Ruthless England end Wallabies World Cup hopes with 40-16 belting
All of Australian rugby’s worst fears came to life in a horror showing against England, as the Poms walked away with a 40-16 victory and a semi-final berth.
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COMMENT: How Cheika took Wallabies backwards
Australian rugby’s worst nightmare became a real-life horror show when the Wallabies were knocked out of the World Cup by England after Michael Cheika’s hairbrained selections and tactics blew up in his face with a 40-16 defeat.
Following the ugly fallout over Israel Folau’s ongoing legal case, it was the predictable disaster that Australia’s long suffering supporters always feared but hoped would never eventuate after Cheika’s assurances that everything would be all right on the night.
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It wasn’t and now Cheika will have to go, leaving Rugby Australia to explain why they kept him in the job for so long after it was clear he didn’t have the answers.
Now, Australian rugby is in total disarray and needing to rebuild from the bottom up if the Wallabies want to be force at the next World Cup in 2023 or stay ahead of the game with Tier II countries like Japan rapidly closing in.
EDDIE’S SWEET REVENGE
You couldn’t wipe the smile off Eddie Jones’ face as he made it seven wins on the trot against his countryman but he didn’t need to be a genius against a Wallabies team that were the architects of their own defeat.
The constant chopping and changing of the side and unrealistic tactics produced the miserable outcome that everyone has been warning the selectors about all tournament.
It ain’t rocket science that players need time together to develop combinations but once again the Wallabies looked like they’d just met each other on a Tinder date as they played some of the dumbest rugby ever witnessed by men wearing the gold jersey.
Despite dominating possession in the first 15 minutes, the Wallabies wasted countless opportunities because of embarrassing miscommunications and individuals overplaying their hand, dropping the ball, throwing passes into touch and chip kicking inside their own 22.
GAME OVER
When Jonny May scored twice in three minutes midway through the first half - the second after a loose pass by the disappointing David Pocock was scooped up by Henry Slade - the match was as good as over.
The Wallabies managed three penalties from Christian Lealiifano to go to the break lucky to be only eight behind and cut the margin to one when Marika Koroibete scored just after the restart but it was a false alert and the Poms knew it .
For all the millions of bucks the Wallabies spent preparing for the World Cup, the Wallabies just ran out of puff and ideas when they really needed them, just as they did in the pool game against Wales
The England prop Kyle Sinckler sprinted to the line like he was Yes Yes Yes winning The Everest and the contest was all over, though there was still time for Anthony Watson to grab another try off an intercept as the Wallabies matched their earliest exit at the World Cup with a third quarterfinal loss to the Poms.
ONE BRIGHT SPOT
The only real glimpse of hope that came out of the match was the performance of teenage sensation Jordan Petaia.
Despite being thrown into the lion’s den after just two previous Test appearances, Petaia lived up to all the hype surrounding him with a nerveless and mature performance.
He looked dangerous every time he touched the ball and set up Koroibete’s try with a clever inside pass but was starved of possession once England took complete control and is a star of the future.
BITTER FAREWELL
At least a third of the squad will never play for the Wallabies again, with a stack of players having already announced their retirement from the Test area or that they are heading overseas, ruling them out of selection.
Pocock, Will Genia and Sekope Kepu have all confirmed they won’t be available any more even though they will continue playing club rugby.
Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Lealiifano and Samu Kerevi are all heading overseas and cannot be considered for selection under the Giteau Law while it’s unlikely veterans Bernard Foley, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Rob Simmons will be picked again if the Wallabies begin a new rebuilding program.
ENGLAND 40 (Jonny May 2, Kyle Sinckler, Anthony Watson tries Owen Farrell 4 cons 4 pens) bt AUSTRALIA 16 (Marika Koroibete try Christian Leali’ifano con 3 pens) at Oita Stadium. Referee: Jerome Garces