Argentina started on fire, maintained their composure and rolled Australia by a record score. Here is who struggled and who stood out for the Wallabies as the Pumas ran riot 48-17.
“That was an outright calamity,” said The Roar expert Jim Tucker on our Instant Reaction podcast.
“And very instructive on where Australia’s heading in this championship. If they thought the air raids of San Juan was something just imagine what South Africa are going to put in the sky.”
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Dave Rennie’s squad has been smashed by injuries and the coach acknowledged they lacked cohesion. In contrast, Argentina coach Michael Cheika changed up his game plan and went to the skies with contestable kicks. The Pumas out the ball in the air 28 times compared to 15 in the opening Test, won by Australia a week earlier.
Ian Foster might have gone into the second round of TRC as the coach under the most pressure, but it can’t be long before Rennie feels some heat. He has now lost three and won two of his opening five Tests of 2022, with nine to play.
In a way it’s lucky for Rennie that he’s far from home after such an embarrassing scoreline.
The Wallabies have opted against post-match media conferences for Australian-based reporters during the games in Argentina and that might give the Australian coach some respite from questioning, as he got away with a few mea culpas on Stan Sport.
Tucker said the opening moments – where Argentina scored through a mix up between Jordan Petaia and Tom Wright – encapsulated an Australian issue – the lack of a specialist No.15 and he felt Jock Campbell will enter the equation against the Springboks.
“The mark down is really the fullback position overall,” said Tucker. “It was being filled today by Tom Wright and this is not a knock on Tom Wright. He’s a winger playing fullback, did some good things, ran the ball from behind his own tryline, that was a good play in that situation.
“But it’s about basics. For fullbacks it’s taking every high ball that’s put in the sky you just have to be in position and be reading it five metres ahead of time and that never happened.”
Rennie is hoping for at least seven of the sidelined 17 players to return in the home Tests, and surely, one a day when few Wallabies stood up to be counted Andrew Kellaway’s stock rose as much as anyone’s.
Was there any good news?
Rob Valetini had his best game of the international season, running with intensity and setting up a try to James Slipper. Early in the second half another powerful surge should have resulted in a try to Petaia, who was stripped after crossing the tryline.
“Happily, that’s another really strong performance backing up from what he did last week, and we didn’t really see that through the England series,” said Brett McKay on the podcast.
“He’s carrying strong again, He’s busting tackles. He’s getting offloads away.”
Harry Jones, on the podcast, gave his stock rising to Marika Koroibete. As well as one long-ranger that Morgan Turinui said was the winger’s best kick in international footy, he saved a certain try with an astonishing last ditch tackle.
“I would put someone’s name down and then I would put an X through them but the only one that I’ve never really X-ed out completely was Koribete,” said Jones.
“He seemed like a one man band sometimes. Sometimes he was the only one who seemed to know the rules.”
Tucker opted for Len Ikitau as his standout Wallaby.
“Mainly because he has that composed nature for Test footy and he stayed in the fight right to the end,” Tucker said.
“He showed really nice footwork to punch through the line. And he’s that player who might only do one or two things in a Test match with footwork but they are enough to set up a try and that moment there could have got Australia back some momentum.”
Now for the bad news…
As the scoreline suggests, positives were few and far between for the Wallabies and they were behind from minute one.
Jones said it was a diabolical performance of on the road rugby and that Petaia set the tone.
“Why on earth are you running back full tilt into your fullback flipping a ball in the very first minute?” said Jones.
“Everything has to go just right. The sun’s in your eyes. The fans are wanting you to drop it – starting badly on the road is horrible.”
Fraser McReight, after an impressive game in the absence of Michael Hooper a week ago, failed to reach the same standards, giving away several penalties while Taniela Tupou continues to struggle after his long absence through Super Rugby.
Jones said TT was outplayed by Argentina’s young prop Thomas Gallo, who scored two tries including one where Tupou was directly at fault.
“A lot of people talk him up into the best in the world squad picture. He had Gallo against him, 23 years old only had four Tests,” Jones said.
“Gallo had the better of him. Not just in open play where he made him miss two tackles, but also at scrum time. I felt like Tupou turned on and off.
(Photo by Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images)
“When he was on he was plugged into the game but I think on the road, it’s actually better to even that out – you just don’t want to let anyone run in soft tries. You can never win with 48 against you in any scenario.
“Letting in that soft try to Gallo was horrible and I also feel like his cleans were inaccurate.”
McKay said it was the kind of performance that suggested Tupou was a better impact option and Allan Alaalatoa – missing from this match due to personal reasons – was the better option to start.
“It’s an interesting one. We vacillate on this,” Tucker responded. “Allan Alaalatoa gives you a real solid bottom line. Perhaps never those super explosive bursts through the line and the little bit of fancy handling and the try capability that Tupou has but he does offer a really consistent base more often.
“Tupou can break a game open. So it will always be an either or situation I feel and especially a tight head prop can’t play seven Tests in a row. The Wallabies will always be changing in that arrangement and I’m quite comfortable with that. But Tupou has to lift that level of consistency.”
Morsie
Roar Rookie
Not enough people it seems. It seems most would rather know what brand underarm deodorant or hair gel the players are wearing rather than whether or not they win. I'm a bit old fashioned though. First win (that's the real meat and potatoes) then think about the gravy (what brand undies the backs wear).
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Mo is right above. Swain didn’t call to Arnold once, and he was used as a lifter for Swain and Jed on D, when he is one of the top lineout thieves in European rugby. Why pick him if you are not going to allow him to do what he does best?
