their last 13 Brisbane Tests.
“If the Wallabies can win both (against the Pumas) it’ll show that Dave Rennie, his staff and the players can adapt to different nations’ styles of play,” Horan said.
“These players can now see results out of what Rennie and his staff are putting in place and to have close to 40,000 there … there’s now a lot of belief from the public too.”
Prof_Kaos
Roar Rookie
I agree, in fact I have been saying this since SAF 1st joined the Pro12/14 3 yrs ago. What I don’t get is why NZR appears to continually cow-tow to SAF. They have made their choice and gone. NZ needs to throw its weight behind a Pacific Rim competition, at test and Super Rugby level with who you suggest plus USA & Canada with other N+S American countries, 2 tier with promotion/relegation. Or Arg will follow SAF, leaving NZ and Aus out in the cold. PS maybe you need to think of what the big mess that is RA looks like from this side of the Tasman (public disinterested, poor crowds, Folau, cutting the wrong SR team, wasting $, RA had $50mil in 2004 now it’s broke). IMO the RA mess contributed to SAF leaving, if Arg go too then what? Consider my point, I am not just trying to slag off Aus. The issues facing SANZAAR, like SAF leaving with maybe Arg following are not really caused by NZ.
Prof_Kaos
Roar Rookie
I hope you are right. But a win over the French 2nd XV is nothing to get excited about. The wins v SAF are a different matter but SAF has played almost no rugby for 2yrs with Covid. I remember the John Eales era, the biggest crowd ever at a rugby game (108k Homebush). I read there were 34k to see Aus/SAF and 38k AB/Arg. With those numbers the games could be played in prob full (~50k) NZ stadiums. Why play in a disinterested Aus? I worry about what happens if SAF and Arg join the 6 Nats. SAF appears certain to go. I don't understand why NZR is not responding with an alternative competition. The Tri Nations didn't have enough teams, if both Arg+SAF go then we have just 2 teams.
Clifto
Roar Pro
Wha you smokin bro?
piru
Roar Rookie
I stand corrected then, my understanding was that you only gained points by beating teams above you.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Obviously Doctor do you realise that the Lions are meant to be the best of four nations selected, & really in this professional era, what they do & show now is pathetic. Like 8 match, so called tours, including test matches, & in truth it's so laughable what they do now, compared to the past, where 25 match tours, were tours, & with the same amount of players selected. They really are, a team from out of the amateur era. As far as NZ goes, well they have only ever beaten NZ once, & that was back in 1971.
Stu
Roar Rookie
Arnold is still the massive missing link!
PeterK
Roar Guru
no reason to not do the seedings 1 year out, that gives enough time for bookings for tours, selling tickets etc, and the rankings are more reflective come rwc 1 year later.
soapit
Roar Guru
refusing to play last year probably contributes to that a bit
soapit
Roar Guru
except theyre done so far out from the wc they dont do a very good job of it (seeding). dont have a better solution mind you
linz22
Guest
The solution is simple, players from Aus, NZ, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga etc...hopefully Japan at some point, should all be eligible to play for their country as long as they are playing for ANY team within Super Rugby. don't understand why this does not get mentioned more when all the new Zealanders are crying about no competition.
GC Red
Roar Rookie
Bloody McCabe….
GC Red
Roar Rookie
I thought the crowd numbers at the games on the weekend were pretty healthy. They were in SRAU also. I think rugby in Australia may be looking up with a series win over the French, a pretty healthy local SR season and now beating the boks. I guess we will see.
Connor33
Guest
Yes, the constant consistent negative narration of being No. 7–has to be turned upside down one would think. No one gave AU a chance. I was thinking a draw would be an awesome result in the first—and possibly a close win in Brisbane given the record and what QC, Kerevi, Rodda and White brought which we did not have against the ABs. We’ll done, AU! You should be proud…building on this is now the next big goal because beating the best Sth team and Nth team in a calendar year is no easy feat!
Englishbob
Guest
Very hard to judge the order of anything under 1st place - kiwis. I dont think its a stretch to say most of the next 5 (SA Aus Engl France Wales) could beat eachother on a given day. SA plainly aren't going to dominate the world in-between RWCs but remain a match for most, Australia are building but if they were playing in Cardiff France or London next week, or even at home against any of those at full strength would you say Australia are favourites.
Prof_Kaos
Roar Rookie
Great post. Added to your point ... WR is run by Europe, and Europe is run by the clubs not the National bodies. They tolerate the 6N, they don't give a toss about the RWC or rugby globally, it's a hindrance. Look what has been done to the Pacific to feed players to European club rugby. I read NZ has 600+ professional players in Europe SAF 500+. Now SAF looks to be leaving to join the players and the 6N. I worry that if Argentina go too NZ will be left with no decent competition. Rugby in Aus appears to be stuffed, no cash, no crowds (why do we keep playing there & not in NZ?) Outlook bleak...
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
Third for Australia? Sixth is probably more accurate until we can consistently string together wins over a longer period. England and a full strength France should feel ahead in rankings. With Cooper and white this is an entirely different beast and one wonders how much of a 20 point gap with NZ over 3 tests would have been reduced.
Laurence King
Roar Rookie
Lol, I think it's a stretch saying Aus are number 3 as well and if somehow we ended up as 2 that would be just plain silly. Cheers mate
Tim J
Roar Rookie
WR are a dark and political motivate regime. They travel in their private jets drinking champagne paid by us supporters.
GC Red
Roar Rookie
Exactly, and probably the only ones that care. We all agree that The All blacks are No 1 at the moment. No doubt. They are plying a brand of rugby that every other team wishes they could. Some try valiantly and fail to play that style, others try to bore you into submission.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Only WR knows how it works, funny that.