Hi Lewis,

I actually think the Wallabies have points in them but are simply playing the wrong game plan, with the wrong players, the wrong skipper and the wrong coaches. Times up.

Ultimately Cheika is responsible but clearly Larkham has not got this Wallaby team to score points and they do not deserve to be classed as a top tier side anymore.

Even if the Wallabies save face against Italy, and defeat England miraculously it’s too little, to late. The display against Wales is evidence they think thier plans work, the evidence against Ireland, New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa prove they rarely do but yet they persist. It is madness.

Do you recall Michael Hooper skipper the Wallabies in the Sydney Bledisloe in 2013 in the wet? The Wallabies has two penalties for memory both kick-able but he went for touch. No try ensued and the final score was 12-12.
He lacks nous as a tactician.

The code can no longer entertain the rhetoric and results are the only currency they have. They’re just about insolvent in my book.

Good morning Spiro,

If they lost playing constructively in attack one may give the Wallaby coaching staff some further breathing room but that simply is not the case. The Wallabies, in possession, were grotesque.

What had me yelling at neighbourly disturbing decibels was, as you identify, the lust to go wide and deep too often. This is clear evidence the Wallabies have taken nothing of any tangible benefit from the second half in Salta and too a degree Yokohama where they were more direct in attack.

The Scot’s the week previously exposed Hadleigh Parkes in defence, yet seldom did the Wallabies put traffic down his Chanel. Kerevi, whose skills were also exposed was used closer in to work the Wallabies out of their 22, but only used closer in as a decoy. I can recall when Will Genia ran himself on the open but could have hit Kerevi on the inverted angle asking questions of Anscombe and Parks yet it never came. The Wallabies thought there was greater value in putting Beale under pressure out the back…

Their credit is up.

Hi Adam,

Interesting piece but I fear it’s devicive, a cap is a cap, end of in my opinion. Once you entertain bench caps etc you split the squad and create groups of starter caps and non starter caps presumed to hold lesser weight. Damaging to a team culture I’d suggest.

As an Australian, I remember that some years Queensland may only play 3 or 4 games a year, the Wallabies 5. When Simon Poidevan played his 42nd cap in 1987 I think that equaled Peter Johnson who played a similar length as Meads. Poido debuted in about 1981/82 for memory so the game has incrementally changed over the years in the frequency of tests and how they are played strategically with often the use of a full bench.

Why should the value of the cap be different just because of the evolution of the way the game is now played? One does not justify the other.

Great players will always be identified by how they played the game, not by the amount of caps. I’m sure Bevan Holmes is widely respected as player despite the absence of the cap, as is Spice, Steinmetz and co for their single caps.

Hi Cliff,

Yes at times I think the Wallabies have been too rigid in the game plan and only more recently have we seen more flexibility at the selection. I would like to see Pete Samu get a run in the 7 jumper against Italy with Dempsey at 8 and Rob Valentini at 6.

Thanks Cassandra,

Beale played full back on the EOYT last year, didn’t have the greatest game against England but that does not detract from his proven ability to play back there.

After his lateral running at 10, there more space and more roving commission he has, the greater danger he poses in my opinion.

Hey Jez,

Foley was lateral at times against the All Blacks, I also like Toomua and take your point.

I just did.

Thanks for the correction!

Hi Jeff,

I shan’t quarrel with you on the historical accuracy, but in context to the article I hope the reference to the quote in the movie reasonates with the point I’m making.

Cheers

Nick

Tuc,

I’d start Gordon against Italy and give Maddocks some game time in the 10 jumper in the same match.

The potential is there mate but is the discipline and execution?

Hi James,

I differ, I think Petaia is a threat in attack given his Super Rugby and NRC form. He carried a couple of big Fijians over the line off a near standing start in the NRC final if my memory serves me well.

Thanks Cole,

The Wallabies are one of the few, perhaps only tier 1 rugby teams playing the dual playmaker system. I can’t argue that is the only combination that they should employ and having a Teo, De Allende, Williams type in the 12 jumper does give you an edge. I think Kerevi is made for the role but needs to improve his defence and focus on his basic skills in passing and body height. He is not a 13 in my book.

Thanks Buk,

Much appreciated.

Hi Jeff,

Mate for memory Patton had issue with that fact, that Rommel was not present at the battle as he had nasal diphtheria. His aide was assuring him it was Rommel’s plan he defeated even though Rommel was not present.

Thanks Ken’s other,

I would only hope so!

Cheers!

Thanks mate, do you think Cheika is capable of changing his mind set or is he too rigid in his approach?

Look at the scrum, I think it the 3rd. Moody loses his bind, goes to deck. AA on his feet, Penalty All Blacks?

TT split KT, who stands up. Penalty All Blacks?

Just confused Jez.

“I suspect if you want to pursue this line; namely that anyone blocking any player from moving toward an attempt at a tackle should be penalised – that you should take a long hard look at your own teams practice before throwing stones.”

I did mention the Speight no try incident in 2016 didn’t I? If that is the precedent set, why was it not applied in theYokahama test?

If we are to accept the Owens got it right in 2016 then why is it hypocritical of me to ask the same standard be apllied?

You may also recall the Wallabies vs England in 2017 where Michael Hooper had a disallowed try for being in an offside position prior to scoring a try. Ok have to accept that, but TJ was also offside at the scrum but that does not apply in Yokohama?