Aldo
Roar Rookie
I think Swain brings more than Arnold and Philip is a better TH lock than Arnold. Swain and Philip with Frost on the bench is a good combo. We really need Philip against the Boks and ABs
Aldo
Roar Rookie
Doesn’t Swain call the lineout anyway when Philip is there? Could be the throwing. Both Porecki and FF have been very good lately. Including Arnold was a mistake as well. He was nowhere near as productive as Philip has been.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I find myself agreeing with you a lot these days. Samu must start. Stop playing games Rennie. McReight needs to put on 5-10kgs. Dare I say might need a season in SA with their lack of testing.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Rennie needs to go
PeterK
Roar Guru
It is called combinations JoC plays a lot better with McDermott inside him and Paisami outside him at the reds. Conversely Lolesio plays better with White inside and someone like Simone outside him. He does not play as well when McDermott is the half, or if the 12 doesn't help in playmkaing.
Adam (Though An Imposter)
Roar Rookie
I think Lolesio has improved in both it's just harder to see at test level since everything is faster and more intense. I'm not sure I'm convinced about the confidence part. Players just need to accept that they get dropped. It's not personal. If Lolesio's confidence (and gameplay) is affected by something like this then it's a failing on his part. Not sure that his confidence is actually affected though. Paisami's distribution has improved for sure. I think his defence too. Needs work on his kicking game. Agree Ikitau is the best 13, but we need to trial other players. Paisami has played there so worth checking him out. Ikitau has just proven conclusively that he's currently the best. It's also not where the game was lost so I don't think it made much difference overall. As for style. Under Cheika we played a dumb attacking "run-always" style with very little kicking. Under Deans we ended up playing a kick-heavy ultra-defensive style. Rennie's approach appears to be a combination of the two: Attack-minded but kick when needed. When it works, it's the most pleasing to watch. Biggest problem is unlike, say, Ireland, we haven't been able to make really good consistent clean outs while on attack. This is the biggest and most valid criticism of Rennie in my mind. Not the minutiae of player selection.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the thoughts and reply WL. The sad thing is that we don’t know until a player is given at chance at that next level. Even then, we can’t be sure on the first go, e.g. Mark Loane was dropped after his first test, yet went on to be not just one of Aus best 8s but one of the world’s. We know some players raise their game when they go to the next level, some don’t. Jock Campbell? Only one way to find out. Me, I have faith in his maturity. He’s not a youngster and he’s the only true 15 that we have who hasn’t been tried. What has DR got to lose? More importantly, what have the Wallabies got to gain?
Tom Thumb
Roar Rookie
Lolesio has improved at Super level, Rennie has shot his confidence at test level by picking JOC ahead of him for some unknown reason. Paisami has improved? Looks the same to me. And putting Ikitau on the bench for the 3rd England test was another Rennie Selection mistake, he's clearly the best 13 in Australia What is this style?
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
I don't think he was keen to give starts to Lonergan or Pollard, to be fair....
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
Jake played. Won mcdermott played. Lost He's going to have enough problems next year holding his queens land spot. Kalani Thomas is now in front of him as far as ability goes. The only thing mcdermott brings to the game is a complete lack of hair styling
moondoggie
Roar Rookie
Thanks Dale, I didn't agree with the ref there. He was brought down before the line, played the ball before the line (albeit very close to the in goal) and continued playing after momentum took them all over. It's all happens very quickly but I though he should have been penalised for the actions prior to entering the in goal area.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
It has nothing to do with that. I am trying to bring some objectivity to your comment. For me K. had a fair game but he did not have many opportunities attacking.
Adam (Though An Imposter)
Roar Rookie
I think Lolesio has improved, just not by enough. Both Paisami and Ikitau have improved. White too. Slipper seems to be playing better than he has in a while. But more than anything, I like the general style, intent and pragmatism of the whole team when the execution is up to standard. I think that's Rennie's biggest challenge. Not so much each individual player, but the group as a whole. They've shown (including in the Argentina match) that they can attack really well. Just need to get a little more consistency out of them. I don't know what the solution is though. But I do know the solution is not getting rid of Rennie at this stage.
Adam (Though An Imposter)
Roar Rookie
Not entirely. What I'm suggesting is he's got Lolesio in his pocket, ready to deploy. He's also looking for a veteran to guide to ship. But here's the trick: he doesn't have to develop that player. He can bring him into training and pick his brains (along with the rest of the team) and also evaluate him as an option. If he goes well in training, then throw him into a game. If that goes well, keep him on a bit or maybe chop and change with Lolesio. If he doesn't work out, ditch him immediately (or keep him around in the squad as a quasi-coach) and go back to Noah. Zero development time. Low risk. So to basically answer you directly: sure go with Foley if he's the best of the available options. Why not?
Markus
Roar Rookie
I don't think lack of opportunities to start with unrealistic combinations can be an excuse. McDermott and Paisami are simply not first picks in their positions. I didn't see any clear issues with McDermott and Lolesio as a combination other than they were both way too inexperienced to manage a Test backline together. Neither JOC nor NL may be good enough, but one has still shown more than the other and has youth on his side.
Tom Thumb
Roar Rookie
Move their best passing centre to 12 and bring in mr Mistake Petaia to 13? No thanks
Tom Thumb
Roar Rookie
When you lose 48-17 its a bit silly to blame the ref
Tom Thumb
Roar Rookie
Even Robbie Deans didnt lose this much