There is a fundamental flaw in this Wallabies team that will forever consign them to middleweight status unless they sort it out: ill discipline. That is the coach’s issue and Dave Rennie must address it urgently.
But he must also shoulder responsibility for almost setting the Wallabies up to fail on Saturday.
His initial remarks that Darcy Swain didn’t even merit a yellow card (later changed), his attempt to equate the Swain incident with a Fletcher Newell cleanout, his calling out of Rieko Ioan — this is just the sort of fuel the All Blacks thrive on.
In fact, All Blacks great Kieran Read — who has been through this drill a million times — told New Zealand TV that the side’s intensity at Eden Park was in part to the Wallabies “talking too much” during the week.
2. Nine yellow cards in six Tests is unacceptable
The Wallabies will go to Europe with the impression firmly set in northern hemisphere minds that they are far too wedded to the idea of “brutality” rather than the law book. They collected nine yellow cards during The Rugby Championship, and on a different day Jed Holloway might have seen red for dumping Dalton Papalii on his head in the opening exchanges at Eden Park. Australia’s strong advocacy for the 20-minute red card trial further embeds the idea for our friends in the north that they would really rather be playing to prison rules. The warning signs are flashing for the spring tour because if the Wallabies’ behaviour does not change the cards will keep coming, and some of them will be red.
Disciplinary issues are fast becoming the story of Dave Rennie’s Wallabies tenure.Credit:Getty
3. The case for Vunivalu strengthens
You can’t say with confidence that Suliasi Vunivalu is going to be a success at Test level. His output for the Reds has just been too sporadic, and the northern hemisphere sides will challenge him in ways he hasn’t seen in Super Rugby. However, Tom Wright and Jordan Petaia are demonstrably not the safer hands in the No.14 jersey. Both of those players have a lot to offer, but even their biggest fans would admit they are rocks and diamonds operators who can make poor decisions and commit basic errors under pressure. I can understand the thinking behind using Vunivalu on the Australia A tour, but I’d also love to see him involved against Scotland in the tour opener late next month.
4. Pete Samu has been the Wallabies’ find of the tournament
The Brumbies loose forward has been outstanding in recent months, particularly over the past two weeks. In fact, when he shifted to a makeshift hooking role at Eden Park it was probably the most dynamic the Wallabies have looked in that position for years – and I say that only half in jest. Despite their issues elsewhere, the Wallabies’ back row is in a good place, with Samu and Rob Valetini exceptional, big Harry Wilson showing his appetite for the contest and Fraser McReight developing nicely. That part, at least, is working well.
The rise of Pete Samu has been one positive for the Wallabies.Credit:Getty
5. Rugby Championship’s revival a pleasant surprise
I was critical of the tournament before it started, but I’m happy to report the ‘mini tour’ format was a success and still managed to conjure a degree of tension more closely associated with the Six Nations. It was undeniably a big tick for SANZAAR that the winners were not known until the final game of the tournament, while on a local level the Wallabies’ rivalry with the Springboks – previously on Valium – was fired up again in Eben Eztebeth’s bulging eyeballs. Rugby is going through a difficult period – with the horrors of concussion and neurodegenerative disease never far away – but the southern hemisphere showpiece somehow managed to regain some of its lustre.
Rugby Championship team of the week, round 6
- Steven Kitshoff (South Africa)
- Malcolm Marx (South Africa)
- Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand)
- Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)
- Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)
- Juan Martin Gonzalez (Argentina)
- Pete Samu (Australia)
- Jasper Wiese (South Africa)
- Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
- Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand)
- Caleb Clarke (New Zealand)
- Jordie Barrett (New Zealand) – Player of the Round
- Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)
- Will Jordan (New Zealand)
- Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
