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Let’s get it out of the way from the get-go; the Wallabies’ woeful display against the Springboks in Pretoria was a momentum-killer.
The 43-12 loss to the South Africans was a trainwreck but Eddie Jones and his Wallabies have the right tools to get their season back on track.
The Wallabies gameplan was not wrong, rather they failed to execute it and certain players were selected despite being undercooked and/or simply not up to international standard.
The game must be put into perspective and emotion pushed aside to forge a way forward. There is quick improvement possible for the Wallabies before Argentina on Saturday in Sydney.
The time on the field together against a quality opposition like the Springboks was invaluable for this new team who is looking to build continuity.
But the new gameplan is here to stay, so strap yourself in; a low possession power game based on staunch defence and high execution rates. And execute the Wallabies must.
Eddie Jones (coach) Australia during the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Australia at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on July 08, 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
For Jones it’s about getting his selections right and for his chosen to execute the gameplan to the letter. It must be their only focus at Commbank Stadium on Saturday night.
The adage ‘the battle is won upfront’ couldn’t have rung truer than it did at Loftus on Sunday morning. The Wallaby forwards were trampled, mauled, savaged and flattened. However, the Wallaby backs did their team no favours.
The front row of James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa were dominated at scrum time, they’ll be the first to admit that. The pair were both undercooked with Slipper playing on a dodgy knee and AAA returning from a calf injury.
They are Australia’s best props until the young-gun duo of Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou return from lengthy injury lay-offs.
The challenge to get those two on the field let alone up to speed before the Wallabies play France on August 28 for a “friendly” is immense.
AAA and Slipper scrummed against one of the best front rows in the world in Steven Kitshoff, Bongi Mbonambi and Frans Malherbe and they’ll be better for it. Things can only get easier for the pair.
The more imminent issue is the Wallabies’ lineout. Hooker Dave Porecki was accurate at lineout time but lacks physicality in defence and when carrying. He is also ineffective when cleaning-out.
The other capped hooker was the Rebels’ reserve hooker Jordan Uelese, who Jones picked based on size.
Uelese was a physical presence but three lineouts askew when Australia had secured scarce ball. He has to nail those throws and didn’t. Jones’ passion project to “change” Uelese is a luxury he and the Wallabies can’t afford.
The third option is Matt Faessler, he and the Reds had one of the most efficient and accurate lineouts in Super Rugby Pacific. Faessler is the only logical option.
The second row of Will Skelton and Nick Frost made par but Skelton was the one who impressed.
His physicality around the field was evident, the weight he added to mauls, scrums and rucks made a visible impact.
He made a nuisance of himself, often tying-in two or three Boks forwards into the ruck. Despite Frost’s impressive work rate, Jones may want to see a Richie Arnold-Skelton second row combo in Sydney.
The backrow was a shambles; the two Hoopers were ineffective for different reasons.
Tom Hooper was shown up, Jones just placed too much weight on the youngster’s shoulders.
Pieter Steph du Toit of South Africa with the ball during the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Australia at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on July 08, 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Michael Hooper was the other blatant miscalculation. Despite being a stalwart in years gone by he bounced off tackles, made no ground with ball-in-hand and was a just a fraction too slow around the park.
Pete Samu is also in a predicament. The backrow’s Mr fix-it is too short to genuinely cover 6.
When he replaced Tom Hooper in the 30th minute due to injury, Australia lost 15cm at lineout time and with it a second genuine lineout option.
Jed Holloway is the obvious replacement. He is both abrasive and tall as well as a one of Australia’s best lineout operators.
Holloway also possess silky hands, quick feet and holds players up in the tackle, slowing opposition ball down.
More power and size are on the way back with Rob Leota and Langi Gleeson returning from injury.
At the weekend Rob Valetini was the only source of go-forward for the Wallabies. It wasn’t his best game, but he was one of the few who could say he muscled-up.
With Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the Australia-A squad, the backrow is not Australia’s problem moving forward.
If the battle is won up-front then it’s the backs who secure it and the Wallabies backs did nothing of the sort.
Contrary to the rugby public’s groans about Nic White, without him the Wallabies would’ve been in a lot more trouble.
