In the grand scheme of things, losing to the All Blacks on Saturday night was nothing to lose sleep over for Eddie Jones.
But the sight of seeing Allan Alaalatoa taken from the field on a medicab won’t just have sent a shiver down the spines of the 84,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but Jones’ too.
The acting captain’s Achilles injury was a dagger in the heart for the Wallabies because no international side goes deep in a World Cup without an anchor at the scrum.
There’s a reason why tight-head props are amongst the highest paid players in the world now because matches are often won and lost at the set-piece.
Without them backlines are suffocated. Just ask John Connolly, who is still having nightmares about the fact his rockstar backline in 2007 saw no ball after his scrum was taken to the cleaners by Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery’s English pack.
Rugby Australia thought they were onto a winner when the governing body forked out hefty money on ensuring their two prized tight-head props would stay in Australia beyond this year’s World Cup.
Between Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou, the duo was secured at $2 million.
Now, Jones has just one of his tight-head props left at his disposal and the Wallabies have yet to arrive in Paris.
And Tupou, who was making his Wallabies comeback having returned from his own ruptured Achilles at Lansdowne Road against Ireland last November, left the MCG in agony after picking up a rib injury.
Allan Alaalatoa of the Wallabies walks off the ground after he sustained an injury during the The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between the Australia Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
How severe the injury is remains to be seen, with Tupou travelling to Dunedin with the Wallabies for their return fixture next Saturday.
While he could conceivably play through the injury with the help of some medicine, it’s unlikely he will be risked.
But it means Tupou, who is desperately short of match practice and fitness, will be going to France severely underdone and carrying the hopes of the Wallabies.
Nor will he be able to be managed through the World Cup either, with their first-up opponents Georgia likely licking their lips at the prospect of taking on the Wallabies without at least one of their prized props.
Fiji, who have historically struggled to match World Rugby’s best up front, will too be pumping out their chests even further.
Suddenly, the Wallabies’ dream run is looking just a bit more treacherous – and that’s before you consider the fine work Simon Raiwalui is doing with Fiji.
Jones has several crucial selections to consider over the coming days.
Unless Jones believes the Wallabies must take it to the All Blacks, Jones would surely learn more about his tight-head depth by turning to his wider squad, including Pone Fa’amausili.
Zane Nonggorr might have been called up to the squad on Sunday, but at some point the Wallabies must find out whether the Reds prop can play more than 20 minutes.
Nor would Jones want to push Angus Bell too far either, with the rising loose-head prop only recently returning to the playing field after recovering from another foot issue.
These are delicate times Jones must tread.
Despite the loss of one of the Wallabies’ key men, Jones will still feel he has a team capable of stressing some of the world’s best sides. He even said as much.
“Where’s there’s life there’s hope,” he said.
“I’ve coached teams like this before and you can turn it around. I saw enough today to know that we can be a bloody good team.
“It doesn’t look like it at the moment. You’re sitting there thinking ‘shit what’s his bloke talking about?’ But I’m telling you, we can turn it around and be very good too.
He added: “I saw enough today to make me believe that we can, but there’s a lot of hard work to do. Transforming a team from where they are now to a team that’s capable of beating New Zealand takes a lot of hard work and the clock’s ticking, but we’ve still got enough time.”
Carter Gordon. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Nor should Jones turn away from Carter Gordon at the first chance either.
The 22-year-old’s kicking might have let him down but under his blond locks is a tough footballer with an ability to play at the line and out the back.
With Bell and Samu Kerevi providing strong ball-running options, as well as the powerful Jordan Petaia and elusive Mark Nawaqanitawase out wide, the Wallabies’ shape looked the best it has in the three Tests to date under Jones.
Defensively, too, Gordon drives into contact rather than throwing himself into it.
Ryan Lonergan’s swift pass – and goal-kicking prowess – would help give Gordon more time, but the probing nature and never-say-die attitude of Tate McDermott, who is also an excellent cover defender, is something that Jones should persist with in some capacity.
These are characteristics that will keep the Wallabies a threat even if there is some pain along the way.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Didn't know that. Poaching Kiwi's, they also knicked Lomax. Still I guess its good that Australian rugby is helping out one of the less talented pacific island nations to put out a competitive national team.
