Rugby union news 2022: Haunted by inconsistency, where do the true Wallabies stand?
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is rightly not getting carried away with his team’s latest win against the Springboks. That can happen if they win their next three, writes Jamie Pandaram.
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The Jekyll and Hyde nature of the Wallabies’ performances make it impossible to get a gauge on how good they are or can be.
But immediately after defeating the world champion Springboks, coach Dave Rennie had his mind on Saturday’s second clash in Sydney because he knows the feel-good factor can come crashing down as quickly as it arose.
“We’ll celebrate it, but over a couple of quiet ones, as opposed to thinking we’ve nailed everything now,” Rennie said.
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“It’s such a tough tournament to play, so we expect a response from the Springboks next week, we’ve got to go to another level.
“It’s not relief, it’s a bit of satisfaction that we’ve implemented a plan and the boys have played well and we’ve had success from it, we’ve got to make sure we build on that.”
After three games, Argentina sit atop The Rugby Championship ladder, Australia is second, with the All Blacks and Springboks having just one win apiece against each other.
As up-and-down as Australia has been in 2022, the other nations are showing they too are compromised by inconsistency.
The All Blacks have gone from a 90 per cent winning record to now owning several unwanted records; a first series loss to Ireland at home, a first loss to Argentina at home, and three successive losses at home, also the first time in their storied history.
Their latest defeat to Michael Cheika’s Pumas in Christchurch, hours after the Wallabies upset the Springboks, only exasperates those who called for coach Ian Foster’s sacking a fortnight ago, only to see him reinstated through to the end of the 2023 World Cup after one win against the Boks.
New Zealand Rugby backed Foster after the win in Johannesburg despite mass calls for Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to take over, and now they appear to have backed the wrong horse.
Foster is pleading with Kiwis to keep the faith.
“For us, there’s a shed-full of people that are hurting right now, including me,” he said.
“We don’t like losing and we understand our country doesn’t like us losing. I guess we’re all in the same boat in that place — it does hurt.
“As I’ve said over the last few weeks, we are a team that’s rebuilding and sometimes confidence doesn’t come at the speed that we want it to.”
They’re more vulnerable than ever to finally handing the Bledisloe Cup back to Australia after a 20-year hold on the trophy.
But the Wallabies can’t rely on a fading Kiwi team; they’ll need momentum and unwavering improvement over the next three games and force victory rather than hope for it.
Their defence was much improved in Adelaide, and the addition of Laurie Fisher should continue to reap benefit.
Lock Matt Philip is an unsung hero of the Wallabies’ pack. He gets busy around the park and makes his presence known to rivals.
Rennie gambled with his back three and it paid off, with fullback Reece Hodge handling the Boks’ aerial attack and making two crucial try-saving tackles, while Tom Wright overcame his sin-binning with a break down the right touchline, leading to the try of wonderman Marika Koroibete.
Noah Lolesio was assured enough to remain in the contentious No. 10 jersey for the next three games; he needs to be backed so he can grow in confidence and game mastery.
Australia’s lineout is still a huge concern; Folau Fainga’a will be under pressure after five lost throws, and Dave Porecki is hot on his heels for the starting No. 2 role.
But unlike previous games, Australia escaped without major injury concerns and will be settled for the clash at the new Sydney Football Stadium.
It’s a venue well-known to Cheika and former Parramatta Eels assistant coach David Kidwell, who celebrated Argentina’s stunning win together in the Christchurch coaching box.
Kidwell has added starch to the Pumas defence. A Kiwi who came back to bite the Kiwis.
There is another one coaching Australia.
If Rennie can indeed “build” on this latest win, the trophy that has eluded the Wallabies for two decades is in touching distance.
That would call for more than a “couple of quiet ones”.
‘I miss him’: Why Hooper’s replacement wants him back
One of the first people to contact Fraser McReight after his two-try performance was the man who made it possible for him to step into the Wallabies No. 7 jersey.
Michael Hooper, who remains out of the squad after suffering burnout and withdrawing one day before Australia played their first tour match in Argentina on August 7, was watching his side defeat the Springboks from his Sydney home.
“He texted me after the game and brought up the two tries I got, he’s probably sitting at home wishing he scored those,” McReight said.
“He’ll be right and hopefully he comes back soon. I miss him and I want to keep learning off him, he’s one of the greats so hopefully he comes back soon.
“We’re two different players, but being his apprentice and learning from him has been wonderful for me.”
Hooper may make himself available for the Bledisloe Cup series starting September 15. He may return for the spring tour later this year. Or he may take the rest of the season off.
As coach Dave Rennie explained recently, there is no timetable on the situation.
It is an unusual predicament for McReight, who has toiled behind the inspirational captain for two years, often wondering how he would crack the starting team.
“I had planned in my mind that he was going to play this series, was going to play until he could, so for me it was more about biding my time and knowing that I was doing everything I can so once an opportunity was to happen – my brain was thinking via injury or whatever, not anything like this – that I would play well enough that I could keep a spot,” McReight said.
“Who knows? I’m just doing a job for the team at the moment, I want to do him proud, do the jersey proud, do the team proud, if I keep doing that, if he comes back and starts at 7, he’s a legend of the game and that’s what’s going to happen.”
Since his last-minute call-up three Tests ago, 23-year-old McReight has shown he is up to Test standard, and judging by his energetic performance against the Boks, including tries in the second and 57th minutes, and a crucial turnover, he’s growing as a backrow star.
“It was a whirlwind action, it was a Friday [before the Argentina game] and I was expecting obviously not to play that whole week,” McReight said.
“Obviously what happened, happened. Hoops leaving created an opportunity for myself to step in that jersey.
“He’s been wearing that jersey for a decade, so it was a big honour, I want to do him proud and I want to do the jersey proud.
“I thought I did that, but it’s a big learning curve and lots of developing on and off the field, and just understanding what Test footy is about.
“You can’t get away with stuff here that you can in Super [Rugby], it’s a lot more under the microscope here and every little detail gets picked up.
“You’ve got to be more aware of your job and doing your job correct, not just going out there and wanting to be the best.”
Did McReight consider heading overseas in recent years given he had the captain of the team ahead of him?
“Not really, obviously I’m young, Hoops is still young as well but he’s got eight years on me, so his clock was running and my clock was just beginning so I knew there was going to be a point,” McReight said.
“It was just more about sticking in in the tough days and knowing rewards would come.
“It was more about when and hopefully I do get an opportunity, which I’ve been given.”
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Originally published as Rugby union news 2022: Haunted by inconsistency, where do the true Wallabies stand?