What about Stephen Moore’s obstructing to deny a Korabiete try, yet Owen Farrell can be yards offside? Ironically it was the Farrell and Moore involved in an obstruction incident in 2013 in nearly the same spot where Hartley impeded Moore but ‘he was not obstructed enough’ that allowed Farrell to score.

I don’t subscribe to anti All Black hyperbole, but get frustrated when laws are applied incorrectly and inconsistently.

Hi Nic,

perhaps so. I do recall a Wallabies test in Paris during the Robbie Deans era where Dave Dennis was playing in the #6 jumper and a similar incident occured. The Wallabies got worked that day and lost badly.

I think it a failure of captaincy that incidents are not brought to the attention of the officials to have a look at. We need a Sam Warburton type 🙂

Digressing, if you get a chance watch Scott Barrett for the 80. That man does a tonne of work, but boy he pushes the envelope!

Hi Nic & Ralph,

“He’s not preventing a tackle”.

Respectfully Ralph that is only half the Law. The other part is “…or attempting to tackle the ball-carrier. ”

He is not running a support line for him to receive the ball. That is clear as he only ever has eyes for Beale. At no stage is he looking to take a pass.

If we are looking for precedent look at the 2016 Bledisloe Test in Auckland, Speight no try. Savea was no real chance of getting Speight, even Ian Smith and Justin Marshall say it. However Owens went with his TMO who gave a ruling that Haylett-Petty prevented the opportunity.

I would suggest its the inconsistency in officiating such things that frustrates players, fans, coaches and pundits alike.

Hi Paulo,

“Not every collision is obstruction.” Agreed.

However Law 9.3 says,

“A player must not intentionally prevent an opponent from tackling or attempting to tackle the ball-carrier. ”

When Ben Smith set off on his run Aaron Smith is not in front of him initially, but runs several feet and gets slightly ahead of him and is looking at Smith, Aaron then looks towards Beale and Korabiete and makes an angled line towards them that will shield Ben Smith from the cover defence effectively preventing Beale from tackling or attempting to tackle Smith.

G’day Geoff,

Actions infer in intent, TJ after he feeds the ball first reaction is to get into his position near Hanigan and Ala’alatoa. Whilst it was a clean strike of the ball, TJ never ever makes any attempt to go back on side. His only momentum is forward. I think this a planned move missed by Poite. Well played.

Given this, the Ben Smith try and now some are blowing up about Liam Squire dare I ask, does Phil Kearns have a point? ????????????.

G’day Nic,

Re TJ Perenara at the scrum where Read scores are you suggesting that TJ was offside at the scrum pursuant to Law 19:29 namely,

“Once play in the scrum begins, the scrum-half of the team in possession has at least one foot level with or behind the ball.”?

G’day Brett,

The Wallabies were dangerous when they were patient in possession and worked the phases and executed the basics well. The first foray into the All Blacks half nearly ended in a Dane Haylett-Petty try after about a nine phase build up. The half finished with a try on the same wing after a similar build up so there is observable fact that should hearten all Wallabies fans.

I did not think our set piece was as bad as it may seem. Romain Poite is an interesting adjudicator of scrums and that proved so when he penalised Alan Ala’alatoa for rolling in, yet he remained bound to Joe Moody whose left arm was not bound and on the ground. Perplexing.

Similar situation with Latu off, Toupo actually split big Karl who stood up in the scrum. Yet nothing from Poite. Not that these are examples of ‘we was robbed’, they are not. But they are evidence that the Wallabies scrum is not in a perilous state before the European leg where it will be tested. If anything it gets stronger with the return of TPN.

The Wallabies looked lost when they went too wide too early, again. Do you recall about the 16 minute mark, with the Wallabies in possession, Hanigan won his lineout which Genia passed on a plate to Foley, who ran diagonal with Beale as a dummy runner who fooled none. The pass was I’ll timed and the AB’s moved up, pressured Naivalu and the knock on comes. Rubbish the moment Foley runs diagonal with a turnover that should never occurred.

I thought Hooper was absent in his communication with Poite. There was at least two times in the match he was taken out by Scott Barrett off the ball, Hooper raises his hands but never alerts Poite to Barrett’s tactics. No wonder Barrett pushed the envelope all day and so he should if he isn’t going to get pinged. I did however think Hooper taking points on offer was good captaincy and his game was very good all round.

I don’t get the AAC selection. I’m with you on blooding players on this tour as I think of the All Blacks who lost 4 fly halves in 2011. It’s an extreme example but what if we lost Genia and Phipps? Or Kurindrani and Hodge?

Finally on DHP is he quick enough as a support runner on the outside? Great kick return through the middle but is he quick enough? His hands are an issue at times also.

“So you would start Folau at 13 ahead of Kerevi because of a bad flick pass last year, when Folau gave away an intercept try under similar circumstances last night? Seems odd.”

Where did I say I would start Folau at 13?

“He can be a bit rash under the pressure of international footy games…”

Your point is proven by him running too high into contact just outside of our 22 and knocking the ball on gifting the All Blacks a mid field scrum just outside our 22. There are fewer better attacking platform opportunities than that. Or is this a fact you are wishing to forget about?
Nearly as rash as the flick pass under the pressure of the international game at Twickenham last year.

Kerevi is a one-trick-pony who has been exposed as a defender and is not a reliable offensive player. When he gets it right he is effective. In my opinion he is not the Wallabies long term solution in the 13 jumper.