GJ
Roar Rookie
Alaalatoa is a good player but he is weak at scrum time v NZ and SA and include France and Ireland when it comes to it. Jones and predecessors should be flogged for not developing Pone. He is the best running prop in Aus and his scrummaging about at Alaalatoa level. Unless he’s injured he should have played in both games. Nor is weak and shouldn’t be in the squad unless TT and PF are injured. Nic white has the best kicking game of any of the scrum halves in Aus and should be in the team just for that. The three main problems for Aus to fix are the kicking game. They just need to kick for touch and exit calmly, the rolling maul - brumbies staff should be working on that and the scrum. That’s above.
MO
Roar Rookie
Ainsley is close to good enough and isn’t cracking the abs now. He won’t unseat Williams for backup tight head but he’s improved his scrums and is good elsewhere and a proper size
MO
Roar Rookie
We may need sekope kepu to dust off his boots.
MO
Roar Rookie
Jacko fines is an elite level runner. If it wasn’t for injuries at unlucky times in his career he’d be one of 4 9s in the conversation for 3 spots. He could do tates job but he’s not quite top test yet. Good at super level though with the pace and running ability to step up to the next. Should’ve gone to japan years ago
mightyd
Roar Rookie
Why doesn't Eddie have another test after the next New Zealand test with a game against the Under 20's team? After all, the Under 20's are the TOP WORLD SERIES TEAM this year. Maybe they can also beat the Wallabies. Just saying
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Butthurt much?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Scott you basically have 3 options at HB. TM, Longreach and Fines. 2 arnt even in the squad sadly. White isn't getting better any time soon. Maybe make the calls now to Lonergan or Fines or both... Or go full in and get Kerbarlow. Tbh replacing a player here and there won't solve the longterm problems but that's more than 1 article by itself.
ScottD
Roar Guru
True but there is only one way to deal with "speculation" and that is to test it.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I agree, Kerr-Barlow can't be the answer at this late stage.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Mate, I am a TM fan in relation to his general play around the paddock. He is lively and energetic and defends well as a rule. But I am also just telling you what I saw. His passing off the ground is really poor and it was evident multiple times in the test just played. As I have stated, this problem doesn't seem to exist when he receives the ball standing up and maybe it gets worse when he is tired. It puts the receiver under a disadvantage as the defender has time to react ad the receiver is vulnerable when having to reach for the ball. Faster and more accurate delivery of the ball to the receiver is required. Either Tate gets better at it or consideration should be given to trying someone else that is already better at it. Obviously that has to be weighed up against his other strengths but I consider Fines to play a similar game to Tate, but with a better ground pass so perhaps he should be given a shot. Others have suggested Lonergan, but he probably doesn't have Tate's presence around the ground and plays a different style. I'm not referencing White so you bringing White into the conversation seems like deflection to me. However, I do agree that White has his own issues, some of which others have outlined and Barret summarised in a gesture :) White may be close to his "use by" date, but that is a whole discussion by itself, right now I am focused on Tate.
OwenL
Roar Rookie
he is available and shouldve been in the squad the whole time he has had a great season for the rebels and his side of the scrum has not had problems at the rebels
Kenners
Roar Rookie
Well, honestly, that's a good thing. He has potential, but not sure if you remember when Brums played the Rebels this year and when he (Lolesio) scored he shouted "Carter who?". Post match he then said (words to the effect of) "I've fallen out of favour with Eddie Jones, but I'm not bothered by that. I play the game I want to and I don't change for anybody". that has bothered me as a Brumbies and Wallabies man since he said it. He has so much potential, but how can someone be so blind and arrogant to think they needn't change for anyone or change their game style? That is so short-sighted and limiting and let's face it, until he does, he will never be picked at 10 for the Wallabies. Best case scenario is he stays in Australia, Bernie continues to develop him and then he becomes a permanent feature at the Wallabies, but I can't see that happening for a number of years.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Lonergan is overrated. Can get a shot for goal kicking though
Guess
Roar Rookie
Agreed the roarers love to pile on his passing. It became a legend
Guess
Roar Rookie
Smith made bad passes too ab should axe him
Guess
Roar Rookie
Is he available? If he was he should've already been in the squad
Guess
Roar Rookie
True should Eddie start nonoggorrorr :stoked:
Guess
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately for White he should be axed for performance alone
Guess
Roar Rookie
Tooper looks like world class 6