They strutted in however staggered out. With an unbeaten document beneath new coach Joe Schmidt and a formidable historical past at Fortress Suncorp, Australia was quietly assured of flexing its newfound muscle in a conflict with the world champion South Africans. However the near-complete 33-7 annihilation by the Springboks will go away severe scars for the Wallabies.
Impotent in assault, dismantled in defence and embarrassed at set-piece, the Wallabies bought a painful lesson in rugby fundamentals from Rassie Erasmus’s Springboks and appeared each inch the No 9-ranked contender in opposition to rugby’s heavyweight champs. Worst of all, the scoreline flattered neither facet, with South Africa removed from their medical finest.
Schmidt took the lengthy view post-match, calling the defeat “a place to begin up in opposition to the actually massive boys” and pinpointed expertise and confidence because the true distinction. “They’re at a special stage of their evolution, with a lot expertise and gamers who’ve performed on the high stage for a very long time and efficiently,” Schmidt stated of the Boks.
“We now have fairly a youthful facet, a facet that’s nonetheless coming collectively… however we’ve bought to come back collectively higher than we did at this time and speed up a few of the studying [because] you don’t immediately resolve the South African conundrum.” True, however his facet wants to search out some self-discipline and dynamism quick in the event that they’re to keep away from a wipeout within the rematch.
The gloss of victories in opposition to Wales (ranked 11) and Georgia (12) – who each scored 28 factors or extra in opposition to Australia – hid obtrusive Wallabies’ deficiencies. The No 1-ranked Springboks ruthlessly uncovered them, working more durable and additional (543m to 284m) regardless of solely marginally extra carries (139 to 114) and lacking fewer tackles (29 to 18).
Essentially the most condemning metrics had been the 15 penalties Australia gave away and the 33 factors they conceded, with solely try-saving tackles by Jake Gordon, Andrew Kellaway and Rob Valetini stopping a 50+ Springbok scoreline. And though stats say the Wallabies held their very own within the scrum and lineout, they had been blown away in each.
Equally worrying was the Wallabies’ anaemic assault which Schmidt himself takes care of. Halves Noah Lolesio and Jake Gordon kicked too early, too typically and too poorly, denying their centres and again three an opportunity to affect the sport early within the match. The one factors the Wallabies registered got here within the seventy fifth minute – too late to matter.
Now comes the reckoning. How does Schmidt rebuild his shocked younger squad for the rematch this weekend at Optus Stadium in Perth, a venue the place South African help will probably be even better than it was at Suncorp? The problem is as a lot psychological as it’s bodily, and as stern a take a look at of Australia’s teaching staff as its gamers.
Mike Cron’s scrum should discover ahead gear after going backwards in Brisbane, whereas Geoff Parling’s lineout was humiliated by Springbok trick performs. With Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams out with concussion, Taniela Tupou in Tonga for his father’s funeral and Allan Allalatoa badly off form, Australia’s engine room should restore on the run.
Younger Reds Josh Canham and Angus Blyth, Drive heavies Tom Robertson and Sam Carter and mongrel Brumby Tom Hooper will possible be known as in as reinforcements. Star Waratah Angus Bell is reportedly 50-50 however ought to play if his dodgy foot permits. Debutant Carlo Tizzano, after 20 tackles and no misses, deserves one other likelihood.
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The backline is equally battered. Filipo Daugunu has a fractured fibula and can miss the following 5 Assessments. Two-time John Eales medallist and full-time wrecking ball Marika Koroibete “wasn’t prepared” for the primary Check however should be unleashed as a weapon within the second. Gordon’s bullet passes and courageous tackling ought to retain his spot at halfback.
Of all Schmidt’s issues, his largest could be who to put in as Wallabies playmaker. After 21 hot-and-cold Assessments, Lolesio sustained severe fractures to his confidence at Suncorp. With Carter Gordon misplaced to the NRL, Ben Donaldson poor in opposition to Georgia and veteran James O’Connor on the outer, Schmidt should break the emergency glass.
Joe Schmidt is aware of how good Reds flyhalf Tom Lynagh is – and likewise how younger he’s. However at 21, Lynagh has poise, braveness and playmaking potential up the wazoo. Since arriving on the Reds from Italy at age 18 he has blossomed within the shadow of his father, Michael, who performed his 72 Assessments in a dinner swimsuit, racking up a then-record 911 factors.
Thus far, Schmidt has stored his child dynamite in cotton wool, blooding him off the bench in two Assessments. However the glints Lynagh has proven to this point want oxygen to burn brighter. Now the Wallabies know the way far behind the world they’re, it could be time to roll the cube on Era Subsequent. Throw Tom within the furnace and watch him mild it up.