The quality of his kicking game is unmatched, and he worked around the pitch harder than most.
Tate McDermott came on and offered lots of energy but his passing was again underwhelming. Ryan Lonergan should get a debut on Saturday.
Quade Cooper’s performance was uninspiring, he barely touched the ball and when he did, it rarely led to a positive involvement.
His defensive stats read as three tackles made and five missed. His line drop-out he kicked out on the full in the 67th minute was rookie stuff, however, playing behind a beaten pack, one shouldn’t read too much into his game.
If Samu Kerevi starts in Sydney, then we will get a much better gauge where the pair are at. They are still our best 10-12 combo.
A kick is only as good as its chase and the Wallaby backs didn’t chase a thing at the weekend.
It’s a crucial element of the gameplan and one facet that cannot be ignored, without a good chase this gameplan is doomed.
It is pertinent to point out Cooper and White got the weight, length, and type of kick wrong on one or two occasions each, costly errors on a night where chances were far and few between. The pair won’t make the same mistakes on Saturday night.
Koroibete and Ikitau were the backline’s best and no-one in Australia is dethroning this duo from 11 and 13 respectively.
Nevertheless, neither were faultless, with each player making a basic and costly error throughout the game.
The pair worked tirelessly and got the better of their opposite number.
It’s no small feat for Ikitau, who has repeatedly got the wood over 2022 World Rugby player of the year nominee Lukhanyo Am in their last couple of encounters.
Brace yourself for this, Jones will likely persist with his greatest passion project of all; Suliasi Vunivalu.
The rugby league convert was a flurry of limbs in a game where he again failed to live up to his potentially.
For an athlete of 182cm and 100kg+ with supposed blistering pace, he is a soft defender and a non-threat in the air despite his aerial prowess being spruiked constantly. Mark Nawaqanitawase is the obvious alternative.
Now comes the joker in the deck, Tom Wright.
The biggest question marks over his form were his defence and his decision making, and he has addressed the former with four tackles and one miss.
However, decision making remains a problem.
Rocketing the ball into the oncoming defenders 40m out from the Springboks’ line in the 27th minute with players outside him was the exact same error he made in the ACT Brumbies’ semi-final against the Chiefs.
Nevertheless, he was elusive with little opportunity in attack. Put plainly Wright is a slow learner. If Jones is to persist, Wright better learn quick.
If fit, Wright’s main rival Andrew Kellaway offers a strong bench option in Jordan Petaia’s absence due to injury.
Defence was a big issue for the Wallabies with players falling off tackles both left and right from props right through to wingers and fullback.
They are the kind of numbers that will keep former NRL star and Wallabies defense coach Brett Hodgson up at night, but it is a new system which will only improve with time.
The discipline will follow suit, once players get used to the system, pressure will start to be absorbed.
Scrum penalties will decrease as neither New Zealand nor Argentina possess a front-row like the South Africans. Few teams in the world do.
That’s the system-based issues, the selections issues will take a little longer to fix.
Players like Tupou and Bell are vital for the Wallabies’ World Cup aspirations but won’t be rushed back until they are 100 per cent fit.
Wrecking balls like Leota and Gleeson are weapons Jones would love to have at his disposal for Paris, but they too are racing the clock to prove they are fit.
The backline Eddie chooses for the weekend must chase and compete for every-kick, make every tackle and punch through the Pumas’ defensive line. Don’t be surprised to see a cattle prod behind every Wallaby back training at Manly Oval this week.
The Wallabies and the Pumas are both in similar positions, newly cobbled together sides who must nail detail in a short amount of time.
Australia has the talent and home ground advantage to win this Saturday’s game comfortably.
John Ferguson’s side to play Los Pumas on Saturday night
1. James Slipper
2. Dave Porecki
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Will Skelton
5. Richie Arnold
6. Jed Holloway
7. Fraser McReight
8. Rob Valetini
9. Nic White
10. Quade Cooper
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Len Ikitau
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase
15. Tom Wright
Replacements: Matt Faessler, Matt Gibbon, Pone Fa’amausili, Nick Frost, Josh Kemeny, Ryan Lonergan, Carter Gordon, Andrew Kellaway
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.