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One game played, and the floodgates open against the Northern Hemisphere invaders. It’s a usual tirade, with the British press incredibly uncompromising on any antagonists that dare invade their hallowed shores.
But now with the first game of the spring internationals out of the way, the attack has begun in earnest – especially considering that the Wallabies have effectively played their weakest tour opposition in their first game.
But unlike the Springboks and All Blacks – the latter all but unbeatable when playing their Northern Hemisphere foes – the Wallabies have not fared well in recent years against European opposition. England holds a 7-4 advantage over Australia since the turn of the century, with most of their wins coming from dominance in the set piece.
So, of course the assault on Australia is of the usual fare.
Former England lock Paul Ackford wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: “Time to expose Australia’s flaw” – an article written well before the Wallabies had touched down in London. In this timeless piece, Ackford took great pleasure in pointing out the serious disregard that Australian rugby has given to their scrum.
“In my experience, no other side of Australia’s stature and quality existed at the sharp end of international rugby for so long with such a fundamental flaw to their game, begging the questions, how and why have they gotten away with it for so long,” Ackford detailed.
I believe that this was the case in years gone by – especially in the 2003 World Cup final where referee Andre Watson was completely oblivious to tactics by the Wallabies in the scrum.
Indeed, Eddie Jones – a pioneer with the Brumbies concerning exquisite back line attack – believed that tries that were scored within two to three phases and that pronounced forward pressure was somewhat redundant in the modern game.
However, he did try to persuade the ARU to initiate a scrum school – unsuccessfully.
But John Connelly made it no secret that he was all but charged with shoring up the Australian forward machine, a job that Knuckles was well qualified to do. He seemed to be fulfilling his mission statement, until the old foes knocked Australia out of last year’s World Cup, courtesy of a dominant England scrum.
Connelly, and now Robbie Deans, have introduced a plethora of young frontrowers to the international scene, and while the world – and England – remain unconvinced, there is no doubt that the Australian set piece is becoming stronger.
It is somewhat incongruous that the Wallaby forwards are so maligned, as the Australian locks and accompanying lineout that have followed on from the Eale’s era are world class.
Ergo the Wallaby back rowers.
George Smith is among the top three fetchers in world rugby, and with Deans’ influence, the overall control the Australians exert on the ruck is a notch above what we have seen in the past.
Against Italy, a powerful scrum that caused problems against all comers in this year’s Six Nations, the Australians had absolute parity, and in the loose, were dominant more often than not, anchored by the efforts of Ben Alexander.
But the lack of balance came back to haunt Australia.
It seems that in recent years when their forwards were wilting, it was only the class of their back division that kept them in the contest.
Mockingly now, when their forwards are beginning to adapt to the rigours of the international forward contest, their esteemed three quarter line appears to be suffering.
It is difficult for Robbie Deans as he does not have the surfeit of class available to him in his beloved province of Canterbury, and while there is no doubt that he is making progress, it still seems for every step forward, the Wallabies are taking half a step backwards.
This leads to the dreaded reality that may fall on Australian rugby in the future.
Is Robbie Deans only perfecting his craft as an international coach, biding his time for when the All Black post becomes available?
Of course, I deviate.
Martin Johnson’s England await in fortress Twickenham, ironically with one of the weaker forward packs in English memory and one of the sharper looking backlines employed by the Rose of England.
For all of the media talk, Australia may well stare the challenge of England’s pack straight in the face and hold the better hand. And like the Wallabies past, it may be the wizards of the English backline, in the form of Riki Flutey and Danny Cipriani, who will dazzle their way out of the proverbial jail.
For there will be hell to pay if England fall to such a ‘soft’ Wallaby pack.
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.