- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie defended the team’s game plan and his use of backline replacements but once again bemoaned a lack of a clinical edge after losing the series 2-1 to England at the SCG.
While Rennie replaced halfback Nic White on the hour and made changes to his pack, he kept faith with a backline that found it hard to bust through some dogged England defence.
NRL convert Suliasi Vunivalu, on debut, saw just three minutes of action, with the Wallabies needing behind 21-17 and needing a try to win the game.
Rennie’s overall assessment
“We created a lot of opportunities. I think we went in with the right plan, we just weren’t enough clinical enough,” said Rennie.
“If we turn a couple of those opportunities early on in the game, we start applying pressure to them. It’s disappointing because at this level you have you got to take your chances and we left a lot out there.”
Join The Roar experts Brett McKay, Harry Jones and Jim Tucker for their verdict on the third Test
On the significance of Marcus Smith’s try
“It was significant because they got seven points out of it,” said Rennie.
“It gave them a bit of a break and probably gave them a bit of belief. We got back in the contest and had plenty of time to nail it but you’ve got to give credit to their defence.
“They barred up and created enough turnovers to keep us at bay.”
On his tactics
Rennie was asked if the team had tried to play “too much rugby”.
“What we know of England you kick them a lot of ball they’ve got Steward at the back who kicks it longer. We wanted to move the ball and kick from wider channels, but we found a lot of space there and carried on attacking.
“We just needed to turn some of that field position into more points.
“We gave up some soft points, obviously Marcus Smith’s try. We had possession with about 30 seconds left in the first half and turned it over. And they ended up scoring off that as well. Big moments in the game, but we’ve got to look at ourselves. We had plenty of chances, and so it hurts.”
On the impact injuries had in the series
The Wallabies were battered by injuries but Rennie said “we don’t want to use it as an excuse.
“We had a good enough side on the field to win tonight. What it highlights is we’re creating really good depth and I think a lot of guys who’ve got an opportunity have really stood up.
“You look at a guy like Nick Frost tonight. You’ve just got to find a way don’t you? Injury is part of the game and we did enough tonight, but you got to be clinical and take opportunities.
Samu Kerevi of the Wallabies is tackled during game three of the International Test match series between the Australia Wallabies and England at the Sydney Cricket Ground on July 16, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
He said Quade Cooper, Scott Sio, Jordan Petaia and Darcy Swain should be ready to play Argentina in three weeks with fresh doubts tonight over Angus Bell.
On the plan around replacements
“We’ve got guys who are up in the box with us watching individuals to see how they go and if they’ve got plenty in them, we make those decisions based on how we think they’re travelling.
“Hunter was going pretty well and so we left him out a little bit longer. Tom has been excellent. Marika, when you’re trying to steal a game in the last five minutes. you’re relying on guys who have done it for you in the past. There’s no doubt every game you query whether you got a guy on early enough or left someone out too long. Who knows?”
On the evolution of his team
“We’re disappointed because I reckon we’re better than the result tonight and better than the result last week,” said Rennie.
“With last week it was a slow start, we fought our way back into the contest and probably should have finished over the top. We started better this week. We got behind again and then had enough ball and territory position to win that.
“That’s where we’re at. We’ve got to be better. We’ve got a lot of footy. We’re three weeks into our season and so we’ve got a few things that we need to sort out and tidy up heading into Argentina.”
On England claiming the Aussies ‘talked smack’
Just as in Brisbane, Rennie down played the war of words over niggle in the series as a factor.
“Geez, if we were churned out every little comment that’s made and say that’s a motivating factor… I wouldn’t say that’s smack, if you read the comments made. It’s just a bit of byplay post the result I reckon.”
On if the team lacks a killer instinct
“I think the killer instinct is really about being clinical and accurate,” said Rennie.
“There was quite a lot of space around the edge of the rucks back inside. That’s probably where we missed opportunities late in the game because we’re constantly going the same way and trying to get outside.
“We did talk about that. So that’s a place where we think we could have hurt them. We’ve talked a lot about growth in our game awareness and our belief to put the foot on the throat so yeah, we’ve got to be better.”
The Wallabies captain said “It’s a silent change room at the moment. We’re gutted. A match at a stadium that probably won’t see rugby again for a while, we had every intention to win so yeah gutted.”
On England’s defensive durability
“I thought there was some space that if we could get one or two more phases going we could probably cut them up,” Hooper said.
“They had some good defence. They were able to get some pretty pivotal turnovers. But I think, we were able to find space on the edge a couple of times, but we just needed to get one or two more phases. Yeah, it wasn’t quite as flowy as we’d like.”
On the positives from the series
“The first game obviously the resilience, second game we showed again more resilience and then we started talking about starting better we did that tonight,” said Hooper.
“Dave’s talked about just being clinical in those in those situations you want to beat a team that can grind out a win.
“They get down your end, they take points, pick up some scraps there, get more points, and then you need to start looking to the line, try get a maul try we can’t just go 3-6-9 on them.
“Their ability to stack points on was a credit to them across the series, and they just keep applying that pressure with their kick game.
“England did really well there. They had injuries too. So they grinded out a series win. In terms of our learnings there’s a heap for us. We’ve blooded some new players that’s a great thing. With injury comes opportunity. We were hurting last week now we’re gonna be hurting even more. So it’s going to be a long three weeks until we play again.”