It’s hard to know what to take out of the Wallabies thrashing at the hands of a brutal Springboks B-team at Loftus Versfeld.
More than anything I was struck, through bleary eyes of the cold morning, by just how bored I was watching them. In the first international of a world cup year, with a new coach and nearly all positions up for grabs, the Wallabies put in their most lacklustre performance of recent memory.
Wallabies fans, much like English cricket supporters, have an almost superhuman tolerance for disappointment. Losses, particularly at the hands of a ferocious (and, lest we forget, world champion) South African side, are nothing new. But to lose so flaccidly, seemingly without throwing a punch, is a truly upsetting regression.
Much has been said of Eddie and his preferred style of play. But if possession rugby is dead, then bury me with it. I’d rather watch the Wallabies lose a hundred times with ball in hand than a single repeat of the utter contempt for possession we witnessed last night. If we start to win, I’ll change my tune; I’ll worship at the altar of Eddie. But if I have to watch the Wallabies lose, as I usually must, I’d rather watch them lose with some heart and audacity.
The problem with a kick-heavy game plan is it relies heavily on an aerial contest we’ve not picked a side for, as well as a set piece strength we clearly lack, particularly against one as strong as South Africa. Even if we had picked the players who are good at contesting in the air (Marika has never been strong there and Suli…well, we’ll get to him later), if the goal is to force a mistake off the kick receipt, you’re still ending with a scrum which, at this point, is far from a sure thing.
Whilst the constant box kicks and punching to the corners caught the Boks off-guard in the first 15, from that point on they simply adjusted, and used their superior mid-field strength to draw Wallabies defenders in before using their speed out wide to attack from deep within their own half. Territory rugby only works if you keep the other side in its own half-perhaps this is a point so obvious as to be condescending, but it’s one worth remembering after the scenes of Sunday morning.
Then there is the obvious exhaustion toll of constant defence. By the end of the game, Australia had made nearly triple the amount of tackles than its opponent (146-67), which undoubtedly contributed to the late-game defensive slips and penalty count blow-out (13-3).
As for the side, there were issues across the park. Allan Alaalatoa, while strong in defence, couldn’t find his footing and frequently faceplanted in the scrum. Will Skelton, as he often has in gold, looked overawed and a (giant) shadow of his dominant French self.
Michael Hooper, the lion-hearted martyr of Australia’s last decade, was ineffectual, consistently propelled out of the tackle zone by a thundering Andre Esterhuizen like a toddler thrown from a swing into a rose bush. The only forward in any way matching the Bok’s intensity was Rob Valetini, attacking the wall of green with Ardie Savea-like vigour for the full 80.
In the backs, Quade Cooper, whilst solid, seemed indecisive. Reece Hodge looked rushed and failed to have anywhere near the impact of his opposite number. And Tom Wright…well, at least he made his tackles.
Then there was Suli. In a backline held together by the ever-reliable industrial strength glue that is Len Ikitau, the rugby league convert had one of the worst run-on debuts any player could dream of. While supporters may say that they weren’t his fault-the opposition winger scoring three tries on your side doesn’t just happen.
I’ll give him the first one (the Wallabies were seriously outnumbered), but Kurt-Lee Arendse’s second and third tries came from clear defensive misreads, not to mention weak shoulders into contact. It’s clear that Vunivalu either doesn’t trust the men inside him, or he lacks the rugby union vision to understand when he needs to come in and when he needs to stay on his wing. Add to that his second half yellow/penalty try, and you just have a man who doesn’t understand what he’s doing in the game. His inclusion is baffling and frankly insulting to the glut of hard-working Australian wingers who have outstripped him on pace, devotion, competitiveness in the air, defence, and vision throughout the Super Rugby competition.
The one bright moment came in the final minutes, as Carter Gordon crossed the line with the kind of Giteau-esque glee you wouldn’t expect from a man in a team that was 40 points behind. Whilst I won’t jump aboard the ‘Gordon for starting 10’ train quite yet, it was gratifying and uplifting to see the apparent understudy flyhalf take so easily to the field, albeit when the game was more than gone.
It is my sincere and deeply felt hope that this article may be looked upon later in the year as a whinge, a premature heralding of the end of days, an unnecessary snide towards a new team just finding its fee t…but I feel without an improvement in intelligence and intent (and as always, improved execution of basic skills, but that’s for another time), it’s going to be another long year for Aussie rugby.
Rohan
Roar Rookie
Insightful analysis Alex. Couldn't agree more. Keep them coming please. Like you, I'm worried about both tactics and selections. On the first, it's pretty difficult to win a game without the ball in hand. Usually more possession means more points. And with current breakdown rules, run recycle run seems a good bet. On the second, Reece is an unlucky player - always just missing the kick, tackle or pass. Suli was not, is not and probably never will be up to it. Hooper Snr, sadly, looks now past it - though possibly still useful off the bench in the last 20. As for Quade (and Bernie over in Fiji too), I've just read in the SMH that 10 out of 12 RWCs have been won by teams with 9&10 combos aged in their 20s.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Eddie wasn't kicked out for his kicking style they hired a coach that likes kicking more than him. His problem is he lost games that were unacceptable esp. the 6N. France kick more than any team but they have a purpose in how they do it. Oz kicked badly and there was no one to chase the kick. Not sure how many other teams are bad at both. England's players are well known for being morons while Oz are meant to have great thinkers of the game.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
The problem Oz has is they can run as well as anyone else but when it comes to playing any other way they are one of the worst. Both Oz and NZ have issues with the breakdown and each breakdown they contest in a row the more likely they are to lose the ball. NZ can play a kicking game but Oz can't which means like league they run until they lose the ball. Eddie has two months to teach Oz how to do something that all the other top 10 nations can do. If you want Oz to win with a kicking game they need to lose a few or do it at SRP (which is unlikely)
Just call me Campo
Roar Rookie
I'm with you here mate. Great read Thank you
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
I don't think the Wallabies were half-hearted, I think they rapidly exhausted - they ran big miles at Loftus - and they stuck to the "kick it" game plan for fear of their lives, but the exhaustion set in when the ball came back down to land. RA's "solution" is to pinch players from other codes. If the Australian Way of Rugby is about contesting for the ball in the air, surely RA should be raiding AFL not the League people?
