Australia conceded 15 penalties against Scotland, again too many, and it shouldn’t be lost that Taniela Tupou coughed up a silly one to give the Scots the chance to win the Test.
Had Blair Kinghorn’s shot at goal been successful, we again would be talking largely about the side’s fatal flaw – a lack of discipline.
It almost undid the good work of players such as Nick Frost and the returning Michael Hooper, both of whom contributed strongly. France won’t be as profligate next weekend.
Although the Wallabies were unlucky in the sense that Scotland second-rower Glen Young’s illegal cleanout on Tate McDermott looked every inch a red card, not yellow, there was no overriding sense in Edinburgh that they had turned the corner.
2. Wallaroos go down with heads held high
In dreadful conditions in Auckland on Sunday, Australia scored the try of the game to Emily Chancellor is another sign of their potential.
Emily Chancellor races in for a try against England.Credit:Getty
Against the well-drilled and powerful English, some of the Wallaroos’ goal-line defence was outstanding, although they were ultimately second best to the world’s No 1-ranked side.
Funding and support are the key issues here, and they need to happen because the women’s game is the future.
In fact, there is literally more rugby being played in the women’s game at present, with World Rugby data showing the ball in play time is 35 minutes and 30 seconds – more than the men’s game.
3. Tate McDermott’s X factor
It looked like the Reds halfback was going to run the Scots ragged at the start of the game. His leg speed has a cartoonish quality – he’s just so quick over the first 10 metres.
Tate McDermott was a livewire for the Wallabies.Credit:Getty
His opportunities dried up as the Scots started to dominate at the ruck – with multiple threats such as Pierre Schoeman, Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson, they were arguably the best side over the ball that the Wallabies have faced so far this year.
However, McDermott made his point. He looks like the perfect ‘change agent’ off the bench, with Nic White’s experience still hard to look past for the starting berth.
4. The Australian player of the week was…playing for Japan
Former Brisbane City outside back Dylan Riley has always had pace, but has developed into a quality centre under former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans at the Panasonic Wild Knights.
He caused the All Blacks no end of problems with his run-kick-pass skillset on Saturday as Japan threatened to beat the wobbly tourists.
Australian rugby knows all too well it can’t keep all its players, but Riley’s progression from the now-defunct NRC into the Test arena is a Mack Hansen-style case of one that got away.
5. Japan is calling
Japan Rugby League One bosses have not been shy in coming forward about their desire for a cross-border competition at the end the Super Rugby season – and Japan’s performance against the All Blacks bolsters the argument that Japan’s top sides would be immediately competitive.
If the discussions for Super Rugby Pacific fall apart there will presumably be a scramble by both Australia and New Zealand to link up with Japan (the Herald understands NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson met with Deans this week).
But even if Rugby Australia and NZ Rugby do finally agree a deal for Super Rugby Pacific, Japan’s progress can’t be ignored.
The Japan XV team was a touch disappointing against Australia, but the full Test side could have beaten the All Blacks on Saturday.
