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If the Wallabies are going to turn around their fortunes against the All Blacks in Dunedin on Saturday afternoon, they must address two fundamental areas that are inextricably linked: defence and discipline.
Saturday’s 38-7 defeat to the All Blacks was the sixth straight Test they’ve conceded more than 30 points against the All Blacks, equalling their ugly streak against their trans-Tasman rivals between 1995-97.
It’s the killer number in Bledisloe history because not once have the Wallabies beaten the All Blacks when they’ve leaked 30 points or more.
While the pile on Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and defence assistant Brett Hodgson has been severe over the past month, it’s not just a recent occurrence.
Up until last year, the Wallabies had never conceded 30 points or more in three straight Tests.
Since 2021, the Wallabies have shipped 30 points or more in four straight Tests on two separate streaks.
Just as alarming is their ill-discipline, with the Wallabies having at least one player sin binned in six straight Tests for the first time in the nation’s history.
Adding to the ugly picture, the Wallabies have had 20 players shown cards since the start of 2022 and 31 (28 yellow, three red) in as many Tests since 2021 – the most of any tier-one nation during the same period. Ireland, who are first on World Rugby’s rankings, have had five in 26 matches, France, who are second, have had eight in 26 Tests.
It’s no surprise therefore that the Wallabies have won just five of their past 20 Tests.
The Wallabies must address their discipline to stand a chance in their return Bledisloe Cup clash in Dunedin. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
On Saturday at the MCG, the All Blacks scored four of their six tries with a player in the sin bin. Three of those came in less than 10 minutes when Taniela Tupou was shown a yellow card for a high shot.
Astonishingly, the nine penalties the Wallabies conceded at the MCG snapped a run of 26 straight Tests of conceding 10 penalties or more.
Crucially, however, the 26 points conceded with Marika Koroibete and Tupou in the sin bin told a sorry story.
It’s a factor that Jones didn’t gloss over on Saturday.
“They scored four of their six tries when we had yellow cards, and they made us pay for that,” Jones said.
The Wallabies have conceded 30 points or more in four straight matches twice since 2021. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
On Monday, Wallabies rookie Tom Hooper backed the framework provided the defensive framework put in place by Hodgson and said it came down to winning the gain line battle and slowing down the opposition ball.
“There’s slight tweaks, obviously with every different coach, they have their own flavour. But I don’t think it’s the framework that’s the problem,” he said.
“He’s given us a really good defensive system to work with and it’s just our ability to execute and making sure we’re making those one on one tackles.
“Quite often we’re making good reads in defence and we’ve got the numbers there, it’s just executing the technique of those tackles and making sure we get our bodies on the deck.
“Similarly, I probably didn’t slow down their breakdown enough, they were getting some front football, and when you give the Kiwis front-foot ball, they’ll capitalise, so they probably had a bit of an indication in those wider channels, they were having front-foot, quick ball and we were just trying to play catch up from there.”
Hooper, who wore the No.7 jersey for just the second time in his career, said that he was still coming to grips with the role and revealed some words from Quade Cooper at half-time had helped give him some clarity.
“I probably wasn’t as physical as I would have liked, I probably would have liked to make a bit more stop tackles and probably went hunting a bit too much for the ball, if I’m being critical of myself,” the 22-year-old said.
“I probably changed my game a little bit too much.
“Quade had some really wise words at half time. He said, ‘We need you to play more like a lock than a seven,’ so I probably missed the mark on the tactics on that side of things but if I get the chance that seven jersey again, I’ll definitely rectify those.
“Likewise, if Fraser [McReight] is given the opportunity in the seven jersey, he’ll play his brand of rugby, which is absolutely outstanding. If I’m picked in a different position, I’ll do whatever my job is for the team.”
One of the biggest areas the Wallabies want to improve is at the maul.
Will Skelton says the Wallabies’ maul issues come down to attitude. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
After Jones made the unusual decision to turn to Pierre Henry Broncan to turn their maul into a weapon after limited success in recent years, the Wallabies failed to get any pay at the area despite showing some good signs against Argentina.
Will Skelton, who has built a reputation of being one of the best in France, said it was an attitude issue.
“I think as a collective we’ve got to make a choice. It’s definitely an attitude thing,” Skelton said.
“We know all the techniques, we know all our roles, it’s about switching on the field.
“You see New Zealand, they had three chances. They took five points away. For us, we had two and we didn’t get any points. So, it’s about capitalising on those opportunities and we didn’t do that on the weekend. So hopefully we get another chance this weekend and we can rectify that.”
Skelton, who has won the European Champions Cup three times for two different sides since moving north, including back-to-back Heineken Cups with La Rochelle, said he saw some winning ingredients in the Wallabies but added that it was essential they sustain their physicality for longer periods.
“We’re trying to get tighter as a squad and that really will help us on the field,” he said.
“Our off-field connection will definitely help us on the field. We’ve definitely got that.
“I think if we can level up physicality-wise, to beat a team like New Zealand you’ve got to be physical, you’ve got to win collisions. In parts of that game we did in the first match, and then this match we’ve got to win a whole lot more.”
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.