Clippers
Roar Rookie
You had me on the title alone. The best teams in history have more than one feather to their bow. Multi dimensional. Kicking, passing, running, set piece. React to the game in front of them. Not predetermined.
Handles
Roar Guru
Congrats Alex. One of the most accomplished and interesting analyses I can recall from amateur contributors on The Roar. Please keep writing. This isn't the (only) reason I loved your article, but I agree with you on almost every point.
HueyG
Roar Rookie
Cracking article, please write more! I do believe our guys turned up and showed heart…. I just don’t think the Failed-English method will magically and suddenly become a Winning-Wallaby blueprint anytime soon. We have terrific athletes in and across the squad… unleash them. Win or lose it will at least be good viewing.
graymatter
Roar Rookie
It was a very poor performance by the Wallabies and not helped by a very poor performance by the officials. I have replayed the game several times and Okeefe and co missed several forward passes and knock-ons, principally by the home side. That said the Wallabies fell off too many tackles and failed to dominate in the contact area. I couldn't agree more about the failure to value or utilse possession. Whether under instruction or through habit the main culprit in this department is Nic White. He is a hinderance to the side. He has no vision, vairiety or stewardship in his game. Rather than looking for openings or gaps he tries to school the referees and milk penalties. His kicking is predicatable and innocuous. As a Brumbies fan I am delighted he is leaving for the Force. We need Lonnergan promoted to starting nine and McDermott on the bench. Not sure what we are going to do about hard ball runners and contact combatants but my reluctance about Skelton remains. He doesn't work hard enough and for a guy his size he was rag dolled a lot. Valetini was far superior. So We would be better served by a better lineout jumper. Tom Hooper tried but isn't seasoned enough, whilst Michael Hopper was overwhelmed and inneffective. So for me at least 4 changes warranted prior to the Pumas game.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Where's Dave please honest mistake won't happen again PLEASE come back!!!
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Too much stats not enough guts ..run hard tackle hard hit hard on counters.Kick your goals play for 80 mins
Double Agent The Second
Roar Rookie
" like a toddler thrown from a swing into a rose bush. " Love it! I'm grabbing a six pack heading to the local park and the the swings and looking forward to throwing toddlers into rose bushes. Doesn't have to be rose bushes. I'm thinking the throwing part is the most important. The destination less so. A rose bush is obviously ideal but I doubt any park around here has a rose bush in close proximity to the swings. Leave it with me.
seancairns77@gmail.com
Roar Rookie
Actually, I think that most of the Wallabies don't have sufficient Rugby "smarts" to be a winning team.... few coaches could do much with them, viz the procession of coaches prior to Eddie. Having said that, however, from a spectator's viewpoint it seemed to me that Eddie's game plan was lacking to say the least.
seancairns77@gmail.com
Roar Rookie
An excellent article...... says it all.
HAMMERTIME
Roar Rookie
Excellent article. The sort that I have promised myself I will write on and off for the last 10 years! Agree with all of it. Congrats.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Love your writing style Alex. I hope to read from you again. I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments all. The fear of what we are capable of is diminishing year on year as the spirit of yesteryears legends fade grey. Where is the heart. Where is the attitude. And when did we become cringeworthy criers in defeat. Hopefully they can put it togetther as the WC comes on but they need an injection of Sunshine and XXXX to hopefully start playing as both a team, and a team that cares. Maybe Eddies not the answer after all. Does anyone remember the question I wonder. All this "dump the coach" attitude has become pervasive. Is this actually what we deserve for being so impatiently churlish. Loved your article. Thank you.
Alex
Roar Rookie
Cheese it, i've been had!
Alex
Roar Rookie
With you on that. With Jeremy Paul as my guardian angel, I pray Eddie will stop prioritising size over skill.
Alex
Roar Rookie
As a small forward myself, I wept for Lachlan Lonergan's omission from the squad in place of Uelese. He's one of the most hard-working and skilled forwards in Australia and I genuinely believe the times when his stature becomes an issue (scrummaging, though with two big props that's less of a problem, and occasionally being held up when he runs a bit high) are offset by his superiority at lineout time and his work rate. I mean, the bloke's only 5cm shorter and 5kg lighter than our current 1st choice hooker! Maybe he slouches...
Alex
Roar Rookie
Could be that I'm just brainwashed by the fact he's the only backrower we have that consistently makes dominant tackles. In any case, he stays in my preferred side, I reckon his best can be world class, which is more than you can say for a lot of our other 6/8 options (I really love Pete Samu but I see him as more of a tall 7, he's never going to be as physically dominant as someone like Valetini or Holloway).