Jock Campbell now knows the cruelty of Test rugby. The Reds fullback did a fine job for almost 80 minutes in the agonising loss to France in Paris, but the highlights will also show him copping a Damian Penaud fend as the winger scored the matchwinning try.
Such are the margins at the top, but of course Campbell wasn’t alone in making an error in the closing stages. Folau Fainga’a’s crooked lineout throw; Reece Hodge’s general lack of control; the flat-footed attack that allowed Jonathan Danty to win the final penalty at the breakdown – they all contributed to a loss the Wallabies snatched from a victory.
Make no mistake – the French were rattled by the Wallabies’ superb maul defence and defence in general play.
And, for a while, it looked like the Wallabies kicking game would hold up long enough to beat the French at their own game. It wasn’t that pretty (see item No 2) but it was effective in the way the modern game is played. Rob Valetini, Nick Frost and Len Ikitau were superb.
Given the amount of players absent, this was better from the Wallabies than the win against South Africa in Adelaide. But the lack of ruthlessness in the closing stages is a worry – Scotland weren’t good enough to exploit it, but the French were.
2. Drama and tension, but a complicated spectacle
Watching the women’s World Cup is like going from A to B via a stunning coastal road, full of twists and turns and memorable moments. By comparison the men’s Tests at the weekend – particularly the France v Wallabies and Ireland v South Africa tests – were like a motorway: you still arrived at your destination but it was far less interesting and occasionally choked with heavy traffic.
Antoine Dupont kicks from the base of the ruck in Paris.Credit:Getty
There were 66 kicks in the Wallabies test, because France don’t want to play with the ball. There were 45 in Ireland’s win, and plenty of winding down the clock in the final stages. It’s why the coaches and chief executives are meeting up after the November Tests to discuss the shape of the game.
The breakdown is one issue. Defending teams are getting all rights to the ball, so coaches opt to play without it. But there is something else, too.
The women’s game is simply filled with more ambition and a joyful attitude among the players that says, “If we’re not here to enjoy it, what are we doing here at all?”
3. The player who beat the Wallabies
It wasn’t Antoine Dupoint, who was a non-event due to the Wallabies’ excellent defence. It wasn’t Roman Ntamack, who looked underdone. And it wasn’t even Damian Penaud, who took his try brilliantly.
France’s Matthieu Jalibert clears the ball against Australia.Credit:AP
No, it was Matthieu Jalibert, the replacement No 10 who actually got the French to play some rugby.
Until he arrived on the scene, the French could barely string an attack together, and when they did the pressure would tell and a forward would lose the ball in possession. But Jalibert’s introduction was a reminder of two things.
First, France have great depth. Second, at some point even the likes of France and South Africa are going to have to play some footy to win the next Rugby World Cup.
The Boks were undone by their own lack of ambition against Ireland.
4. The Wallabies’ big mover
The competition in Australia’s second-row will be intense next year – particularly as they could take only four specialists to the Rugby World Cup and Jed Holloway as the player who can wear No 4 or No 6. However, Nick Frost could finish the year with his nose in front of the other options.
Nick Frost has been impressive for the Wallabies.Credit:Getty
He offers something slightly different with his athleticism, work rate and ability to show a bit of footwork at the line. Having a genuine 80-minute second-rower such as Frost also opens up the door for Will Skelton off the bench.
Frost has been good over the past few tests, and there is reason to believe that he’ll continue to get better next year.
5. Italy Test suddenly looms as a real danger
Before the tour started, Wallabies fans were likely thinking that France and Ireland were the biggest obstacles, with Scotland and Wales on par behind them, and then Italy.
However, the Welsh were poor in their 55-23 loss to the All Blacks – completely dominated up front – and they will be without their non-Wales based players for the Test against the Wallabies to finish the tour.
It’s true they often start the November series slowly, but they look like a side going nowhere. Italy, on the other hand, scored six tries in a 49-17 hammering of Manu Samoa, the Pacific Nations Cup champions.
Italian rugby is gradually on the up and the Wallabies test in Florence next weekend will not be easy.
For years, Italy adopted a damage limitation mentality against the bigger nations, but they are now playing with more ambition.
