Tag: Wallabies

Wallabies New Era Suffers Second Straight Loss

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Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was left asking fans to keep the faith after their second consecutive three point loss to European opponents on Sunday morning.  The Wallabies went down 26-23 to Ireland in a see-sawing battle that left many fans wondering if Cheika has enough time to mould his Wallabies squad together before next year’s Rugby World Cup.  Despite clearly identifiable positives in the performances of Matt Toomua, Nick Phipps, and debutant winger Speight, the Australian rugby public will still be questioning the make-up of their best side as well as looking for reasons why the Wallabies always seem to finish on the wrong side of close games.

On one end of the spectrum was the Nick Phipps try; a culmination of brilliant handling, clever offloading and committed support play.  But this was matched with general sloppiness when they fell 17 points behind early.  Yet, the fight back from that deficit was an encouraging aspect of the match, featuring some of the Wallabies best rugby of the tour.

The scintillating comeback saw the Wallabies respond to the 17 point Irish head-start with 20 unanswered points.  Three long range tries featured in the burst that make up most of the positives the team will take away.  The Wallabies will also take some satisfaction that they were not completely destroyed at set piece.  The side already has a soft reputation with teams thinking they can overpower them comfortably.  A similar performance would have been catastrophic to their future chances.  Instead, the forward pack were brave, staunch.

Unfortunately, World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Jonathan Sexton kicked well from both general play and at goal to ultimately resign the Wallabies to another end of season tour loss.  This time though, losing to the best team in Europe (one that is unbeaten in seven matches and will go into the Six Nations as favourites) won’t feel as bitter as losing to the inconsistent French.

The Wallabies need to bounce back quickly.  They have only five more matches to play before the Rugby World Cup.  A win against England at Twickenham this weekend will certainly help the confidence.

Wallabies End Hellish Week With Bledisloe Cup Defeat

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After a week of disruptive media attention and allegations of a divisive leadership group, the Wallabies almost pulled off the unthinkable against the All Blacks in Brisbane.  As it transpired, Colin Slade’s last minute conversion (atoning for an earlier error in failing to find touch) was enough to separate the teams after a fast paced Bledisloe Cup classic.

The Houdini act was enough to prevent the AB’s from losing two tests in a row for the first time since 2011, but it doesn’t paint the full picture of last nights action, or in reality the deserving winner.  The Wallabies played with energy, endeavour and a collective spirit that wasn’t inherently obvious leading into the game.  The finish was cruel and scant reward for the Wallabies who are struggling to close out games after recent second half losses to the Pumas and Springboks too.  They did however prove they will be a threat at next years World Cup by implementing a more ambitious game plan.  The game plan involved keeping hold of possession for long passages of play, and adding plenty of width to their play when given the chance.  Much like the Springboks did against NZ in Johannesburg, the Wallabies played at pace, refused shots at goal, and attacked the breakdown with plenty of assertiveness.

The game appeared to be headed in the expected direction when Cory Jane and Dane Coles tries cancelled out Nick Phipps’ opening effort.  However the Wallabies pressed hard before halftime to take a small lead into the second half and accelerated immediately after.  Adam Ashley-Cooper capped off his 100th game by scoring an easy try that up to five Australians were in a position to score, and at that point it appeared the All Blacks’ lack of attacking ingenuity would ultimately prove their downfall.

The comeback was eventually sparked by lock Patrick Tuipulotu’s sin-binning.  The AB’s gained confidence and momentum to firstly close the gap thanks to Aaron Smith’s quick thinking try, and later put themselves in a position to win on the back of a 80 minute Fekitoa try.

The win again proves the self-belief within the All Blacks set-up; they just don’t know how to lose.  For the Bledisloe Cup holders, Aaron Smith was tremendous even with his forward pack going backwards; Brodie Retallick was industrious; and Richie McCaw his thieving self in a below par All Blacks performance.  As a team they fell off too many tackles, coughed up too much ball, and generally lacked attacking intent.  One positive, was the opportunity to to give members of their squad some important game time in a pressure situation.

The much-improved Wallabies will take heart from the defeat.  They were the better team for most of the game.  Individually, Bernard Foley was solid, James Slipper overcame some scrum woes to be ever-present around the park, and Falou and Kuridrani dangerous every time they touched the ball.  They won’t, however, take a coach away from the defeat; coach Ewen McKenzie quit on the morning of the game.

International Rugby Preview

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Self-imploding Wallaby teams are nothing new. Quade Cooper has previously done his best to unsettle the national team; James O’Connor in the past too has brought it on himself to provide tabloid fuel.  This time though the train-wreck driver is the insidious Kurtley Beale. Beale’s recent indiscretions (and not so recent txts’s) have made the Wallabies task on Saturday night, when International Rugby returns with the third Bledisloe Cup match against the All Blacks, that much harder.

The All Blacks are not without their own challenges however. Aaron Cruden’s sleep-in continues to stop him from taking up his usual place at first five-eighth, and the side lost their last outing in Johannesburg. We don’t get many chances to watch the All Blacks respond to losing so Brisbane’s test, despite being a dead rubber, should still make for gripping viewing.

The All Blacks followed through on their promise to tinker with their line up; making five changes to the side that lost the final match of the Rugby Championship.   Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Wyatt Crockett and Dane Coles return to starting roles with Patrick Tuipulotu on the bench. Cory Jane is the only new face in the backline, replacing the rested Ben Smith.   Of the changes, Liam Messam’s elevation is the most exciting; the team lacked speed and aggression in South Africa, and Messam’s presence and awareness could exploit the Wallabies. Jane’s inclusion is an opportunity for the aging wing to prove he is still a viable wing option; many would argue otherwise.

The Wallabies will use Adam Ashley-Cooper’s 100th game as motivation for toppling the AB’s. The long serving outside back will become just the 6th player to reach the milestone. Ashley-Coopers uncomplicated game will serve the Wallabies well in Brisbane allowing flair players such as Israel Folau and Tevita Kuridrani to thrive.

On form the All Blacks will expect to win. Experimentation aside, it’s difficult to find any reason to back Australia. A dry Brisbane track suits NZ’s (and Julian Savea’s) running game, and the Wallabies will have exhausted a lot of energy in dealing with the media so extensively this week.

All Blacks by 20.

The Teams

WALLABIES TEAM: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Joe Tomane, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Scott Higginbotham, Michael Hooper (capt), Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Sekope Kepu, Saia Fainga’a, James Slipper.

Reserves: Josh Mann-Rae, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Matt Hodgson, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Rob Horne.

ALL BLACKS: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett.

Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Colin Slade, Charles Piutau 

Top Picks

New Zealand by 21-25 – $11 – Tom Waterhouse

First Scoring Play a NZ Try – $4.50 – Sportsbet

First Try Scorer Julian Savea – $7.50 – TAB