Cardiff: After a taxing and character-building five game spring tour, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie believes necessary depth has been established in the ranks but says a fabulous come-from-behind victory over Wales is “irrelevant” heading into next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Within 23 scintillating minutes in the second half against Wales, the Wallabies went from a team in crisis to one that can take some satisfaction and confidence heading into the new year.
As Wales licked their wounds, with coach Wayne Pivac in grave danger of losing his job, the Wallabies celebrated their first win on the last game of a spring tour since winning at the same venue in 2013, relieved their last performance of an indifferent year typified the tenacity Rennie has yearned for.
Rennie was asked to sum up a spring tour like no other for an Australian side that won two Tests and lost three, but had all five results decided by five points or fewer.
“We could have been going home with five victories or no victories,” said Rennie following a 39-34 victory where Australia roared back to life from a 21-point deficit after 57 minutes.
“It’s good for our group. We lost three on the bounce by close scores and all games we could have won. [Australian fans] have been put through the ringer with us, so it’s nice to get a result.
“We’ve got an unbelievable group of excellent people.”
Mark Nawaqanitawase makes a charge during an impressive Spring Tour.Credit:Getty
After clashes in Edinburgh, Paris, Florence, Dublin and Cardiff, the Wallabies’ results don’t spell out a compelling case that they are a good team or a bad team. The Wallabies scored one more point than their opponents across five matches (121 to 120 points).
But despite all the ill-discipline and errors – and a 5-9 record for the year – there are still enough subtle signs to suggest the team could do anything in a World Cup knockout match.
There is no disputing the team faced its share of adversity through injury, and more.
With Langi Gleeson and James Slipper unavailable in the second half, it left Australia reeling with just 23 fit squad members on tour. With no senior heads or seasoned stars like Michael Hooper, Samu Kerevi, Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley, Rob Valetini or Taniela Tupou – there are many others – Australia did well to not capitulate in the last 40 minutes in Cardiff where other Wallabies teams before them likely would.
Taulupe Faletau scores for Wales but the Wallabies managed to fight back.Credit:Getty
For a team so fixated on process, the Wallabies let themselves celebrate the outcome after a 40-day slog on the road.
When Sam Talakai debuted in the 71st minute, he became the 51st Wallabies player used by Rennie this season – a record – and all 36 players on the tour got game time. It will pay dividends, said the coach.
“It just highlights the depth we’re creating,” Rennie said. “We left a dozen or so guys at home. Being in camp for six weeks has been massive. We’re a really tight group. It’s just great to show that on the park tonight under a bit of adversity.
“The tour has given us a chance to test people like Mark Nawaqanitawase and others to see how they deal with the pressure. It’s frustrating losing because we played really well in Paris and Dublin. We’ve got to find ways of winning those arm wrestles.”
As far as finds of the tour go, it is hard to go past Nawaqanitawase, whose two second half tries further enhanced his reputation as an athletically gifted winger with huge upside.
Rennie revealed Nawaqanitawase was nearly picked in the Wallabies squad to face England earlier this year, but was encouraged to tour with Australia A to fine-tune his finishing.
“We seriously discussed him,” Rennie said. “We’ve always been interested in him. His ability to adapt from Super Rugby into Test footy has been pretty seamless. In fact, he’s probably played better for us in the last three weeks than he has at Super [Rugby] level. It’s a real credit to him. He hasn’t panicked or stressed about the step-up.”
Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie says new depth will be a positive of 2022.Credit:Getty Images
Had the Wallabies not pulled off a monumental comeback, the narrative could be very different heading into a blockbuster World Cup pool match with Wales on September 24 in Lyon.
Asked whether the see-sawing affair in Cardiff would have any bearing in 10 months’ time, Rennie replied: “It’s irrelevant”.
Lachlan Lonergan, who stepped up in the absence of Dave Porecki to score the match-winning try, elaborated on the confidence of the group heading into next year.
“We know we can compete with the world’s best teams and we’re not far off,” Lonergan said. “It’s just being able to do that week in, week out. It is very frustrating but to finish on a win … morale is high at the moment and we can go into next year with a bit of confidence.”
